hair politics (part 1)

via http://shootofheroine.tumblr.com/

This is some crazy beautiful hair. So, surprise, I have a lot to say about hair- women's hair in particular- and the subtle politics that surround what is and what is not appropriate hair, hair that supposedly makes you look beautiful, natural, young, not too young, mature, professional, etc. The disciplinary tone of this narrative becomes even more pronounced and violent in relation to black women's hair (a topic that I hope to comment on in the future, but for now, because I am tired I will just speak in generalities, with the promise of continuing the discussion at a later date).
I wanted to share a quick story about my own recent experiences with hair colour and the thoughts and discussions that have come from taking, what some would consider, a huge risk! Last winter I decided to dye my hair bright purple. I did so fully knowing that my hair would not look "natural," that such a bold style would make my round youngish face appear even less mature and most importantly, that I would not look professional. Just last year, I was paranoid that my 4th year university students wouldn't take me seriously and so I consistently wore clothing that I would only wear if I was going for a job interview. Yet, one year later I rocked a bright violet do. While my self-conscious side tells me I've been labelled as having a mid-life crisis, (and though I would agree that my stress and anxiety levels are probably at an all-time high) I don't think it is an appropriate or fair label. As a young girl and later a younger women, I never wanted to dye my hair purple. Younger me would have thought that would make me look "freak-ish" and ultimately not attractive. To my understanding, I just all of a sudden wanted to (and I wasn't interviewing for a full-time job, so it wasn't too risky). Growing up I was so concerned with looking 'naturally beautiful' -- a common goal set out for women that often leads to routines replete with gadgets and gizmos that, I hesitate to say are "unnatural" for fear of perpetuating problematic discourse. Lets just say, the goal of looking naturally beautiful often leads women to hurting themselves in one form or another.
I recently had a conversation with my sister-in-law about the appropriate time to allow one's daughter to dye her hair. She believed that if a mother let her daughter dye her hair a shocking colour too young, she was sending the wrong message. According to her, the daughter would grow up thinking that she was never beautiful enough. Now I know for a fact that this sense of inadequacy plagues many girls and women regardless of whether their hair is brown or dyed green, so I found the comment striking. Of course we don't want our daughters to develop issues with inadequacy early on in life, but what is the relationship between these feelings and notions of what is and what is not "natural" or "naturally beautiful"?
... something to think about.  (wow, that ended up being much longer than I had anticipated! apologies for the loose, rambly structure)