The rather recent natural hair movement has positively transformed the views of many black women - where we used to alter the strands of our hair as a means of fitting into the Eurocentric mold of beauty and conforming to society's view of what's acceptable, many of us are now celebrating our coils and kinks and embracing our hair in its natural state.

Now that we have high-profile public figures and politicians rocking natural hairstyles, they are paving the way for respect and acceptance in professional settings by simply existing in those spaces...[1]

Things are starting to change for good because of the increase in diverse representations. Having black women in different roles of power and influence, whom the younger generation can look up to, empowers a multitude of black women to make decisions on how to wear their hair freely and without judgment. 

This also actively ensures that mind-bending conversations are being made and that policies which prompt acceptance will continue to be implemented worldwide.

A lot of black girls, when growing up, were made to believe that if their hair wasn't straightened for a public event, then it wasn't groomed, which alternatively meant they didn't care for or value their appearance; it was almost made a requirement [1]. 

Therefore, the significance of these positive representations in the media and the purpose they serve is to reaffirm to young black girls that it is absolutely fine to embrace themselves in their natural state; they do not need to be worried about others' perception of them because of their hair. 

 Black women are also licensed with the right to celebrate their autonomy, self-determination and natural beauty [1]. Young black girls should freely express themselves; they can and ought to rock their Black girl magic in braids, twists, locs, extensions, and an Afro. 

Alison Harvey (2020) reaffirms this in her book; she keenly sets out that when negative stereotypes are shifted to positively portray ideas about certain communities or groups, in this case, black women, then countertypes are developed and produced [2].

Through the powerful representations of black women in different hairstyles emerging in the media in recent years, such as Kentaji Brown and Tomi Adeyemi (pictures included), many younger black women are presented with possibilities to picture themselves in said positions of power and influence, and this is an opportunity which was unavailable to black girls in the past.

But then, what is the reason for Black hair being a distinct topic of political discussion? 

Black hair is political; for centuries, black hair has been a topic of political discussion and, at times, under attack by legal systems. Black hair is unique and commonly misunderstood, and when left in its natural state, it stands out...and also stands up [1].