Hair

I’ve always had a complicated relationship with my hair.

We live in a world where beauty is seen as intrinsic to a woman’s self-worth and her ability to gain respect. But because these beauty standards often specifically exclude women of color, they send the message that we are not of any value if we don’t change ourselves to look “white enough.”

I went back to that same hair salon for the final time and walked out with black hair. More importantly, I walked out as the real Audrey Zhu. 

The point is, however, that being so engrossed with beauty can be a dangerous force when manifested within every corner of a person’s life. 

I thought it was the haircut that caused this transformation. But looking back, I think the transformation might have helped me find kindness in my hair.

The perfect hair routine takes time to create. Everyone’s hair is different, and therefore everyone’s hair care should be unique to them. The internet is a fantastic source of knowledge. Once you know your hair type, a multitude of resources can be found.

Through trial and error, I found a few solutions that worked and many that didn’t. Here is what I learned in my four-year journey of trying to grow my hair.

What you have is beautiful, and it’s what you’ve got, so own it. It's time to start investing it in yourself.