We’ve been through a lot you and me. You’ve been with me through the worst and best days of my life. I’ve had to cover you with a doek to show respect at a funeral and put braids on you to celebrate my graduation.
I am sorry I have not always been kind to you, I have not always been good to you. I have followed trends that harmed you and burned you ‘til you fell from the scalp to the floor. I have applied perm on you and that was bad on my scalp too. I have relaxed you and used so much heat that you’d burn and smell of burnt hair. Even when I heard you cry through the crackles of flat irons I didn’t stop. I am sorry that I’ve put colour that has damaged you from the inside out.
“Shluthu sam”, we’ve come a long way you and we are at a better place now. Over the years I have learnt to be gentler and caring towards you. I love you more with each passing wash day with each passing protective style. You have taught me a lot about myself and about life, the most important lesson being patience. I now know what you like and what doesn’t work for you, I have learnt to not get on the bandwagon when everyone else is.
Don’t take this the wrong way my love, but I am not my hair you are not the end all be all of me, I AM WAY MORE THAN THAT. I am a marvel, a phenomenal being and a constant work in progress and you are a part of that. You have allowed my personality, creativity and soul to shine through you. You have been a walking canvas that I can paint my feeling on, and for that I thank you.
I want to thank you “shluthu sam”! Thank you for allowing me and enhancing me to be my best self. Thank you for teaching me acceptance and for teaching me to love me for me. Thank you for allowing me to experiment and try new things, for allowing me to go with the wind when I needed to. Thank you for being one of my best features that people identify me with “that girl with an afro” Thank you for allowing me to teach others about you and how they can best take care of their hair.
