What do you think about black women with straightened hair?
Let me start by saying that I am the only black girl at my job. OK.
Now, usually I wear my hair straight in a chemically relaxed style. No specific reason why, to me straightened hair is more versatile and easier to wear into style than a natural (afro or dreadlocked) style. Since I have been working at this job, I have usually worn my hair the same. Either wrapped (which is down), half up and down, either a bump in the front or parted on the side, and/or in a low ponytail. Of course, occasionally I get the questions like-- "Do you wash your hair everyday?" "Can I touch it" etc. Since I am the only black girl, some level of this is to be expected and I take it as face value and it's no big deal. I mean, for some of my coworkers I am the only person of color they interact with. So whatever.
Ok, so this morning I just did not have the time to flatiron my hair. So I did six flat twists in the front and put the back up into a knot. The second I walked into work, three seperate people asked me, "What did you do to your hair?!" "What's wrong with your hair?" "What's with the weird hairstyle today?" The tirade of hair questions lasted all day. I smiled and was polite, but after about the, oh say, 14th mention of it, it started to piss me off.
It offended but also intrigued me. I mean, I always hear people of other races saying how black women are trying to be white by straightening their hair (not true, how about you try combing through your hair and it's painful and you break the teeth out of the comb, then talk to me about my styling options. No, I don't have "ringlets", my sh!t is like steel wool when I don't relax it)
But the second I wear a semi-natural style, it's a huge ordeal. So, of course, my coworkers would never tell me how they really feel about it but I could tell they didn't approve. One of my managers actually told me that it looked "messy" today and I should make it "back to normal" before tomorrow's shift. Another manager again asked me what did I do to my hair.
I know the answers community is honest, so really what do you think of straightened hair on black women? Do you look at a woman with straightened hair or with natural (afro, dreads) differently. Do you think certain styles look too ethnic and are not appropriate for the workplace, and why? Do you have more respect for black women with straightened hair? Men, do you think straightened hair is more attractive, if you like black women at all?
Please be honest. I'm very curious about this subject.
BTW, I work retail at a VERY popular and expensive clothing chain.
To the last statement-- yeah, I'm not looking to make a political statement. I just didn't feel like straightening my hair that day. I really don't feel like having the anti-perm convo... it's a personal choice.
Help, i haven't been to the dentist in over a year.?
I'm 19 years old now and i'm pretty sure i have at least two cavities and really severe plaque build up. I know if i go to the dentist they will give me fillings and scrape and drill and all that really horrible stuff. I stopped going to the dentist because usually when i go the pain and stress makes me pass out. which makes the whole dentist experience a 2-3 hour ordeal... What should i do? Is there anyway i could get them to put me to sleep like they did for my wisdom teeth?
What kind of surgeries have you had in your life?
I've had a c-section....ugly scar...beautiful boy.
gall bladder removed....small scar just under bra strap....itches in the hot weather
laser surgery "down south"....removed some erosion...serious troubles holding "it" after that.....where's the bathroom?!
emergency dental surgery....dentist broke my jaw trying to remove a tooth...ouch!
anybody been under the knife more than that? how about never needed surgery at all? good for you if its you.
ooooh forgot I had my tonsils out....yummy ice cream for breakfast lunch and dinner
dont even remind me of the gall bladder ordeal....one full year of hell on earth until doc decided to check the gall bladder.....poor me
Another gingivitis question?
I've been struggling with gingivitis for years. I've always been able to keep it under control but for the past week or so almost the whole of my gums have been swollen and red; they also bleed when I brush my teeth, of course. At the beginning of this ordeal, they didn't hurt at all nor were they uncomfortable. I'm unable to visit a dentist because I don't have insurance and I'm broke, so I've been treating the condition as thoroughly as I can at home. This has involved a variety of methods including rubbing baking soda and peroxide on my teeth, rinsing with salt water, drinking mint tea, rinsing my mouth with peroxide, rubbing peppermint and clove oils on my gums, massaging my gums, as well as brushing twice a day (pouring peroxide on my toothbrush) with fluoride toothpaste, flossing at night, and rinsing with fluoride mouthwash once a day.
Now, after four or five days of these treatments, my gums are much less swollen, they don't bleed as much, and they seem to be getting better overall, but the longer these treatments go on, the more pain they cause - brushing and rinsing with anything is almost torture, not to mention eating; when they don't hurt, they itch, but that is much more tolerable.
My actual question is, is this pain and itching a good sign or a bad sign? They say that when a wound itches it means it's healing. Does this condition feel worse before it feels better?
You know, I would love to see a dentist, I really would, but not having insurance and being broke really makes it difficult to do so.
Please explain to me how I'm supposed to see a dentist when I don't have any money.
I brush once without toothpaste, and then again with tootpaste – is this harmful to my teeth?
Lately I've been noticing that my front top teeth are deteriorating (From canine to canine). This is a huge ordeal for me as I have phobias of incomplete body parts.
If I drink a lot of milk or keep the milk in my mouth for several minutes will my teeth become stronger? I havent drank any milk in several, several days and I'm thinking this might be the cause.
How can I get fluoride and the right enamel protection which I seem to be devoid of?