Loving My Natural Hair: “I Had to Unlearn What I Was Taught About Black Hair”

the ointment alone wasn’t the only treatment she needed. The real cure for her hair loss had everything to do with her mindset.

traction alopecia — Charisma at “The Black Hair Experience.” (Image Source: Tina Charisma and Insider)

She Had To Unlearn Stigmas Toward Black Hair

Growing up, all Tina Charisma ever heard from hairdressers was that “Black hair is hard to manage. It must be straightened to be acceptable.” The stigmas surrounding Black hair followed Charisma all throughout her life. In her essay to Insider, she notes that the “myths surrounding Black hair fed into my lack of experience and knowledge about my own hair.” Her ignorance even stunted her hair growth again.

However, another visit to the hairdresser resulted in even more hair loss after a relaxer was left in her hair for far too long. At that point, Tina Charisma realized that she had to “unlearn” what she’d grown up hearing about Black hair. That was the beginning of a new era for Charisma.

Tina Charisma Did The Homework

In the end, Charisma made the brave choice to chop off all her hair and start brand new. It’s now been 12 years since the journalist went on her “natural-hair journey” and while it hasn’t always been easy, it’s what she needed in the end.

Calling the hair journey an era of “redefinition and reeducation,” Charisma began researching products that were good for her hair. In particular, she’s turned to Adwoa Beauty and Treasure Tress products, which have worked wonders for her. Additionally, Charisma has attended Black hair exhibitions such as “The Black Hair Experience”. The process has proved to be an eye-opening experience, in learning what works best for her hair.

In the end, Charisma wants all women to embrace their natural hair patterns. More importantly, she wants women to educate themselves on their hair in order to avoid health issues like alopecia.