Don't Let My Curly Hair Fool You

I have naturally curly hair. It's big; it's wild; and folks love it. I get all kinds of compliments on my curly hair as if I did some magical thing to make my hair do what it does.

Can't live without this product!

Do you want the truth? My curls owe all their fabulous-ness to the product I use. My hairdresser told me about Mixed Chicks a few years ago, and I've been hooked ever since. Without the right product, my hair would be one giant frizz ball. Not to sound like a commercial for Mixed Chicks or anything, but I do swear by it to make my curls look good.

You know how no one would dare reach out and touch a stranger's stomach, but pregnancy seems to make it ok to touch a woman's belly? Curly hair is like that. Most people wouldn't reach out and touch someone else's hair. But when your hair is wild and curly, the same rules don't necessarily apply. People love to scrunch my curls or pull on them to watch them bounce back. I'm not kidding.

In case you know me in real life, you should know that I don't really mind. If I did, I'd tell you.

In addition to breaking the personal space rules, I've learned that curly hair sends a message to others about my personality. Folks see my curls and think I'm a fun, carefree, open book. I've been called an extroverted extrovert.

Love my curls - but there is more to me than my curls

My curls have labeled me.

Yes, my hair is curly. Yes, the message that it sends about my personality is partly true. But there is more to me than my outgoing personality.

Sometimes I'm not in the mood to be outgoing.
Sometimes I really need to stay home and soak up some quiet.
Sometimes I don't want to socialize or make others laugh.
Sometimes I want to sit in the corner and watch. And that's ok.

I'm more than my curly hair. And living with the label that comes with it can be exhausting. I feel compelled to perform. As if being quiet, reserved or uncertain are just not options for me.

Seriously? A whole post about curly hair? Where am I going with this?

I've been giving a lot of thought to labels lately. My friend Susan wrote a fantastic post about labels and the positive and negative ways they impact our lives.

We all have labels (self-imposed labels and those given to us by others). The label that comes with my hair is minor compared to the labels that others have to live with.

Here's my encouragement to you today:

Do you have labels you don't want to wear? It's ok to shed them! It's ok not to be the person others are telling you to be! God has created you in a unique way! Be who He wants you to be!

Whether the labels are self-imposed or pasted on you by others, be sure they are labels you want to wear proudly. If they are, relish them! Enjoy being that person!

What about you? What labels do you wish you could shed? Which ones are you happy about? I always love to hear what you have to say!



Linking up with Pour Your Heart Out.