“Long hair, don’t care!” – Lloyd ft. Lil Waye, You
Corporate America and natural hair.
What a historically beautiful duo. They go together like Trump and Obama. Vegans and Meat. Black Artists and the Grammys. As black people, we’ve been forced to assimilate to European standards of beauty that effectively cast our natural hair texture as “unprofessional, unkept and uncomfortable” to most of the world. This “nappy” hair of ours has been the subject of torment for centuries, robbing us of another form of expression every other ethnicity gets to freely enjoy.
Three years ago I saw a trend that would soon morph into somewhat of a phenomenon. Black men turned back the hands of time and became more colorful, boisterous and expressive with their hair not only in social settings but also at WORK! The Culture reemerged with old-school hairstyles as well as new looks: high top fades, braids/cornrows, curl fros, parts, faux hawks, man buns, locks with blonde tips and even all around blonde hair complimented with thick full beards. Black women began pledging their allegiance to Team Natural, leaving perms and relaxers for afros, braids, locks, and puffs.
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My disbelief in the new hairstyles of my peers elevated because they worked amazing jobs! Smart and articulate black men and women working as minorities for companies that lacked diversity (what’s new) were proudlytrotting around the office, attending meetings and interviewing with their NATURAL HAIR. It almost felt like we all unconsciously came to the consensus that we were going to be our vibrant artistic selves in and out the office….and we don’t care what anyone has to say about it.
This epiphany was another huge win for Black Excellence; another stepping-stone towards loving ourselves for who we naturally are through and through.
I decided to interview two of my friends about this topic. One is a black man working at one of the biggest tech companies in the world and the other is a black woman who left corporate America to work in the wellness field as a yoga instructor. Both offered great perspectives on their choice to go natural.
Interview 1
-How old are you?
28 (Male)
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-What field do you work in?
Advertising and Technology
-I’ve always known you to have short wave length hair. What lead you to start growing your locks?
A lot of it is geography. People you’re around and your support system. Funny enough, my friend and business partner – who happens to be Taiwanese – for my startup creative agency came up with the idea. He’s also growing his hair out as well.
Every time I see him he says he loves the way my hair looks and I tell him likewise.
We’re going to let our hair grow naturally and not care what society says. It isn’t like some f*ck you to society, but I’m going to do me.
-Oh really? That’s pretty cool. Was this just a random thought and suggestion or did it stem from somewhere?
Put yourself back in 2016: Childish Gambino comes out with “Atlanta”, Issa Rae graces us with “Insecure” and the consistent theme of carrying baggage the world has left for us. “What does it mean to be decent?” It’s a question we continual have to revisit as a people.
I actually got my nose pierced the day after Trump won. My homie said let’s not cut our hair. Trump exposed everything that was once sentimental and undertones. Things you feel, but weren’t to be expressed. I’ve known who Trump and a larger sector of America have always been my whole life.
The benefit of his presidency is that we have revisited what the term “decency” means. You can’t tell me because my hair is “crazy” I’m not decent. We got a president on TV calling a nation a country full sh*t holes.
Imagine a person not of African descent going to a business meeting or starting a new job in an African country and being told they couldn’t show up the next day with that moose in their hair.
-What type of reactions or attention does your hair garner from co-workers?
When I started I was at a stage where my hair was already sort of long. Sometimes you get, “Man your hair is getting pretty long. You’re at Travis Scott’s level.” I work at a company whose company culture is supposed to be super inclusive, so no one is supposed to overtly opposed.
I don’t get any hyper negative reactions, or maybe I’m at the place where I don’t care. Look at Kendrick and his contributions to art. How he said, “How y'all let a conscious n***a go commercial while only making conscious albums? How y'all let the braids on TV?” Everyone loves Kendrick. Why can’t I roll into work with a f*cking man bun?
It’s even funny being a young black male. I’ve yet to be called out on it. It’ll be funny to see if it becomes a thing. When I was working more junior position, you’d see senior level people tell junior level people that we’re going to meet with clients and prefer you dress and look a certain way. Being in tech shields me from this in some ways. Now, will it hinder my career trajectory? Who knows?
-Prior to your locks, did you ever want to grow your hair out, but felt deterred by societal norms?
To be honest, we’re so mentally controlled it wasn’t even an option. You grew up being told short hair was the only option. Waves were the thing. So you either had that or you were growing your hair because you wanted braids. I hated the time I was spending to get a haircut. I also don’t dress up as much as I use to. Moving to San Francisco, let’s be frank, is moving to a completely Caucasian space. So finding a barber who’s skilled enough to cut black people’s hair is tough.
And when I did find abarbershop, a lining and a taper cost $38 before tips. So I got a lining and taper for $54 dollars. I don’t feel like I need to be paying that. If you’re rocking a low cut it means you’re consistently going every two weeks or your hair will looked f*cked up.
I’m like why are y’all so worried about my hair, but we have employees who are insanely musty. Like there’s no reason anybody with a badge should smell like this.
-(Laughing hysterically)
No, seriously.
-You make a very valid point. Anything you’d like to add?
Take showers. Use Deodorant. Daily.
Interview 2
-How old are you?
28 (Female)
-What field do you work in?
Wellness. I’m a Yoga Instructor
-Let’s start from the beginning. What was the genesis of your natural hair journey in Corporate America?
I’ve been naturally in terms of no term or relaxer, but I still pressed my hair dating back to junior year of high school. I didn’t get truly comfortable until my big chop, well not really big, but shorter hair. I was finding my definition of happiness; finding myself while it bumped against societal norms and expectations or even my family. My mom always told me not to wear my hair natural or curly when going on job interviews. Until I turned 25…
-What happened at 25?
I just said f*ck these people. It’s stupid to haverequirements for what’s considered professional. No one is telling white people to curl their flat, volume-less hair. I would still get flack from my mom. Y’all might have me in the corporate environment telling me what to do in this 9-5, but I define myself and who I am.
-So in sense, you rebelled?
My hair was rebellious because I never wanted to work in the corporate world. It was just what we were “supposed to do.” I wish they would fire me over my hair. I wanted to find some happiness in this hellhole by expressing myself and it was through my hair. I don’t need to follow white standards of beauty. If they consider their standard THE standard then this isn’t the place I want to be. I never see myself getting a relaxer again.
-You mentioned your mom would critique your hair. What about other family members?
My older relatives – the older women of the family – always say they wish they were as brave me. They’ve always wanted to wear their hair natural, but they too were raised to assimilate and maintain straight hair.
-What type of reactions or attention does your hair garner from co-workers?
Never really had superiors say outwardly say something about my hair. That was probably due to my personality – I’m a straight shooter and they just knew I wasn’t the one. I think they felt there’s nothing I can say or do because she’s already comfortable with whom she is. My personality is more liberal and when I was in corporate America I found myself working for more liberal companies. By liberal, I mean you can have a nose piercing.
My field is liberal but predominantly white. I’m often the only black person in the space. I use to teach at a YMCA, recreational center, and even LA fitness. I’m always very aware of the degree that white people in my class have interactions with black people. I may be the most exposure and interaction with a black person per week. They’re always complimenting me on my hair and giving recognition when I change my hairstyle.
Abdris 
Elba, B.S. in Advertising - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ph.D. in Trolling is a SQL/BI developer, aspiring voiceover actor and living proof that the chicken indeed comes before the egg.
