The Hair Chronicles: Cultural Identity, Beauty, and Self-Love

Blindian Brown Girls Podcast

In this episode of Blindian Brown Girls, we dive into the unique challenges of raising mixed-race kids, especially when it comes to navigating hair and identity. From daughters wanting hair like Elsa’s to sons proudly rocking their curls & their mixed race heritage, we explore how beauty standards, societal expectations, and even family opinions shape our children’s perceptions of themselves.

We talk about the differences in how boys and girls are treated when it comes to hair, how parents' and grandparents' views influence their sense of identity, and what it means to raise children who are proud of every part of who they are.

Things get raw as we share personal stories about our own struggles with hair growing up and how we’re trying to instill confidence and pride in our children’s natural beauty. Whether it’s dealing with cultural beauty standards, supporting our kids through identity questions, or finding a balance between cultural traditions and self-expression, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the intersections of race, identity, and parenting.

What We Discussed:

• The struggle of helping our mixed-race daughters love their curly hair when they want it to look like Elsa's straight braid.
• How boys’ curls are often praised while girls face stricter beauty expectations.The cultural and family pressures that come with hair and beauty standards, and how these influence our kids’ self-perception.
• The impact of societal beauty standards on our children’s sense of identity, especially for Black and mixed-race kids.
• Raising kids with pride in their mixed heritage and helping them navigate the pressures of cultural expectations.

A Few Things We Said:

• “She’s four years old and she’s watching all the Disney movies and it's beautiful because I love her love for herself, but it’s still such an innocent thing because she’s starting to grapple with, ‘Why can’t I have Elsa’s hair?’”
• “Boys with curls? People flock to them. Girls with curls? It’s like the standard is so much higher for them.”
• "My daughter has curls, but they don’t grow that long. I pull it out straight, and it’s still not where other kids' hair is. And long hair is the standard”

Please Connect with Us!

We’d love to hear your stories and thoughts! Follow us on Instagram @BlindianBrownGirls and join the conversation. Share how you’re navigating hair and identity with your kids and let’s keep this important dialogue going.

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