Nicole |
Nicole Fana Brito, 19
Originally from Puerto Rico Parents and family are from the DR Currently lives in Greenbelt, MD 6 April 2016 |
Victoria Awkward: When I say the phrase “natural hair” what
does it mean to you?
Nicole Fana Brito: Natural hair means different things. It is hair that is untouched, virgin; you letting it grow alone, happily, unbothered.
Nicole Fana Brito: Natural hair means different things. It is hair that is untouched, virgin; you letting it grow alone, happily, unbothered.
VA: Has someone said negative/hurtful commentary about your hair either purposely or mistakenly? What were they? Why did they hurt?
NFB: My little sister said why aren’t you blow-drying your hair. I responded that I did not want to. I cut my hair because it was unhealthy. I decided to go natural because it is better for me. But she continues to insist that I should put heat in my hair to make it flat. She thinks it would look better if blow-dry it. But I don’t want to, that was the point of going natural. I don’t want to put any heat it in. And other people would say, you look good with your hair but you should get a Brazilian sew-in or you should straighten your hair.
NFB: My little sister said why aren’t you blow-drying your hair. I responded that I did not want to. I cut my hair because it was unhealthy. I decided to go natural because it is better for me. But she continues to insist that I should put heat in my hair to make it flat. She thinks it would look better if blow-dry it. But I don’t want to, that was the point of going natural. I don’t want to put any heat it in. And other people would say, you look good with your hair but you should get a Brazilian sew-in or you should straighten your hair.
VA: Why decide to cut you hair?
NFB: I cut my hair about a month ago. In the beginning of the year my grandma decided to stop perming my hair because it was hurting my hair plus I would not have the time to go the salon. She wanted to let me hair grow out and after it grew out we would cut the dead hair. But many things were happening and I had a crazy idea to cut my hair sooner instead of later and my grandma agreed with me. You know change is good.
VA: What was the hardest part about transitioning to natural hair?
NFB: It’s was hard for me to get used to it because every morning waking up with short hair it’s different. At first it was hard for me to see myself with short hair; it took me a while to get used to it. But I don’t regret it.
NFB: I cut my hair about a month ago. In the beginning of the year my grandma decided to stop perming my hair because it was hurting my hair plus I would not have the time to go the salon. She wanted to let me hair grow out and after it grew out we would cut the dead hair. But many things were happening and I had a crazy idea to cut my hair sooner instead of later and my grandma agreed with me. You know change is good.
VA: What was the hardest part about transitioning to natural hair?
NFB: It’s was hard for me to get used to it because every morning waking up with short hair it’s different. At first it was hard for me to see myself with short hair; it took me a while to get used to it. But I don’t regret it.
VA: How is hair important to you? Is it important to you?
NFB: Like I said, I didn’t have time to go to a hair salon, so last semester it wasn’t important. Before I cut my hair I would just wash it and let it be. After cutting my hair I care about my hair more. I think my hair looks better now. I’m trying to care more about my hair. But I don’t know what to do with it. I have to learn how to style it.
NFB: Like I said, I didn’t have time to go to a hair salon, so last semester it wasn’t important. Before I cut my hair I would just wash it and let it be. After cutting my hair I care about my hair more. I think my hair looks better now. I’m trying to care more about my hair. But I don’t know what to do with it. I have to learn how to style it.
VA: How often do you see POC with curly hair or locs in the media?
NFB: Not a lot. People usually have weave or bundles or straight hair.
VA: Why do you think that is?
NFB: Society teaches girls that natural hair doesn’t look good. I’ve experienced this as a kid. When I was young in school, girls had their hair straight and I had my beautiful natural hair. I wore my hair in braids a lot with the little ties. People called me an octopus and so that’s why my grandmother permed my hair because people made fun of my hair. So society teaches people that your hair should be straight because that is “better”. Your nappy and bushy hair does not look good; it has to be straight because that is what society wants.
NFB: Not a lot. People usually have weave or bundles or straight hair.
VA: Why do you think that is?
NFB: Society teaches girls that natural hair doesn’t look good. I’ve experienced this as a kid. When I was young in school, girls had their hair straight and I had my beautiful natural hair. I wore my hair in braids a lot with the little ties. People called me an octopus and so that’s why my grandmother permed my hair because people made fun of my hair. So society teaches people that your hair should be straight because that is “better”. Your nappy and bushy hair does not look good; it has to be straight because that is what society wants.
VA: Does whitewashing/misrepresentation of POC in the media affect children of color and their perception of their natural features?
NFB: Yes, because they see all these things in the media and they get the sense as they grow that they have bad hair. So they have to put heat and chemicals in to be accepted by society. Which in reality doesn’t matter.
NFB: Yes, because they see all these things in the media and they get the sense as they grow that they have bad hair. So they have to put heat and chemicals in to be accepted by society. Which in reality doesn’t matter.
VA: Do you feel that the problems people of color face with their hair reflect a bigger issue in society?
NFB: Yes, there are many stereotypes about people with natural hair. They think that it is dirty or it’s not neat, unkempt. There are so many negative things people say, it’s nappy, ugly, hard and not beautiful. I think that natural hair is totally the opposite.
NFB: Yes, there are many stereotypes about people with natural hair. They think that it is dirty or it’s not neat, unkempt. There are so many negative things people say, it’s nappy, ugly, hard and not beautiful. I think that natural hair is totally the opposite.
VA: If you had to give advice to a young person of color who was struggling with their natural beauty what would it be?
NFB: Embrace it because fighting it does not help you. Trying to fit in does not work. I tried to fit in and be like the other girls. But it did not work because as hard as I tried, I never fit in because I am different. I accept myself and that made me a better person. I want to show others that I am different but that doesn’t mean I’m less or better than them. We are equal. I am a person of color and that may be different from you but I’m still beautiful, I can be successful and I will do important things.
NFB: Embrace it because fighting it does not help you. Trying to fit in does not work. I tried to fit in and be like the other girls. But it did not work because as hard as I tried, I never fit in because I am different. I accept myself and that made me a better person. I want to show others that I am different but that doesn’t mean I’m less or better than them. We are equal. I am a person of color and that may be different from you but I’m still beautiful, I can be successful and I will do important things.
Photographer: Victoria Awkward
Interviewer: Victoria Awkward
Interviewer: Victoria Awkward