Nappily Rooted

By Nicki D

Nappily Rooted is a collection of  short stories celebrating self-love and self-discovery. Join characters on their transformative journeys as they navigate the path to acceptance and embrace their authentic selves.

In "Nappily Rooted," Legend, seeking control over her hair, turns her unruly locks into a symbol of empowerment, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. This transformation inspires her to challenge societal norms and advocate for self-love.

In "Muse Flame," writer Nia Akara undergoes a journey of self-discovery and self-love, wrestling with a creative block in a literary contest. Transported to Verbum, a world formed by discarded words, Nia confronts the villain Lethargia and finds the inner strength to overcome obstacles, unlocking her creativity.
In "Misspelled Victories," Britni and Sarah's rivalry reaches its peak during a spelling bee, putting Britni's confidence to the test.

In "Search for the Cure," a writer grappling with writer's block is reminded of the beauty and inspiration found in the simplicity of everyday life.

In "Homebound Hearts," Scarlett eagerly anticipates her return to Ember Mungus for fall break, only to discover that a lot has changed in the three short months she's been away. Now, Scarlett must adapt to the new normal of her hometown.

In "Saturday Morning Blues," a daughter reflects on the lessons imparted by her late mother.

In "Red Lining," Natalie, a high school freshman, confronts the hurdles of defending her decision to wear a hijab in a debate. An unforeseen incident reshapes her perspective, granting her newfound empowerment to assert herself confidently during the debate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicki D
• Release date: Jan 31, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224672325

Book preview

A Hairy Situation

Hair is more than a collection of of strands that sprout from our scalps. It is a form of identity that reflects our personality, culture, and heritage. Our hair plays a significant role in shaping our sense of self and how others perceive us. From a young age, we learn to identify with our hair and develop a relationship with it that lasts throughout our lives.

Unfortunately, for many of us in the black community, this relationship isn't always the most loving one. In fact, many women of color would attest to that their initial relationship with their hair was a toxic one. Growing up in a society that emphasizes European beauty standards we are bombarded with messages that our natural hair is not beautiful or acceptable. Imagine, being told that hair is coming from your scalp is too wild, too ruly or too hard to maintain. As a result, we resort to drastic measures to get our hair to look long, straight, and pretty even if it means using harsh chemicals and hot tools that cause damage to our hair and scalp.

As we grow in age, the pressure to conform to societal norms intensify. By the time we reach adult our natural texture is nothing more than a distant memory, or at least it was in my case.  I can vividly when did my first big chop back in 2011, I shocked to discovered that at the root of my heat damaged frizzy brittle strands were the most beautiful 3b 4C curls.  After getting relaxers most of my life I realized I had never seen my hair in its natural state.

That moment was a turning point for me. It was a realization that I had spent years neglecting and mistreating a part of myself, a part that deserved love, care, and acceptance. I had internalized society's harmful messages about my hair and had allowed them to shape my perception of beauty.

From that day forward, I made a commitment to rebuild my relationship with my hair. It was a journey of self-discovery, self-love, and healing. I started educating myself about different hair textures, curl patterns, and the importance of proper care. I surrounded myself with a supportive community of women who were also on a journey to embrace their natural hair.

The process was not always easy. There were days when I struggled with self-doubt and frustration. The journey to healthy, vibrant hair required patience and dedication. I had to unlearn the damaging habits I had developed over the years, and replace them with practices that nourished and celebrated my hair.

As my curls began to flourish, I started to see myself in a new light. I realized that my natural hair was a powerful