Is That Natural?

“Is that…natural?” It’s a question I’ve been asked as long as I can remember. The enquirer stares at my head, usually with a hand held in the space between the two of us, not sure if I will allow them to touch me. And usually, I would prefer it if they didn’t. I mean, I’m friendly enough but I don’t like strangers putting their hands on me. Do you?

But they do. They ask the question and they touch my red, naturally curly hair, boiiiing-ing the curl as I silently thinking “Do you even understand how much product it takes to get that curl to stay curly and frizz-free?” There was a woman in a small bookstore I frequented in my early twenties who used to rush up and pet my cheeks with the exclamation that I simply had the best skin!!! Well, thank you. But please don’t pet me. (Now I think I would let her pet me every day if I could have that skin back!)

And so, from a simple question I hear at least weekly, comes the name of my blog.