Why do People have nappy hair?

Why do People have nappy hair?

I have always wanted long shiny black hair. I must have dreamed about it, but I am sure I saw an old picture of mine when I was still about 8 years old or so, and I had shoulder length hair that looks so straight and shiny. It was a long time ago, and I don’t have any recollection where that picture could have gone, but I am pretty certain it was me. As the years go by, and for some reason, my used-to-be (as I thought) straight hair turned into wavy and unmanageable hair, and it made me feel miserable all the time.

I would often hear my mom tell me to stop complaining and rather be thankful for having wavy hair rather than nappy hair. I never really cared what nappy hair meant, because I only had one goal for my hair: For it to become straight.

I had forgotten about the nappy hair until I heard a girl from a salon I visited one day talking about nappy hair, and its relation to black people. It reminded me of what my mom used to tell me about it. Though I was not entirely interested, I listened, and found out that black people, or the African descents are known for having nappy or kinky hair. It is a type of hair that is mostly described as bushy or spiraled, and looks like steel wool. It is said that the texture of their hair coils, and is so close to their scalp because it serves as their protection against the heat of the sun. If we look at their history, most of them have lived in the hottest parts of the world. Their nappy hair protects their scalp and head against extreme sun exposure, while they gather food, water and do their day-to-day activities.

Having heard all that, I felt kind of thankful I didn’t have that texture of hair. Though nappy hair looks exotic, I am not sure I would be willing to trade my wavy hair for it.