A woman’s viral TikTok is sparking conversations about personal boundaries and racial stereotypes after she revealed a shocking encounter with a new coworker who allegedly put her hands in the woman’s hair to “see if it was real.”
In a widely circulated video, the TikTok user (@maiteezy) recounted the uncomfortable moment when a newly hired colleague approached her at work, complimented her hairstyle, and then took things to a startling level.
“She was like, ‘Oh my gosh, your hair looks so good. Who did the installation?’” the woman explained. “I told her, ‘Thank you, but this is actually my hair.’”
What happened next left the TikToker stunned:
“She pulls out her phone, cuts on her flashlight, and starts feeling—putting her fingers in my scalp, trying to find tracks or whatever.”
Visibly upset in the video, she says she swatted the woman’s hand away and told her:
“Have you lost your f—ing mind? I don’t know you from a can of paint, and you put your fingers in my hair and in my scalp?”
Even more disturbing, the coworker reportedly responded by saying she had “never seen a Black girl with white girl hair.”
The TikToker clapped back immediately:
“No. You’ve never seen a Black girl with Black girl hair.”
She used the rest of her video to dismantle the harmful narrative that Black women can’t naturally grow long hair, stating,
“I’m sick of this narrative. Ain’t nothing wrong. Ain’t anything to it, baby. Do y’all not know where we come from? White people are not the only people that can grow long hair.”
The TikTok, which has drawn tens of thousands of views, is prompting strong reactions online.
Many users are calling out the racial microaggressions Black women often face in the workplace, especially around natural hair and personal space.
“Go to HR with that racist statement,” one commenter advised. Another said, “How is it white girl hair when it’s your hair? You’re BLACK!”.
While some commenters expressed shock at the incident, others said it reflects the ongoing lack of respect for Black women’s autonomy over their own bodies and identities.
