Hair Story: Why Black Women Don't Swim - Essence.com

Hair Story: Why Black Women Don't Swim - Essence.com

This is an interesting article, however I wish they had gone more in-depth about this. The one thing I agree with is that we will not enter the water if we have just had our hair done at the salon. That is indeed the equivalent of buying a new pair of suede shoes and immediately walking out in the rain. Those shoes are either destroyed or you have a whole lot of work to do to get them back to decent order. The chlorine and the water itself removes any style, length, texture we had previously whether we have a relaxer or not. If our hair is natural and we've pressed our hair into a style, the water will destroy any work that was done and we would literally have to start over from scratch. If we are traveling, having to go through that process is almost impossible. Other cultures can shampoo, blow dry and they're done. That process cannot be accomplished with the average African American woman.

For me, you won't see me getting my hair wet unless I'm around people I feel EXTREMELY comfortable and safe with. The texture, length and quality just changes and I look like a completely different person. It's just not something I am comfortable putting out there for the world to see. I'm not ashamed of my hair but I understand there are those who are uncomfortable and judgmental about our hair and it's one of those situations you just want to keep 'in the family'. :) Our hair just doesn't respond to water like it does other cultures.