A Lesson on Hair

Did you know that singer Beyonce’s hair isn’t really hers at all? Apparently she had it infused. I don’t remember how I learned that. Media I’m sure. Yesterday, I was talking to my friend K at work, and she’d just gotten her hair done. It’s super cute by the way, but I digress. I forget what I asked – oh yes – about the color… but one thing lead to another and soon we were talking about whose hair was real and whose wasn’t of everyone at work. I had the brains enough to know a couple people had extensions or “fake hair” (despite the fact that it is really real hair, just not alive in the sense that we typically think…wait, isn’t hair dead? Hmm…) but some of people she listed… oh, the shock!

Last year I learned that there were grades of hair. People either have “good” hair or “bad” hair. I’m not really sure what the “grade” means. Is it A, B, C, D, F like in school? Or is it a numerical thing like grade 1 or grade 8 or 10? All I hear people say is good or bad. I do know it has something to do with the softness. Maybe when K sees this she’ll comment so we’ll know.

I should also mention that I’m talking about black people hair. I don’t really like to say African American. No one says that unless they’re white and oversensitive or afraid because they think they’re going to get beat up, robbed, or mugged and called racist if they say “black.” To be honest, if I was in Moyewood passing out condoms (I don’t think I’ve ever posted about my job…that’s another day…but you should know Moyewood has always been the “rougher” neighborhood in town) and I said something to someone referencing “African American” I probably would get my butt kicked. Just say black, people. Do I like being called Caucasian? Not really. Call me white. Ooh this just reminded me of a story with my friend I who is from Rwanda. When she got her US citizenship I asked how she’d list her race because technically she wasn’t “African America” as most people. She said, “just call me black.”

Anyway…back to the hair. I was watching 10 Years Younger on TLC not too long ago and a black lady was featured. She was really pretty, middle aged, and I started watching about the time they were doing her hair. It was really short so I was curious to see what they’d do. One guy came in and braided it all in a spiral circle really tight on her head then another guy used a needle and thread and sewed some hair to the braids. I felt like I’d just seen how the magic trick was done. THIS is how it’s done? Who knew?

So back to yesterday… K came in and when I commented on the new ‘do I immediately asked if it was sewn to her hair. No. It wasn’t. Huh? Then how does it stay on? “It’s glued.” “How?” She then proceeded to show me. I saw it and acted like I understood but I still sorta don’t get it. I kinda do but not really.

Sorry if you thought Beyonce had good hair.