Why are Black Women so Ashamed of Their Hair?

immaDstarra- In 2009 I discovered natural hair vloggers on YouTube and it changed my life. I decided that I would go natural and document my journey with a channel of my own. Realizing I may never have a big fro or waist length hair, I decided to make my own styles. I had no prior experience styling hair so my early designs were inspired from styles I had seen.  However as I progressed on my journey I can truly say that I now have a style that is truly my own. My greatest joy has come from the comments I receive on YouTube of women telling me how I inspired them and gave them confidence to love themselves and their natural hair. 

Ayana D. Byrd graduated from Barnard College and is the co-editor of the anthology Naked: Black Women Bare All About Their Skin, Hair, Hips, Lips and Other Parts. Her work has also appeared in numerous anthologies. She lives in Brooklyn. 

Lori L. Tharps is an assistant professor of journalism at Temple University. A graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, she is also the author of the memoir Kinky Gazpacho. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and three children.