It sucks having black hair..

I know the title may be throwing you off but this was the topic of a discussion a few of my girlfriends and I had last weekend. These particular friends had various hairstyles.

There were two loc rockers, two permies and a sista with a TWA (teeny weeny afro). I don't even know how we got on this topic but before I knew it we were all dramatically expressing our woes of having Black hair.

"It's like no matter how a Black woman wears her hair, it's ALWAYS going to be a hassle."

"We can never NOT put a satin scarf on at night."

"I thought that by going natural, my hair would be easier to take care of. Not!"

"And there's a reason why we spend so much money on products. Our hair requires so much!"

I could go on and on...and at the end of the conversation I really got to thinking...

"Damn, it sucks having nappy/kinky hair."

And very rarely do I NOT like my hair. I actually love my natural texture...but it's true, having Black hair is hard work. I don't ever remember it being easy.

Actually wait---having a small afro was probably the best style I ever had. Such freedom. And let's not forget braid extensions. This was the ONLY style in which my Mom let me swim every day in. And being able to swim without fear of my hair was true freedom for a litle Black girl.

Does having Black hair suck? I love mine and I know it's beautifully unique but my friends of other races never told me horror stories about the hot comb from the stove. Or being 12 years old and spending every other Saturday in a hair salon....hours and hours in a hair salon. And I would always be frustrated with my hair growth, balding spots....not sure what to expect when a perm would literally leave my scalp on fire.

Does it suck having Black hair? Even as a natural it's going to take hours to twist and loc your hair. And let's not talk about the pain that comes from "blowing out" to achieve the perfect afro. I could never put a comb to my nappy hair because it huuuuurt.

Do other races of women run from the rain the way we do? Or don't swim? Or don't work out? And then blame their hair....?

Does it really suck having Black hair?