I. AM. NOT. MY. HAIR.

Sometime last year I read Kurly Kichana’s hilarious and oh so relatable blog post on things they hate about being natural. Well, I have a couple of my own but something that’s been making me smile awkwardly while clenching my teeth is: Being Afro Girl.

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My name is Aisha. My favourite colour is hot pink. I believe in God as well as fate and the big bang theory hasn’t convinced me of Earth’s origins. I enjoy creative brain farts and think that Grey’s Anatomy is one of the best shows currently on TV; as well as Dexter and Game of Thrones. I don’t believe in the death penalty, or post 20 weeks abortion, or that rape is ever a woman’s fault. I think that Dido, Alanis Morisette and Florence and the Machine have written some of the greatest song lyrics. I believe that teachers are the most unappreciated professionals and that education is key to curbing poverty, crime and demanding better from our governments. My greatest strength and weakness are one: when I love, I love deeply. I happen to wear my hair in an afro.

On more than one occasion, I’ve rocked up to someone’s house or an event or bumped into them in the shops wearing my hair in a cute updo or in a protective style to be greeted with “Oh hey, where’s the fro? I wanted to see the fro!” followed by an extremely awkward I’m-so-disappointed-and-now-I-don’t-know-what-to-talk-to-you-about face. Mind you, these are people who knew me even before I went natural. I know I have a blog that talks about natural hair, but I do it because it’s one of the things I enjoy to do. It doesn’t define me and I am more than that. In the words of India Arie (who by the way I do not look like just because we both have natural hair), I AM NOT MY HAIR!

Oh and on that note, yes Kelis, Jimi Hendrix and little black babies all have or had afros but that doesn’t mean I look like them. Can you believe a guy in a pub told me the other day (presumably as a pick up line) “You know, you remind me of Kelis” Umm, how? “The hair!” *cheesy grin while patting my free fro down* I promptly removed myself from the situation before I smacked him.

Phew, that feels better. Needed to get it out there. I’m not an angry person, please don’t let this blog post make you think otherwise 😉