Professionals Keep It Kinky-SLY

braid out Stats
Display Name: SLY
Age: 25
Degrees: Bachelors in Sociology and Communications. Certification in Green Business

Industry: Finance and Trading, Theater

Title: Associate (for a trading firm), Stage Manager (for theater)

Questions
1. Based on your profession and corporate culture, what were your primary concerns about wearing natural hair in the workplace? How did you overcome them?

I used to work in the hospitality industry as a Front Office Training Manager and it was at that job where your physical appearance was dictated by the latest company memo. They were as detailed as wanting all the women to wear the same pearls, one ring per hand, and well kept hair. While there were many women who wore their natural hair, there were limits on the types of styles. They were okay with anything except for an afro. On the flip side there was a Caucasian girl with LOTS of curls and one day she came to work with her hair all over the place and they asked her to tame them and pin them back too. While they didn’t discriminate against natural hair, they did have a specific standard that they felt was appropriate.

With the company I work for now, they are more progressive. We don’t have a dress code. Business casual would be an overstatement. Therefore with the freedom of a more relaxed culture, I have even come to work in an afro at times. I don’t do it often but every now and then, I can be seen walking around the office with one. I don’t have many concerns with my hair. My main concern is on days when on my way to work, the weather wreaks havoc on it and I don’t have any bobby pins. As a stage manager, I can also wear my hair pretty much any kind of way that I want.

2. How did your co-workers, clients and boss respond when you revealed your new do?

I’ve worn my hair natural since college, therefore every professional job I have, I interviewed with my natural hair. The job that I have now, I interviewed with shoulder length locs and the day before my first day of work, I grew tired of the locs, pulled a Britney and cut all my hair off. When I came in that day, everyone just looked at me trying to figure out what had changed since the interview.

3. Has your performance been rewarded since you’ve been natural? If not, do you believe your hair has been a factor? Any regrets?

I’m not sure that I understand the question. Being that I’ve always been natural during my professional career, my performance, qualifications, results produced, and overall personality and character has always been used to judge my pay grade, bonuses and such. Do I believe my hair has held me back from promotions, benefits, and such…absolutely not. With straight or curly hair, I’d be just a successful in hospitality, finance or theater.

4. What advice would you offer a professional peer who’s on the fence about going natural?

My advice would be based on what your concerns were. Before my mother went natural, she was concerned that she would be limited by her style choices. Others aren’t sure that they will be able to maintain their hair. Others fear the opinions they will receive from people regarding their hair. My advice is to DO YOU. Do what you feel comfortable with. If you aren’t sure whether to go natural or not, DON’T. Wait until you are ready. I was on the fence for two years and then one day I was just ready. My concerns and fears had no place. I just knew I was tired of what I was doing before and that there must be something more natural, simpler, less expensive.

Blog: http://sociologyofsheena.blogspot.com and http://granolatendencies.blogspot.com

YouTube: http://youtube.com/sheenalyoung

Twitter: http://twitter.com/granolaist

stage managing a show

big twist out pinned back style

7 comments:

  1. I love the pics. You definitely sport it well. I am transitioning right now and some days I get antsy to just 'go Britney' but then I pull it back and talk myself into waiting some more. It's easy to feel pressure by the Natural community to just commit and jump in, but I like Sly's advice of just DO YOU and then one day you'll know when the time is right...

    My best, Lynn

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  2. Thanks Lynn. Its true. I think if you do something before you are ready, on the bad hair days, you may regret it and then get a perm again. Because I waited until I was completely ready, I was able to fully embrace being natural!

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  3. Great pictures and your hair looks great and healthy.

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  4. You inspire me! ;-)

    http://www.befreedoyou.com

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  5. Right now, I'm rockin a small fro. I cannot wait til it gets huge. I have so many plans for it. You look great!

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  6. I love the pictures too. I found the line of questioning to be interesting. I've often heard sistas say that they can't wear natural hair to work.

    I've always worn my hair natural, from a fro to braids to locks, and even damn near bald! I've never EVER had a problem with my hair, at work. Oh, except for that time this ignorant ass white man told me to put some curls in my hair or something, when I was working at McDonalds. LOL I told him "this is my hair, and this is WHAT IT DO". LOL

    He wanted me to make it nice for some people who were coming by to visit. HA! Make yourSELF nice. I'm good like I am, and if you don't like it, I don't know what to tell you, dog. I've always had the attitude that I'm beautiful the way I am, though.

    I realize that not everyone has been blessed with that idea, philosophy and view of who and what they are. I had one sista tell me that 'white people don't want to see you be proud of who you are', as she was discouraging from entering the field of motivational speaker/corporate trainer.

    And then there was the time that I went on a temp assignment, back in the 80s, with baby locks and the sistas looked at me like I was the plague. Those were my only 'incidents,' and neither time did I take it personallly, as if it meant that there was something wrong with ME.

    Like my mother used to tell me "you don't have to like everybody and everybody doesn't have to like you." So sista, do you.

    I have to admit that going into the world with baby locks in the 80s was scary, because I was a young mother with two children. But I was in a phase of learning to truly love and accept myself, so I took my spirit into the world, and let it shine through. And I noticed that people responded to my spirit and my drive. I went to school and was invited to teach there, before I finished.

    That was the beginning of my teaching career. If someone is gonna discriminate against you because ... well, basically because you're Black, your hair isn't gonna make that different. It doesn't matter how much you fry, die or lay it to the side, you're still Black and they know it.

    Why should I hang my head and try to hide who I am? It can be a struggle to love ourselves because of the years of oppression and messages that say who we are isn't good enough.

    But making you think that there's something wrong with you is how folks get rich off of you. It's what sends you to the store to buy all kinds of things that make you feel better about yourself.

    That consciousness alone is helpful.

    signed,
    a little pontification:)

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