For black women, hair shows off creativity and culture. Hair has always been something by which black women have been distinguished; it's a characteristic they possess that makes them uniquely beautiful. 

However, hair is no longer something to just style in the case of black girls; it has become a distinctive feature that is encumbered with messages. It now has the power to dictate how others treat black women and how they feel 'should' feel about themselves [1].

The styling of black women's hair in today's society is prevalently taken out of proportion and magnified to become the one thing they are known for. Their hair is no longer associated to them as an individual, but rather, they become associated solely to their hair and the way it is styled. 

Many times, this decision is not made on the terms of black women; it has proven to be something which is imposed on them in the spaces they find themselves in. 

Each black woman can testify of her own story or hair journey, which is often marked by her own personal struggles and challenges that occurred as a result of navigating her hair on different occasions. 

Hair and cultural identity has been a noteworthy topic in the black community. To understand the emotional significance hair has on black culture and identity, one must first take a deeper look into the histories of social oppression and racial discrimination that forced black women into hiding their hair [2]. 

Why do others care so deeply about what a black woman chooses to do with her hair? Does a black woman not have the freedom to choose to wear her hair however she prefers? 

These are the questions that should then be posed; black women do have the right to wear their here however they please, the challenge lies in realizing that they are bound to one particular hairstyle simply to make those around them feel comfortable, as that is extremely prohibitive. 

This essentialism identity permeates stereotyping, and it is predicated on the belief that nappy, kinky, Afro hair is wrong, and long, straight (i.e. White and Asian) hair is right. [1]

Judith Butler (1990) explains to us that "the body gains meaning within discourse only in the context of power relations" (p.117) [3]. 

In this manner, Black hair is merely not just about hair; it is about identity. It is the convergence of hegemonic norms and black individuality [1].