Self-Esteem, Hair-Esteem and Black Women with Natural Hair

Abstract

This study explored self-esteem and hair-esteem in a convenience sample of 529 Black women who at least occasionally wore their hair naturally, neither chemically nor thermally straightened. Participants were administered an internet-based 54 question inventory, in which the Rosenberg Self-Esteem and Bankhead/Johnson Hair-Esteem Scale were embedded. Prevalence of natural hairstyle choices, perceptions of discrimination and other maltreatment, and reception by specific social groups when wearing natural hair were explored. Correlation and multiple regression analysis were utilized. Higher self-esteem was associated with higher income and more education, while the most significant predictors of high hair-esteem were approval of a romantic partner and a supervisor (R = .156, p<.05).