As a child, “Black don’t crack” was a phrase I’d often hear. I sensed it was a good thing.
It was during the 1970s when despite racism’s fury, African Americans’ reaction to anti-Blackness was socially and politically powerful. The cultural resonance ran deep.
This idiom wasn’t only about age-defying beauty; it was a point of pride for millions who were told their skin wasn’t good enough.
In my teens, I learned that melanin was the reason why black didn’t crack; the thing no amount of racism could erase.
It would be decades later when I became a hairdresser and studied Trichology (the science of human hair) when I’d understand its influence in hair care.
Melanin is nature’s sunscreen. It is a photoprotective, complex pigment found in human skin, eyes and hair. It blocks the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays.
As we age, the production of melanin in our hair slows down. And as a result, hair turns gray. Without this protection, gray hair can become dry, brittle, frizzy, wiry and prone to split ends.
So, just like our skin and eyes, we need to protect gray hair from the sun.
Many cosmetics companies offer hair products formulated with sunscreen to provide effective veils of protection for hair that has lost some or all of its melanin. Options are available in light-weight, non-greasy formulas that improve the overall health of gray hair. It becomes softer, smooth and more manageable.
I think a new slogan might be in order. Any suggestions?
