Once every two weeks, my mother would wash
and condition my hair as a young girl.
I inherited dull, coarse, and very kinky hair that
required a hot pressing comb to straighten it. Pressing was necessary in order
to navigate through the mane on my head. I was obsessed with having perfect
hair. In my finite thinking, long hair indicated beauty and I wanted it at any
cost. It was my crown of glory so to speak.
I vividly remember being in the second grade,
taking down my ponytails to get my hair washed. As I began combing, globs of
hair were coming from the top of my head. With every stroke, hair was in my
hands. I ran into the den to show my mother while screaming…My hair is
falling out! My mother was horrified. She could not believe what she was
seeing. I went blank after that. I have no memory of what happened the rest of
that night, except me crying.
The next few weeks, I went through a series
of tests and continued balding. My mother was given a prescription shampoo to
use daily to wash my hair. It was a painful process for the both of us. I cried
every day. My mother cried too, but she would cry and pray.
The top right side of my head was completely bald,
not a strand in sight. I was told my hair would never grow back. She said I
told my father she was trying to kill me. My mother would not accept the doctor’s
answer. She knitted a navy blue hat with a red flower for me to wear
every day. I wore it every single day, and she washed my hair every single
night. One day she stopped crying; she started to build my courage to endure.
She began planting the seed of prayer in my heart
as my tears watered them. I would hear her say, "Lord please let Sonya's
hair grow back." One day I began praying what I heard her say, and it was
so. It was several long months of prayers, but one day we saw growth. Fine
fuzzy hair started growing from the top of my head. I witnessed first-hand the
power of a praying mother. Little did I know, it was the beginning of my
faith walk in His plan for my life.
There are no photos of me in the navy blue hat or
without my hair. I was teased, taunted, and made fun of too many days. My
mother recognized the mental blow to my self-esteem and chose to protect me as
much as possible. No need to be reminded of the pain; I had been through enough
at this point. The above photo was taken in the third grade. I am in love with
this picture because my hair had grown back. It was my comeback moment! I
was so proud.
One day I promised the Lord if He allowed my hair
to never bald again, I would give Him glory with the hair I had left. He did
and I did. I still have moments of my hair thinning, but I keep praising and
thanking Him for what’s left.
I am reminded of the story in second Corinthians
12:7, the Apostle Paul prayed for the thorn in his flesh to be removed. It was
God's way of keeping him humbled. Although I'm not Paul, my hair keeps me
humble. Whenever my hair sheds, when being complimented on my hair, I say
thank you. It's God's way of encouraging me. He builds my self-esteem and
whispers sweet nothings in my ear. I AM the manicurist, makeup artist, hair and
wardrobe stylist. All for His glory.
Although you’re
not natural, do you think natural hair is a trend?
I do not think natural hair is a
trend. It is a way for some to express creativity; for others it could be
health reasons.
Do you believe
one’s style influences hair or vice-versa?
I definitely believe one’s style
influences their hair choice. Fashion does too.
As a stylist,
you dress women daily. What connection if any, do you find between looks (hair
specifically) and self-esteem?
Whatever is going on inwardly
will reflect in the outer appearance. When you say “I’m having a bad hair day,”
you are in essence saying a lot about your attitude. Your esteem is highly
affected by the way you think of yourself.
India Arie
said it best,
“I am not
my hair, I am not this skin, I am not your expectations;
I am a soul
deep within".
You are not
your hair, you are more...
There is
purpose inside of you, use it for
His Glory!!
Thank you Sonya, for sharing your hair story!
XoXo,
Demi
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