Article written by Tapiwa Mbaiwa
Excuse me queens! My apologies I meant goddesses, yes you with the kinky, coily curls; your shrinkage is impeccable and that’s on period!
Natural hair myth you should NOT believe :
1. Good hair comes from good genes.
2. Using rice water (it’s not for all hair types)
3. Not washing your hair so it will grow
4. Natural hair can’t grow long.
5. Shrinkage is bad.
6. Natural hair is hard to maintain.— CocoBaby (@a_black_chica) August 18, 2022
For those of you that have no clue what I’m rambling on about, allow me to educate you, “shrinkage” as has been dubbed by the natural hair community is the phenomenon when hair appears shorter than it actually is especially after being drenched in water or when humidity hits.
My shrinkage is so bad I can’t believe it, the difference in my hair length before and after washing is so much
— Iseni (@isenigb) August 20, 2022
So why on earth am I calling it beautiful?
Well, when your hair shrinks it means it has the ability to retain moisture, shrinkage is a great thing despite everything you’ve been told. Shrinkage means your hair is versatile, shrinkage means your hair is healthy, shrinkage means your hair is elastic. In other words, all the gel and mousse in the world couldn’t tame this mane!!!ROAR!!!
#myhairis a thick, coily, hard to manage, 4c afro. it’s has massive shrinkage, it’s painful to do, and it won’t stay straight for more than a few minutes. i hated it on me. i wore braids, wigs, and weaves to hide it until quarantine made me stop. but i think it’s kinda cute now. pic.twitter.com/RVdf8KsAty
— arlecchino’s wife (@NYMPHNOlR) July 29, 2020
On the downside society views shrinkage as unappealing, ugly and unkempt. As 4C royalty myself I got the raw end of the deal. The backlash that comes with wearing the coiliest of hair types in its shrunken state is colossal. I had a guy say to his friend and I quote “Don’t worry, her hair isn’t usually like this”. Imagine being told that the hair that grows out of your head isn’t up to societal standards. Do you have any idea the time, energy and the stamina that goes into the perfect wash and go (I’ll insert a link on what that is below)? Anyway chilee! I wanted to hurt him so bad!!!!but then I realised that this is a universal problem that continues to persist because western beauty standards are what have been deemed acceptable for millennia.
The amount of people calling 4C hair dry and unkept in the quotes is giving me antiblackness (mixed with texturism, classism and colourism of course) but …. that’s nothing new !
— Afro-African (@cocoasehnel) February 24, 2021
Have you ever wondered how making snide comments about someone’s hair will impact their self-esteem heck their confidence? Society has groomed black girls who feel the constant need to have “presentable”, “manageable”, straight or stretched hair all the time. There is this constant need to please others and be more desirable which I find sad.
i think it’s very important for black women w 4C to remember that they don’t have to explain shrinkage to anyone. ya hair ain’t gotta be long to be beautiful, even if it is short it’s still fire. i understand that’s not the intent i just feel like it doesn’t hurt to say
— sexy (@handsomelyrude) December 12, 2020
Today I want to preach self-love. Learn to love your natural features. If you don’t love who you are when you look in the mirror then you’ll be pressed about how others perceive you. Love the curls under that silk bonnet and remember to shower them with love as well. For the longest time I hated my 4C hair it was nappy and for lack of a better term “wild”, I felt like a cavewoman. When I finally decided to take better care of it and wear it as a “wash and go” (the lowest form of hair manipulation) it became one of my signature hairstyles. You need to let go of unrealistic and unattainable beauty standards TODAY.
4C shrinkage be like…💁🏾♀️😍 pic.twitter.com/vnTKG1ogLN
— ❤️Extraaa (@Sweet_Tweeetz) March 9, 2021
Before you come at me about how stretched and straight hair are just as beautiful. I agree with you. In fact, my hair is stretched to the max as we speak. I however didn’t come here to tell you how to stretch your hair or which products to use as it will be counter productive to this blog post. I would love for you to embrace your shrinkage, fall in love with it. Bear in mind it won’t happen overnight I mean they don’t call it a “natural hair journey” for nothing, it’s bound to be bumpy and messy, you just have to trust the process.
I really have a love/hate relationship with my shrinkage. I like knowing my hair is healthy, but it really makes it look like I have 3 inches of hair 😐
— karinne steffans (@knndygm) August 15, 2022
To everyone who has asked me when I’m relaxing my hair, we’re all good here sweetheart. I’m sorry the confidence I exude and will continue to exude threatens what you’ve been taught. I am beautiful and so is my shrinkage. Also, who died and made you people connoisseurs on MY HAIR, I shall wear it however I like. I look like Whitney Houston at the beginning of the week only to look like Baldylocks and the three hairs by Friday.
it's okay to have 4C hair. to have shrinkage. to have no curl definition sometimes. to have your hair dry up soon as you put water on it. to have your hair be passed your shoulders when it is wet and then above your ears when it's dry. 4C hair is beautiful. pic.twitter.com/8ug4FdmhYG
— Future Billionaire (@nadislight) June 24, 2020
We need to band together to deconstruct societal norms especially when they impact how you view your natural features. You were blessed with that crown on your head. My fellow matriarchs you are endowed with the greatest of hair types that can transform with just a spritz of water, OWN IT, you are as sovereign and as majestic as you think you are.
I hope these songs can convey what I failed to capture in this article, black girls need anthems too:
