8/20/2020 - Kimoralee
“It’s like the words that describe me don’t exist yet. And the only word I can think of to describe me is my name.”
To anyone looking in from the outside, Kimoralee would seem like a typical teenager who’s free to express herself in any way she chooses. However, in contrast to the bold exterior you see on her social media, her mother doesn’t allow her to have this same freedom at home. Kimoralee believes that “Hair can have a lot of baggage depending on what stuff the person has gone through… Hair can represent your story.”
Kimoralee has never had a very supportive family when it comes to her hair, so having 4c hair was always a struggle for her considering this. “My mom didn’t like my hair, and she was constantly comparing me to my lighter-skinned friend who had straight hair, which was nicer hair in her eyes.” Her mother’s constant judgment and dislike of her hair, drove Kimoralee to get a perm, in an attempt to please her mother. “I didn’t want to listen to her at first about straight hair. Most times, I would try to ignore it, but my mom’s family consistently called my hair nappy, and it made me feel bad. It just became too much to deal with.” This perm eventually damaged Kimoralee’s hair, so between 6th and 7th grade, she had to cut it short.
Due to this, Kimoralee had to wear her hair in twists, the only braided hairstyle her mom found acceptable. “She dictates how my hair looks, which kinda sucks. There are so many hairstyles I want to try, but my mom has forced me to wear this since 8th grade.” Although she can’t right now, Kimoralee would love to try more black hairstyles. She also wants to learn more about her culture, considering her mom is Trinidadian, and her dad is Haitian. Still, since her family doesn’t educate her on this, she finds the information she wants from her peers and her favorite influencers.
One day, Kimoralee hopes to be more an aspiring model, makeup artist, or animator. Kimoralee expressed that she would love to see more black girls showcase their acne and natural hair more often. She hopes to use her work to inspire other young black girls to embrace their natural beauty and know their worth; something that’s hard to do in a society built to tear black women down.
Unlike most featured on HAIR, Kimoralee is still on her hair journey, and she still has a lot to learn, and that’s okay. We want our readers to know that something as precious as hair takes time and dedication. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t give up on it.
Written by Damia Mckeithan
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