San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Tell us how your hair expresses you
Styles aren’t just cosmetic — they’re tied to identity, community and culture
Last year, California became the first state to enact the Crown Act, expanding the definition of race to include natural hair and protective hairstyles, including braids, twists, and dreadlocks. The law made it illegal to discriminate against people for their natural hair in the workplace and in schools.
Since the legislation was introduced in the California Legislature in 2019, it has been adopted in nine additional states and by over 20 local governments. The bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last year and was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate in March after dying without a vote the previous year.
The legislation addresses a downstream impact of bias, but how can we do more to address the root of bias in hair? What can we learn from hearing each other’s hair stories and sifting through our own hair memories? We want to hear from you.
We know that hair is more than cosmetic. There is history in our hair. It can help us find a community or make us feel very alone. Hair is tied to identity, selfworth and beauty culture — as much a reflection of our style and how much time we had that morning, as an acknowledgment of what we’ve been through and how we hope to be seen.
Whatever your hair journey, we want to hear about it. Tell us about your relationship with your hair. How has it changed over time? How do you think people perceive you and your hair? What have you learned over the years? What do you continue to struggle with?
Send your hair journey reflection to culture@ sfchronicle.com with the subject line “My Hair,” and we’ll publish a selection of responses. In your response, please include answers to the following: How much money do you spend on your hair each year for products and services? How much conditioner do you use in your hair? (If it helps, compare the size in your palm to objects, like “a dimesize amount” or “three golfballsize mounds.”) If you would like to keep your letter anonymous, please say so in your submission. Please be as specific as possible, but try to keep it concise. We may edit your submission for clarity, spelling and grammar.
Feel free to include stories — everything from triumphs and discoveries to cautionary tales — as well as descriptions and helpful tips for readers. We look forward to hearing from you!