Sometimes I can’t believe I used to hate my curly hair - a thread:

I grew up watching my mom straighten her hair almost daily. By the age of 10 I had only seen my mother’s natural curls a handful of times - no joke.

My hair was the source of so much anguish. No one knew how to care for it and I would get visibly frustrated and upset if there were any “sticky ups” or curls escaping out of my slicked back tight ponytail for school.

Don’t even get me started on the detangling tantrums.

On birthdays and special occasions (الأعياد و المناسبات) I was allowed to join my mom at the salon to get my hair straightened. I felt like a princess every time.

This only further reaffirmed the belief already planted in my head - curly hair isn’t good enough for when you want to look “your best”.

No one ever complimented me on my curls - which granted were a frizzy untamed mess most of the time - but from ages 5 to 25 my straight locks garnered tons of attention every time.

At the age of 10 I moved to a new school. My curly hair was long enough for me to sit on and bullies took note. I learned a new word: “كشة" (colloquial Arabic for frizzy hair)

I spent high school begging my mom to let me get the chemical straightening treatments all my friends were getting and she flat-out refused. So every event, school picture, and even my graduation day meant blow dried straight hair.

In university I bought my first pair of straighteners and proceeded to heat treat my hair into my oblivion. My once bouncy curls turned into flat and frizzy waves.

I straightened my hair so often that new friends who saw my natural curls after a few months of knowing me often asked if I had gotten a perm.

In 2016 I learned through the interwebs that 90% of mainstream hair products are chemically designed to favor straight hair - even the ones labelled otherwise.

I educated myself on silicones and sulfates, gave my shampoos away & started experimenting with the curly girl method.

I stopped heat treating my hair and stuck it out through the awkward and frizzy transitional phase.

After trying about a million and one curly hair products, I found a routine that worked for me, and stuck to it.

Much to every Arab mother’s dismay, I even stopped straightening my hair for weddings. Curly up-do’s are possible ladies!

Maybe curls are back in style now, or maybe I just finally know how to care for it properly - but I constantly get compliments on my hair. From friends to colleagues to random strangers at the grocery store.

4 years later I still can’t believe I used to hate my curly hair. Mama’s and baba’s, please teach your daughters how to love their natural texture.

Curls are beautiful.