owning being black & Blonde

It is something I have wanted to do for the longest time, but I never quite mustered up the courage to do it on my real hair.

What a funny word, courage. Why did I need to be courageous to dye my hair blonde? The truth is, blonde hair with Black skin makes a statement. Whether good or bad it gleans a reaction from everyone. From ‘wow it looks great’ to ‘ do you want to be Beyonce’?

There isn’t a natural association for Black women to have blonde hair and while never directly said, there is a corporate memo that it wouldn’t be seemly or professional to have this hair colour. But why can’t it be professional? Says who? If white women who are naturally dark-haired can go blonde then why can’t I?

Over the years, I have gone back and forth with this and recently I just thought, ‘sod it! If my hair is well done, why should it come across as loud, unprofessional or Beyonce wannabe-like?’ The most interesting part of the conversation was with some other Black women. Didn’t having blonde hair seem somehow incongruous with being pro-Black?

How I see myself is important and the perception of others while it plays a role, shouldn’t and doesn’t define me. Nothing can take away my Blackness. Not my hair colour nor a weave nor a wig.

In life, I have realised that there are many rules that we have to follow, but being courageous enough to just ‘do you’ will ultimately be more freeing. Now am I a different woman with blonde hair? Not so much. Did I have more fun as a blonde?

It looked amazing, but my hair broke and I probably dyed it too quickly after giving birth. Would I do it again? Yes probably, but I would stay within my ginger wheelhouse and maybe flex a wig first.

Taking the leap was worth it on all levels. It wasn’t to everyone’s taste and that suited me just fine, as I am not here to please everyone.

Hair courtesy of: Toni & Guy Birmingham