White Coats Black Hair

Dear WCBD,
I was wondering if you all had any tips to maintain natural hair. Currently it takes me about four hours (all at once) to detangle my hair once a week, plus an additional two to four hours to style it, shampoo and condition throughout the week. That time can really add up.

I don’t really want to relax or cut my hair (even though it might be easier) but if it comes down to it, I will. I feel like my hair is a symbol of defiance in a place where not a lot of people look like you. It reminds me of my culture and my power.

So after all of that, any tips or advice?
- No Time for Twist Outs
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​We understand that being a black woman in medicine can be difficult. Part of that struggle is exactly why we're here to help.

Just because you are pursuing a career in medicine doesn't mean you should have to lose who you are, or otherwise change what you feel is so integral a part of your being. Even within WCBD, we have founders who wear dreadlocks, relaxers, and natural hair. Some naturalistas (like myself) don't mind having "heat trained" hair and are able to wear their hair pressed, bunned or in a ponytail 24/7. But we also understand the desire to maintain your unadulterated natural texture.

As you go throughout your medical career, there will be ebbs and flows during your schedule much like in undergrad. Just like you may forgo doing your hair or getting it done during finals week, you may feel similarly when studying for a board exam or on your surgery rotation. During these times, some classmates opt to get braids or other low maintenance long term styles as they continue to grind. For many students, braids are a style that allow them to continue to express themselves culturally while not having to manipulate their hair on a daily basis.

Other students with natural hair continue to find time to maintain their hair. Some students take the summer (or semester of college) to master their wash-and-go so that they don't have to do more than fluff their "pineapple" and go during the week. We acknowledge that it may look slightly less than perfection by the end of the week, but medical school is a grind and everyone knows it. Another option I would encourage would be to have a stylist on hand that can do natural hair styles (twists, braids, perm rod sets) more efficiently than you may be able to. Even if she is simply twisting up your hair on Saturday, you wear it that way for two days while studying, you can rock a bomb twist-out from Tuesday to Friday. (Many stylists these days even let you book online, so you can always make adjustments to your changing availability.)

If you manage your time well, yes, many weeks you will be able to donate 6 hours of your time to doing your hair. However, I would not plan on this being the norm, particularly not as you are just starting to get a rhythm for how to master the material. Maintaining our hair is yet another obstacle that we have to conquer, but with adequate foresight and realistic expectations, we are confident you can graduate from medical school with the flowing, healthy tresses you came with (or better)!