Textured Hair: Tangled In Misconceptions

Photo: Courtesy of Jasmine Rose-Olesco. "Your hair is your beauty," my late great-grandmother frequently reminded me. Her hair -- thick, long, and easy to manage -- was a stark contrast to my own. Since I have natural coils once described by my peers as "kinky" or "nappy," I doubted my hair could ever be considered beautiful. I hated the way my hair grew from its roots: thick, scrunched, and crunchy to the touch. What I disliked most was that combing through crunchy hair sounded like someone bit...