For most of my life, I grew up thinking my hair was difficult. Too thick. Too dry. Too unprofessional.
I thought it always needed to be “tamed,” straightened, or hidden to be seen as beautiful or acceptable.
Those thoughts didn’t come out of nowhere, they were passed down, reinforced by what we saw in schools, workplaces, and even the media. Somewhere along the way, I learned that my natural hair wasn’t “right.”
But here’s what I’ve spent the last ten years doing: unlearning and relearning.
Unlearning the idea that my hair is a problem to fix.
Relearning that my hair is a reflection of culture, resilience, and beauty.
Unlearning the shame that came from trying to fit into a standard that was never meant for us.
Relearning how to love, nurture, and understand my hair for what it truly is alive, unique, and worthy of care.
The Journey Back to Myself
When I started my natural hair journey, it wasn’t just about switching products, it was about healing a relationship.
Every twist, every deep treatment, every protective style became an act of self-love.
It also became a realization that our hair tells stories, stories of migration, creativity, and strength.
And those stories deserve to be cared for with intention.
That’s how Hair Smoothie was born.
A brand created not just to make hair healthy, but to remind us that caring for our hair is caring for ourselves.
Each product I’ve created,from the Liquid Gold Rejuvenating Oil to the Calming Glow Moisturizer, is packed with natural ingredients our ancestors trusted: olive oil, peppermint, coconut oil, and more.
These aren’t just products. They’re small tools for unlearning the old narratives and relearning how to love our hair, as it is.
What I’ve Learned
Relearning hasn’t been a straight path. There were days my hair didn’t cooperate, days I didn’t feel “put together,” and days I questioned if I could really show up authentically as myself in business and in life.
But I’ve learned that confidence grows with care.
The more I invested time and gentleness into my hair, the more I saw that same love showing up in every other part of my life, in my business, in my creativity, and in my community.
Now i'll leave you with a note:
If you’re reading this and you’re somewhere in your own process of unlearning, maybe you still feel like your hair is “too much”....I want to remind you:
Your hair isn’t difficult. It’s just misunderstood.
And once you learn what it needs, it’ll teach you more about patience, self-love, and strength than you can imagine.
Let’s keep unlearning & relearning together.
Shadé Mckenzie
Founder of Hair Smoothie & The Blended Blog