“I feel like I’ve found myself again.” WCNC Charlotte’s Kayland Hagwood shares her journey to hair freedom after cutting off most of it at once.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Finding the perfect hairstyle is difficult for everyone, but Dove research shows that black women who wear their hair in natural styles like curls or braids are considered unprofessional. found to be 2.5 times more likely.
Studies show that this concern is the reason why two out of three black women change their hairstyle just to get a job. And for me, this challenge was personal.
I’ve been anchoring the weekend morning show on WCNC Charlotte for just under two years. Seeing my hair in a natural afro may be a shock to viewers who are used to seeing my hair straight or curled, but to tell you the truth, I like this I’ve been hiding my secret for almost a year.
Speaking with my stylist, Constance “Coco” Wilson with Hair Love by Ko, I explained some of my feelings about this change.
“I feel like I’ve put a lot of my identity into my hair, and now I feel like I’ve found myself again,” I said.
As I went to different salons several times a month to have my hair straightened using a silk press, my hair started to break. So I decided to hide it. First the braids, then the wig.
“I think I felt some kind of social expectation that I needed to maintain a certain appearance in order to be considered professional,” I said. “I was trying to maintain this look for as long as I could, but I was like, my hair is done.”
Dove says this is not unusual for black women, who are more likely to change their hair to get ahead in the office.
Michaela Angela Davis, co-producer of Hulu’s “Hair Tales,” said, “Everyone holding their hair down means everyone was trying to find work. They were trying to survive.” “I was thinking about it,” he said.
This is a historical issue that continues to challenge women, including myself.
“Kayland, how did you feel?” Davis asked.
“I wanted to disappear…I wanted to seem like I just fit in. It was so freeing to be able to disconnect from that and give myself permission to make it a discussion.”
As part of that discussion, I was given the freedom to decide what style I wanted.
“This is not a referendum on whether you wear your hair naturally, whether you wear your hair in locks, whether you wear your hair in braids, whether you wear an Afro. This is a story of liberation,” Davis said. “Having hair is an expression of who you are…because good hair…is healthy hair.”
And so my journey of exploration began. First, I called one of my friends and had a blast.
“I said, ‘Hey girl, can you help me with this?’ She said, ‘Are you serious?’ And I said, “Yeah.”
I then called another friend to help me explore my new style and stopped by Tisun Beauty, a hair care store, to try out products and styles.
“I was so shocked that you had the confidence to cut your hair and think, ‘Oh, it’s okay,'” friend Chelsea Counts said.
After trying out wigs, braids, and natural hair, I decided to go with something called a pixie cut. For me, it’s a short style using a chemical straightener called a relaxer, but it created an edgy look that feels authentic to me.
“Do you like it?” said Coco.
“Yay! I like it. That’s different,” I said.
The last few months of experimenting with my hair have been some of the most free time I’ve ever had. Being vulnerable enough to share my story allowed me to hear other women’s hair struggles, and it was heartwarming and healing to know that I wasn’t alone.
My message to women is, “Don’t feel bound by anyone’s expectations other than your own. Make the decision that you feel is best when the time is right for you, and work through it.” Find people who support you. For some, it feels crazy, but it can be your story of liberation.”
