my black is beautiful

Aseelah G.'s Story

Thick hair, skinny no curves, buck-toothed (thumb sucker) WITH ECZEMA OVER 75 percent OF MY BODY! As a child, I thought I was the true definition of ugly ... and I was teased often for it.

I began doing my sister's hair because my mother was "hair conflicted" which simply means, she COULD NOT DO HAIR! I refused to let my sister suffer from the ridicule of peers if I could help it. It dawned on me that helping OTHER people feel fabulous was what I wanted to do. It was not until the age of 18 that my "beauty" began to click for me but by that time I was on a mission. I began doing hair, but not just hair, braid designing! I was determined to be the best at it!

With each and every style I created, with every new satisfied client, with every child smiling in my mirror, with every woman happy with the fact that I had covered their problem area; my beauty began to shine. It was so ironic that helping others feel good about themselves allowed me to open my eyes to see my own beauty. My ability to encourage others to embrace all that G-d blessed them with; somehow my own words began to hit me.

Now a mother of six and grandmother of one, it is my duty and my pleasure to guide them through their awkward stages.

My black is eczema, my black is big smile, my black is thick hair, my black is beautiful because my black is ALL MINE!