Natural Hair Is Not Unprofessional: I Rocked A 'Fro To Work To Fight The Stigma
Picture day at work can be an exciting time: not only are you becoming an official part of the team and their brand, but it is also another excuse to buy new clothes. The most exciting part, for me at least, is to be able to update my LinkedIn profile. All that being said, unfortunately, picture day can also invoke a lot of unnecessary anxiety for me and not because I am camera shy--just check my Instagram. I get anxiety because, while I think my natural hair is awesome, many others still think that it is…different. To people outside of our community, natural is hair is is not professional.
Never mind that I have a stellar work ethic, or that I contribute to student success daily at the number one public university in the world. Those things seem to not matter once people see my natural hair, because all of a sudden both my hair and I are identified as "unprofessional".
The anxiety I experience does not only come up during picture day, it comes up as I am preparing for interviews as well. I generally love interviewing and feel quite confident that when I am in an interview, I am absolutely flourishing! Instead, my anxiety manifests itself as I am trying to figure out how to professionally style my hair. Forget the fact that women worry about what to wear; I am amongst the group of Black women and girls who have been told that unless your hair is straight, it is not professional thus it is undesirable.
Hence, a large portion of my interview prep consists of me staring in a mirror trying to style my hair in the least distracting way so that my interviewer does not have a chance to focus on the stereotypical images of Black people that may have been consumed through the media.
This is what renowned social psychologist Dr. Claude Steele refers to as “stereotype threat". Stereotype threat refers to “a situational predicament in which people are or feel themselves to be at risk of conforming to stereotypes about their social group" (Steele, 2010). This directly correlates to the feeling of constantly wondering if and what stories are being projected onto me simply because of my locs -- something I highly doubt my non-Black colleagues have to worry about.
Who determines professionalism?
What ideals are informing notions of professionalism that essentially tell Black women, like myself, that because we choose to embrace our authentic selves, we are suddenly not "professional"? Naturally, I did what every millennial does when we have a question, I googled “unprofessional hair". (I invite you all to do the same.) The mostly Black faces that populated my screen did not surprise me. Essentially, my search affirmed the discomfort and anxiety I felt all along. Black women in general, but especially Black women who have natural hair, do not fit into this idea of professionalism.
So does this mean our hair is good enough to warrant stares, or worse, petting, but not good enough for the office?
For many companies who are attempting to address ongoing concerns of inclusion, it is crucial to unpack the term professionalism and how people of color and gender nonconforming people fit into that paradigm. This DOES NOT mean you are lowering your standards, nor does it mean that you should not continue to ask and expect your employees to conduct themselves in appropriate behavior and adhere to things like dress codes. It DOES mean that within those expectations, you are leaving room for people like myself to feel like we can show up wearing our natural hair and not be judged or assumed less competent because of it.
Inclusion is no doubt a buzzword these days, but it is my hope that this piece offers critical and concrete experiences to consider, which can and should inform efforts towards making workplaces more inclusive. People do their best work when they are allowed to be their authentic selves; therefore, companies must be committed to creating work cultures that encourages this. So, the next time someone comes into your office with their natural threads, rather than stare blankly, provide a compliment or say nothing at all and continue to work. That is ok!
As for my professional headshot, I finally gathered the courage, silenced the imposter syndrome, and rocked my natural threads.
Even as colleagues whispered microagressions like “is that how she is taking your picture?" I remained confident as I made my way to the photographer. Not only for my professional headshot, but everyday! To the many people of color who navigate professional workspaces as the only one, there is the added pressure to conform. Certainly this was my experience as a Black Woman, and it was absolutely taxing on my body and spirit.
Pretending to be someone and something I was not for eight hours a day, seven days a week was exhausting. I finally made the conscious decision to say “no" and to be faithful to saying “yes" to being my authentic self and being unapologetic about it. Contrary to popular belief, you can be an incredible educator, doctor, lawyer, or engineer, and rock your natural hair at the same time!
What do you think about wearing natural hair in the workplace? Share with us below!
Bie Aweh is Equity & Inclusion Strategist for HbcutoStartup and Co Founder of Beloved Black. Learn more about Bie on Twitter or Linkedin
Have a story you want to share? Send submissions to editor@xonecole.com.
RELATED
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
Courtesy
I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
Courtesy
That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
Courtesy
So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
Courtesy
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy