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| Marine Soldier with Sisterlocks |
I received an interesting phone call last night. It was from a Sisterlocks wearer who happens to be in the military.
She said she was facing a hearing date to determine if she could keep her Sisterlocks! She was told by her superiors that her sisterlocks were against policies as it is under the category of "neglect" and was "unsanitary'.
I could not believe what she was telling me, but in her desperation to find some ammunition for her case she called me.
Sisterlocks is a premium Hair style for Natural Hair Wearer's
I told her to state that if the definition of 'unsanitary' or 'unkempt' hair is what its classified as, then, braids, and weaves would also fall under that too. Look, lets keep it real, Im a braider too, and I have had to advise clients not to wash their frequently so the style could 'last' for the 3 months. What guidelines do the military follows to say sisterlocks are dirty anyway?
How often are sisters with hair weaves washing their hair?
It is a fact that women with weaves are not washing there hair everyday, maybe 2x a month , braids;maybe once every 6 weeks. So this military tribunal thing needs to investigate all forms of 'ethnic hair styling' don't just attack 'sisterlock styles' and not the other styling methods used by women who do not relax there hair.
Sisterlocks is the only style where you can wash your hair immediately after it's installed!
I have clients with scalp sensitivities that have to wash there hair every 2 days or so, and sisterlocks is one of the only(natural hair styles) that will hold up to frequent shampooing.
I am sick and Tired of Locs Getting a Bad rap!
Its not fear how we are targeted because we want to be natural. No one questions those women who leave weaves in for 5 months and by the time there's ready to take it out, there's so much dust and dandruff flying , you need a hazmat suit on to protect your eyes from the dry skin and dust flying everywhere!
Update: I have not heard any feedback from her and her case. I hope she won! And if your branch of the military is saying sisterlocks are dirty then I hope they put in place a clear policy as to how often a person should wash and their hair and if a comb is the only instrument used for grooming hair!
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I appreciate your blog and your message(s). As a Marine wife, Air Force vet, and sister w/locs, the caption for the photo caught my eye. She's not a Marine; she is indeed a Soldier (U.S. Army) just like the young lady in the video. I have love for all branches, and just think that the Soldier and her branch should be properly credited.
ReplyDeleteHmm thanks for reading my post, I don't think I stated that she was a 'Marine", maybe I am looking at it through civilian eyes, for I didn't see the relevance of stating her branch, to me, military is military, but you would know better than I. My purpose of this video was to bring light to the fact that some of our sisters are fighting to wear their hair in sisterlocks. Is it different between branches? If so please share..
ReplyDeleteI'm referring to the caption underneath the photo; it reads "Marine Soldier with Sisterlocks" (but that's an Army uniform). It stood out for me, but you're right about the error not being something that civilians (and probably some military members) would see as being relevant. I'm in no position to discuss the regulations (although they do differ at least somewhat between the different branches). I've been out of the AF for almost 5 yrs, and I haven't kept up with the regulations. I'm sure my husband knows the standards for female Marines, but it's not something that we discuss. In the end, I should have just kept my comment to myself.
ReplyDeleteNo you don't have to keep the comment to yourself sis, I am glad you gave input to this. I would like to know you your husband if there differences in regulations between branches. What did the AF require you to do with your hair? I think your qualified to speak on this for sure. Please share..
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, but that picture is actually me in the photo and what probably happened, based on where I think she got the photo from, was that she may have gotten confused because I am a Soldier currently serving in the Army (hence the Army uniform) but on my blog, I posted that I had served 5 years in the Marine Corps prior to switching over to the Army.