As a Black woman, my hair has always been a major part of my life. Theres simply no denying it.

On one hand, I love being able to switch it up. One minute I can be rocking my natural curls and then the next, I might put on a neon wig or wear my hair in box braids. Constantly changing my hairstyle is fun, helps me express myself and keeps me from feeling bored. But Id be lying if I said my hair doesnt come with baggage that feels like its literally weighing me down.

My hair has always invited unwelcome commentary, ever since I turned 4 and my mother relaxed my hair to make life easier. One Black boy in school joked that my newly straightened hair looked like it came from a horse. As a teenager, any time I went to school with a new hairstyle, white people would ask me, Is that your real hair? When I wanted to switch up my look and cut my hair in college, the decision was met with a flurry of opinions, the most upsetting being, Youre jumping on the natural hair movement.