TV: What’s your earliest, fondest reminiscence relating to your hair?
SS: My dad was a Rastafarian, so he had lengthy locs and I at all times cherished his hair. I by no means had locs, however my brothers did, and I might say that is only a actually enjoyable reminiscence for me, as a result of I at all times thought, “He simply seems so highly effective. Nobody else has that.”
Courtesy of New York Liberty.
TV: Are there particular magnificence and haircare practices out of your Gambian tradition and heritage that you simply bear in mind partaking in whereas rising up? When did you notice that the surface world may even see your hair in another way than the way you had been raised to take pleasure in it?
SS: I used to be in Gambia till I used to be like seven years previous, then I moved to Germany, in order that was a tradition shock. It was very completely different. In Gambia, my cousins would braid my hair. I had blended hair, so it was additionally completely different, however I actually received to like and know completely different types. Like, my cousin had the craziest, stunning hairstyles. We’d do lots of cornrows greater than field braids, however in all of the completely different shapes and types. Then, once I got here to Germany, it was simply very completely different. It was very bland, and I nearly hid that a part of my tradition as soon as I used to be there. I did not discover it once more till I used to be 15 or 16, till I had this epiphany.
In Germany, I used to be typically the one particular person of coloration within the classroom many instances. Boys would attempt to be humorous and throw paper straws in my hair as a result of it will get caught in my fro. I got here residence crying one time and I instructed my mother, “I would like straight hair. I don’t need my curls anymore.” After I had this actually irritating hair day at college, my mother simply made me actually really feel stunning. She took her time with me, brushed my hair, did a deep situation and we had a complete spa day. I’ve a white mother, so once I take a look at youthful child photos, I am like, “Oh my gosh, she allow us to stroll round like [that],” however it was a studying course of for her too. The way you are inclined to your self is admittedly highly effective, so take these moments simply to be with your self and love your hair, really. However round 15 years previous, when she did not permit me to straighten my hair for that precise purpose, it utterly shifted my mindset.
