Womanhood and Hair

From the moment we grasp our first strand in tiny fingers to the day we decide our style is an act of self-definition, hair accompanies us on the journey of becoming women.

Across centuries and continents, hair has served as a barometer of identity, a canvas for cultural heritage, and a mirror reflecting both societal expectations and personal agency.

Historically, hair has been laden with meaning: in many African societies, intricate braids and plaits were maps of lineage, status, and community ties. During the centuries of displacement and diaspora, however, those traditions were supplanted by customs favouring European textures—reminders that conformity could ease survival in unfamiliar lands. That legacy lingers today, shaping the challenges we face when choosing whether to relax, weave, or embrace our natural patterns.

Photo by Polina Yet hair is also a realm of reclamation. Each time a woman decides to wear her coils unstraightened, she asserts a right to authenticity.  When we experiment with colour or chop off decades of chemical history, we are not merely changing our appearance; we are rewriting narratives imposed upon us. Our hair becomes a testament to resilience, creativity, and the courage to stand apart from narrow definitions of beauty.

The acts of washing, massaging, and styling our hair transform routine into ritual. In the quiet moments of applying oil or the shared laughter in a salon chair, we find connection and self-care. These rituals remind us that womanhood is not a static achievement but a process—one in which we learn, unlearn, and grow in concert with our strands.

As we look ahead, the future of womanhood and hair is bright with possibility. Emerging generations are redefining straightness and curl, unraveling old hierarchies, and celebrating diversity in texture and form. We find strength in community, in stories passed down and in new voices rising. Every brushstroke of care, every braid, every bold departure from convention is a step toward a world where hair, like womanhood, is understood as an expression of limitless potential.

Love MPL,

Your Hair Doctor