george alexander wrote in the photo essay book, ”queens:”

Hair is about identity, beauty, racial pride, race politics, self-acceptance, self-expression, self-realization, class, status, fun, glamour, romance, fantasy, art, passion, joy, pain, freedom, enslavement, power.

as i settle into our new life in boston, finding a hair salon has become priority number one. not just because of vanity (though that’s part of it, trust me). finding a salon that i like will also help me find a community in this unfamiliar city. it can be a basecamp of information about local events, community news and networking opportunities.

i think that’s another reason black women are so … enthralled with our hair. not only does our “crown” define our appearance to a degree but maintaining it also gives us a place to socialize and catch up and laugh and share stories — all while we beautify.

i’ve got an appointment this week with a salon i tracked down on the internet. fingers (and toes) crossed.