she's hiding all that beautiful brown behind her weave.

Okay Fearless queens and kings, it’s time to get real!!!! I mean hairy real! I know that was corny but it’s time to address one of the most important aspects of our outer appearance. Our hair!

The first Weave I ever got was in college, my freshmen year. I was so excited; I got the Vixen sew in. Now let me explain; it’s a natural blend, where 50% of my real hair is blending with the weave (Leave outs).

Okay, so you are probably reading this like, “Okay, why are you talking about your weave?” Lol. Well, I feel it’s important to be comfortable in revealing things such as your hair especially when you’ve undergone so much judgement over how your hair looks.

Growing up, I had the thickest hair in the family. My mom couldn't even do it! Therefore, she always put braids in my hair. Then as I got older, roughly high school, I took control over my hairstyles (in the 10th grade). I cut it off and dyed it black. A couple months later, I dyed it red and cut it some more. Yes, I was still getting perms.

Roughly around 11-12 grade, I kept it short.  It actually was a nice look for me at that time.  With short hair, you must maintain it as much as possible but hey, I was young, reckless, and a student-athlete (that can be a dangerous combination).

Fast-forward to community college, I got my first real weave during freshmen year running track I just loved the look on me.  I got tired of going to the hair salon to make sure my hair is straightened, so I brought hair extensions whenever I could.

January 2014 is when I decided to be free of perms!  It felt it unnecessary to get them considering lace closures were becoming a thing at that time (No More Leave outs and Vixen Weaves). Fast-forward again to my first year at Bowie State, I got braids.  Now, I wore braids often, as well mostly once a year. In 2016 was the last time I ever had braids, unless it was to put my wig on (Yes, I moved from weaves to wigs real quick).  

During my first semester during cast auditions in my class, Intro to Broadcast News, our professor gave everyone the vote for who would be the next news anchor for the 2016-2017 school year.  

So here I am…I'M EXCITED!  I practice my script all week preparing for this day.  The day of the audition, I did really good.  I read everything correctly and it went great.  

Now, it’s time for feedback from my classmates.  First, let’s select the winner. Lol.  It wasn't me.  I didn't get it.  The class said, “Well, Daionna sounded good but she didn't look the part.  Her look isn't selling for the camera.  The other participants have the, “Hollywood look.”

Sheesh…that broke me down more than you know so I spoke to some professors (I won't name any names) but they ultimately agreed with what my classmates were saying.  One professor told me if you want to make it in this news business, you have to look like them.

From that moment on, I only wore my natural curls when I wasn't shooting news packages or maybe at home.  It wasn't often.  All through college, mostly. One story I had to cover, I struggled to get my hair right.  I just didn't have a decent wig that day so I decided to wear my natural hair.  They never aired my package.  The fact that they used the other reporter’s package simply said to me, “She has the look and you just don’t have the Hollywood look.”

I decided to talk about this because a lot of friends ask me about my hair.  I get, “Why you don't wear your natural hair?” and it bothers me a lot.  Here is why.  Just because my hair is in weaves or wigs doesn't mean I hate my hair or myself, let’s clear that up, because I get that a lot.  Now, have I gotten discourage about wearing my natural hair?  Yes.  I truly have, not only from the comments I receive from my peers and professors, but also from men who either judge me for not wearing my natural hair or tell me to put my wig back on.  It was as if I could never win.

Now, I don't CARE what people say about my hair, natural weave, whatever.  I am fully coming back to myself.  I am free from discouragement; I am free from negative feedback.  I am beautiful just the way I am and I am no longer hiding all this beautiful brown behind all that weave.

Fearless Dai