hair at work

[fifi28]

Hi everybody

I'm sorry if this subject has been discussed before. And sorry for my english also i'm french speaker

I just wanted to share my experience with you.i usually never post on social network but i feel that there isn't any other network but lhcf where i feel that people are like me,feel the same about hair.
I'm top executive in financial area in france and every single time i change my hair style i feel like a curiosity. I'm the only black woman in my team. In my company for about 200 hundred people we are like five black woman.
I can tell you the way people feel about difference here is very very frustrating.
I was in the us last summer and it was the only time in 3 or 4 years that i wore my hair in his natural state and felt proud of my self.
I've been lurking since 2008 on this site and see you all rocking different styles for everyday look and i so envy you for ll of that.
I can feel that people in states are far more opened to difference.
Just wanted to say that
I feel better sharing this with you

 

[caribeandiva]

Hi there! Thank you for posting. Your English is very good. we're here to support you.

Whenever I change my hair, I too become a curiosity for my coworkers. They usually tell me how they wish their hair was that versatile. So it bothers you that your hair gets a lot of attention or do you feel like natural hair isn't accepted?

 

[krissyhair]

I'm sure many of us have felt the same way. Thank you for sharing.

 

[snoop]

Thanks for sharing! I dream about living in France one day.

Out of curiosity, how do you normally wear your hair?

 

[fifi28]

Hi there! Thank you for posting. Your English is very good. we're here to support you.

Whenever I change my hair, I too become a curiosity for my coworkers. They usually tell me how they wish their hair was that versatile. So it bothers you that your hair gets a lot of attention or do you feel like natural hair isn't accepted?

thanks caribeandiva for your support!

Some white people here, especially in a "conservator" sector like financial services, understand hair versatility as inconsistency, like you're still "seeking for" yourself, I can see many many times, newspapers saying beyonce has a problem because she's always changing her hair style, they say "beyonce's new hair transformation'. But she's a star, for all other simple people, natural hair in just not accepted as it can be in the States.
People just can imagine going to a job interview with a nappy, you can be sure you won't have the job.
I can ay that 90% of black people here are weaving or wigging.

 

[fifi28]

Thanks for sharing! I dream about living in France one day.

Out of curiosity, how do you normally wear your hair?

I'm weaving most of the times.
I big chopped in 2009 when I discovered this board and began to wear a wig to continue to have access to my hair and DC more frequently. in 2010, I was very busy with work and didn't really have time to take care of my hair.
I stopped wearing wig, I felt like people when they're talking to me was always looking at my hairline and there were all a question I could guess on their face is it her hair or not?
You know, people here don't have the same approach as there, the first reason is the colonialist past is not that far and white people have still many prejudice towards black people. The second reason is that not so many black people are well educated about taking care of their hair, so seeing a black girl with healthy hair happen but it's not common.

SO in 2010, i went back to relaxing cause I was wearing straight remy hair, but still with that I have frequently comments from my coworkers. I've done a second big chop in april this year, I've worn flat braids till end of july. august I was in the states, i was wearing my hair short in twist out, I was complimented everywhere there, I was like are you joking? I just could feel feminine even with my short hair.
before I came back I bought a human hair wig, I've worn from september till this week end and since saturday I installed a weave ( the kinky curly weave from RHO) and I love it. I've been wanted it since EDIESE showed years ago her installs.
And everybody at work today was " oh you've changed hair!!" your were straight and not your curly". Most of the time, when I was talking for example to my male coworker, they 're were not looking at me in eyes but trying to see how it is behind.

I don't know how to feel about all this

 

[fifi28]

I'm on a strict regimen and taking my supplments religiously in order to grow my hair longer. I know that sometime next year I wish to wear my hair without needing to add tracks or wigging and to be honest I don't know how this would be seen at work.

I know that some of you are having pleasure to weave or to wig and trying different styles for pleasures but me I just feel like it's an obligation to be accepted, I don't feel like me sometimes. I'm far from being a nappy activist but I just really feel like I do all this for others, I'm not comfortable with this.

 

[Amarilles]

Which arrondissement are you in? I have yet to experience racism, I find that the white French can be very rough towards Arabs (les Maghrébins) but I have yet to see white on black (or vice versa) prejudgedices. So sorry you are, do keep in mind that aux Etats-Unis every single state is different (sometimes the cities within one states) and natural hair isn't at all accepted throughout, as you may be thinking.

Je suis autour du 13eme arrondissement si vous voulez rencontrer une LHCFer et chatter un peu ! Welcome!

 

[krissyhair]

One day you will find the perfect hair style and combination for your work place. Experiment with new styles on the weekends. Wear your hair natural at home and with your friends. You should never feel obligated to wear weaves. It should be a choice that makes you happy. Obviously it's not making you happy.

 

[reeko43]

I am sorry that you have not been able to enjoy your natural hair. I am sure it is beautiful. Try to shrug these people off and wear your hair with pride and confidence.

Sent from my SAMSUNG Galaxy Note 2