Crown and Glory

The notification on my cell phone one early April morning in 2009 said I had voice mail. “It better be an emergency for someone to call me this early in the morning”, I murmured to myself.
I played the message back. It was the human resource department for a public relations radio internship I had applied to. I was too excited, just the thought of having another internship under my belt is what I needed in this industry.
I called the human resource department back to set up an interview for the following day. I crawled out of bed and headed to the bathroom to wash my face. One glance in the mirror and I screamed at my disheveled hair.
“Oh God,” I cried out. “I need to get my hair done before the interview.”
My hair stylist couldn’t take me in at such short notice. Not any stylist could do. I’m finicky about my hair and who does it. I thought about wearing a hat but that would have been unprofessional and embarrassing if I were asked to remove it. The only option that seemed logical to me was to just not go. It hurt me but I had no choice. It was simple my hair wasn’t “done.”
Ever since I became aware of hair on my head, I have been trying to figure out why I and millions of women take their hair so seriously. I have missed job interviews, classes, dates, meetings — all because I wouldn’t feel good unless my hair was done right. To say that my hair rules my life would be somewhat of an understatement but I am not alone.
“Hair is one if the first things you notice about a person,” says celebrity hairdresser Steve Terry. “If you were to describe someone, you might say they’re tall with long dark hair. It’s an important thing that helps convey who they are.”
Nanette Gregory 22, of Silversprings Md. said she had a hair dilemma just last week. “I wear weave extensions for the time being and recently I had to get them done, however; the only date my hairdresser had available was a Wednesday and I wasn’t going to get paid until Thursday. I swear I must have called every number in my phone until someone could loan me the money to get my hair done. I laugh about it but it’s really no laughing manner.”
According to a new study reported by the The Daily Express, a woman
will change her hair more than 100 times throughout her life. “Most of my clients who want their hair done usually are women who have jobs where their appearance is important,” said Tia a hairstylist who works at Regis Salon in PG county. “They come in sometimes wanting new looks primarily due to a break-up, job change, or a major milestone that they may be going through in life.”
Because hair is such a noticeable physical feature women will go to the extremes to have their mane tamed. Studies have shown that men are attracted to women with long hair and more attracted to a well kept head. If hair is so important to the opposite sex it only makes sense that it is more important to women.
Tiny, a BET reality star recently changed her hair color from a fire red to a dazzling blonde. Despite the damage and hard work it was to change her hair, she says her decision was based on her fiancé alone. “My fiancé loved me as a blonde so I’m back to being a blonde bombshell,” announced Tiny via twitter.
Many women end up spending thousands for all the hair changes and “occasions” we use as excuses to get our hair done. “I just spent $90.00 on a relaxer and a haircut,” said Jessica Batiste of Greenbelt Md. “I think that was a bit much for what I got, but my birthday is coming up and I have to look good.”
“Hair is like a picture frame that crops a photo (your face). Your hair is only an accessory to your beauty that comes from within. If you feel pretty, your hair will reflect your positive self-esteem,” said Ken Paves hairstylist.
For a woman getting her done can be very similar to one getting “butt pads,” breast implants, and all of the crazy amounts of money women spend to feel attractive. Tia claims that she has clients who will spend up to $400.00 for extensions.

The Bible calls a woman’s hair her crown and glory. My hair is my crown and glory plus extra. When my hair is pretty I feel pretty and exhilarating. When my hair isn’t done I feel ugly which means I have no confidence ruining my interactions with others and consequently just spoiling my day. It works like a domino effect. My hair is my self-image.
In a country where self-image is everything, it is hard for me not to make it my top priority. Jet, Ebony, Essence, Glamor, and In Style all are among my favorite magazines to read. They all are different in content but they promote one thing; beauty. The women in these magazines all have perfect hair. When I turn on the television I see pretty women with nice hair. Popular artist like Rihanna sell records and create this sought after image due to her different hairstyles.
When my hair isn’t done I am absolutely sure that people notice. I feel out of place and unconfident. One night a guy I was dating asked me to go to the movies. I really wanted to go but my response was, “I can’t my hair isn’t done.” He totally didn’t get the point because he persisted. “Just put a hat on,” he said. I wasn’t about to go on a date with a hat on, in my mind I need to look attractive and feel attractive especially on a hot date.
Black hair care is a $9 billion business here in the U.S. I have contributed to that by spending as much as $300 to get my hair done. I have even neglected to pay my bills or even grocery shop because of opting to get my hair done instead. I have an issue where its beauty first then I will take care of everything after. I am not a vain person I just like to feel good about myself. In my 23 years of life I have probably spent $12,000.00 in the hair industry. In the end it’s worth it, not even money can describe the feeling of getting out of the hairdresser’s chair without a doubt knowing that you look good.
Steve Terry said, “someone who’s comfortable in their hair will look comfortable. You have to wear your hair, your hair shouldn’t wear you.” And for $12,000.00 I’m definitely going to wear my hair!