Where the Glory Grows

From the moment enslaved Africans were forced onto ships, their identities were under attack — and one of the first weapons used was hair. For Black women, hair was never “just hair.” It symbolized tribe, age, status, spirituality — a living, sacred expression of culture. But during slavery, those expressions were stripped away. Heads were shaved, identities erased, and Eurocentric standards imposed as tools of control and dehumanization.

Even long after emancipation, that legacy lingered. Straight hair became a survival tactic. It meant access — to jobs, safety, and acceptance. Chemical relaxers and hot combs promised progress, but often came at the cost of self-worth and health. Black women were taught that to be beautiful, we had to look less like ourselves.

But this narrative wasn’t born in love — it was born in oppression. The beauty industry turned these insecurities into profit, pushing toxic products and messaging that said: your God-given texture isn’t good enough. Behind the gloss of “sleek” and “manageable” was a deeper message: you must change to be accepted.

And yet, every natural curl, kink, and coil stands as a defiant reminder of divine design. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made...” — Psalm 139:14. Our hair is not a flaw to correct — it’s a crown to protect.

This isn’t just a beauty issue. It’s spiritual warfare. As it is written: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world...” — Ephesians 6:12. When Black women reject shame and embrace our natural selves, we reclaim more than our hair — we reclaim our purpose, our voice, and our connection to God.

“But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” — 1 Corinthians 11:15. Our coils, curls, and kinks reflect not just cultural pride, but the intentionality of the Creator.

“So God created man in His own image...” — Genesis 1:27. To reject the natural beauty He designed is not just a cultural loss — it’s a spiritual one.

Natural hair is not a trend. It’s a testimony. It’s a return — to our heritage, to our worth, and to the truth that what God created was never meant to be hidden.

Because the crown He gave us was never theirs to control.

To dive deeper into this conversation and explore the spiritual and historical roots of Black hair, visit untamed.ghost.io and subscribe to our free tier for full access to the corresponding article. Join us as we reclaim the crown God gave us—one truth at a time.