THE GIRL WITH THE BLUE BRAIDS

In my country, using colors for your hairstyle is very uncommon unless it is a natural color like brown. I am considered as a stranger. People do not think I am Senegalese because I am totally out of the Senegalese standards of beauty, habits and beliefs. It all started with my hairstyles. Senegalese individuals are still in that mood of perming their hair and wearing them black. I do not like that.

I like my hair natural, normal. I also adore braiding myself; it is easier to save money. I generally do box braids. I do not feel like using black hair extensions because everyone do so. To me, it is just too common, standard. When their common sense make them do black box braids, I do blue, green, yellow or red, not because I am a stranger, but because I like it that way. I already wore all the colors with different hairstyles. The first time, I got so many bad reviews from my friends, my family and even from people I did not know. Senegal is, sadly, a country based on stereotypes and judgments.

After all my hairstyle experiments, my favorites are clearly the green and mostly the blue box braids. I do it so often that I am now called ‘The girl with the blue braids”. It is also the way people recognize me in the streets of Dakar or on Instagram. If I could, I would always rock that hairstyle. I find it easy, not heavy. I can also do many other styles with them.

Many Senegalese come to me and tell me how different and weird I was. What comes out finally? They just end up whispering how bad they wanted to do colorful box braids but are scared of the reactions around them. I can understand that. It is not easy at all to face the looks, the judgments and opinions of people that do not accept what you like. Not everybody is ready to do so. Nonetheless, believe me, it is worthy.

It is okay to be different.