Hair Identity

Hair is, in both a literal and symbolic sense, a presentation of oneself to the outside world. One’s hairstyle is often a reflection of one’s identity (although this is arguably a result of cultural stereotypes—particularly surrounding gender) and, as it can be observed passively and quickly, is one of the first ways in which one will be assessed by another person. Uju is acutely aware of this, and she warns Ifemelu that Ifemelu’s “natural” hairstyle connotes “scruff[iness] and untid[iness]” (269). Unfortunately, these characteristics of hair—being a reflection of identity because of cultural stereotypes, being perceived as a “fast and easy” way to judge somebody without actually making their acquaintance—are also all too true of another aspect

Much like how one acts in a particular way in order to fit in, the way in which one decides to present one’s hair is often a reflection of what others expect of them. Ifemelu notes that, for black women, leaving their hair “natural” is seen as neither “professional…[nor] sophisticated[;] it’s just not damn natural” (367). Similarly, people of minority races are often forced to act in a certain way because of societal discrimination and oppression—such as having to be “hyper-mellow” and making sure “never [to] get too excited” lest others worry they are “about to pull a gun” (274)—and the way in which people are forced to mask who they really are to appease society mirrors the way in which they must change their hair to do so as well. Additionally, much like the struggle not to “offend” the discriminatory “WASPs” of society, many white people simply do not understand the work that goes into molding one’s hair into something supposedly “acceptable.” Ifemelu’s friend demonstrates this quite clearly by remarking to Ifemelu, “you mean her hair doesn’t grow like that?” when talking about Michelle Obama