WR

When WR recounted a story about experiencing microaggressions about her hair during a summer study abroad program, she was still fiercely agitated — and rightfully so — demonstrating the long-lasting impact of seemingly brief encounters. Unfortunately, similar to the experiences of many other Black women, WR said that microaggressions about hair are everywhere.

“I wish I could say that high school was the breadth of microaggressions, but I feel like at [college] they have been insane,” she said.

WR handles microaggressions in various ways based on the setting. In a work environment, she tries to lightly correct and move on, but in social situations, she is typically very blunt.

“That’s kind of on par with how I was raised, because my mom said ‘don’t start a scene in a work environment,’ but when it’s in a social setting and I’m having fun, I get so mad because now you’ve ruined my fun; you’ve ruined my time here,” WR said.

She is still dealing with and learning how to handle microaggressions in a classroom setting. Her reactions and responses vary depending on how she feels at the moment, and she has not yet found the perfect approach.

Generally, WR has had a complicated relationship with her hair. She relaxed it when she was eight years old, reverted to wearing it back to natural in her teens, struggled with breakage and heat damage, wore protective styles to meet the attractive-hair standard at her predominantly Black high school, and then she started wearing it out, natural.

“That’s when I really started falling in love with my hair,” she said.

Today, WR wears it in braids because, as a college student, she does not have time to take care of it as much as it needs. She encourages other Black women to wear their hair in the way that makes them feel the best about themselves. “I don’t like the criticisms when it comes to Black girls’ hair, even coming from other Black women,” she said. “Do whatever you want and whatever makes you feel beautiful and happy.”