I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your expectations (no)

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am the soul that lives within

Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person

Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend

Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity

Expressing my creativity

--India.Arie, “I am not My Hair,” Testimony: Vol. 1 Life & Relationship (2006), Universal Motown

I am fortunate to say that I get compliments on my hair frequently. And God knows I appreciate them. Rarely am I asked whether the hair on my head is mine. But occasionally, it happens. But when I am asked the rather forward question, I often ponder whether or not Beyoncé, Kim Catrall, or Gwenyth Paltrow are ever asked the same.

So, today, I am coming out!

Yes, I’m wearing hair extensions. I have been for a little over a year. My “real,” au natural hair is chemically straightened, sandy in color and now rests healthily below my shoulders. But when I made a long-term commitment to wear my “temporary” longer tresses, it was a drastic change. What was one day a short, cropped, Mia Farrow-pixie that shaped my face like a customized picture frame became what my ultra-conservative, demure mother calls an “unbeweavable” hair-to-there hair-peration.

I beg to differ. My chest-length extensions are trés believable. The store-bought locks match my hair texture and color perfectly.  And their believability-factor was, at least for me, a prerequisite to wear them in the first place. My stylist, Carla Gentry Osorio, is the genius weaver. However, as evidenced by this entry, my intention is not to fool anyone about where my own hair begins and/or ends. After all, I am not my hair. Or am I?

I mean, I believe women like you and I (and India.Arie) don’t see our hair as a defining characteristic of who we are. Instead, I believe, our tresses are a mere extension (no pun intended) of our style, personality, our mood, a matter of self-expressio. Or perhaps, in my case, an equally important convenience that affords the comfort of working out four times a week without worrying about “my” hair becoming excessively dry or damaged.

So with the season’s celebrity “It” hairstyles all of which I love, running the gamut – from the...

 

Sassy Chic Katie Holmes-Cruise (I so want her to hyphenate her name):
I adore this cut! The bangs add a whimsical flair to an otherwise structured look. In fact, I’m contemplating doing this one…if only I could tug and pull it into a pigtail during my work out?

 

 

 

To the...Classic Jennifer Lopez: 
She’s been wearing her coif in a simple, yet timeless chignon often since the twins. This look and any close cut takes confidence and self-assuredness. (It seems motherhood does that!)
   

 

 

 

And the… Femme Fatale Sarah Jessica Parker:

Talk about a healthy head of hair? I’m still not sure whether SJP’s stylist adds hair to create her super-full and flow-y look. But I love how playful yet feminine her loose curls look.

 

 

  
 

 

And even the…Rock Star Rihanna:

What some might view as indecisive, I call cutting-edge. The asymmetrical cut has returned after a twenty-plus-year hiatus. But what remains hasn’t changed about this style? It’s still daring, funky, edgy, and rocker-chic!

 

I have to agree with India. I am not my hair! But my hair is ME, I mean “we”. And today (and for the last year or so) I’ve settled into feeling a little more femme fatal-ish like SJP. But with summer coming soon (I hope), who knows, I might just decide to take my rock-star quotient up a notch. Stay tuned!

 

In the meantime, what hair-statement are you making now or thinking about making?