{"id":959,"date":"2025-04-22T22:37:45","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T22:37:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/2025\/04\/22\/dealing-with-black-hair-and-being-black-at-a-pwi-as-an-out-of-state-student\/"},"modified":"2025-04-22T22:37:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T22:37:51","slug":"dealing-with-black-hair-and-being-black-at-a-pwi-as-an-out-of-state-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/2025\/04\/22\/dealing-with-black-hair-and-being-black-at-a-pwi-as-an-out-of-state-student\/","title":{"rendered":"Dealing with Black hair and being Black at a PWI as an out of state student"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

I got my silk press three days ago. My knotless braids were getting way too old, and once I saw that more than an inch of hair had grown in, I knew it was time. It took me longer than most to make that decision for two reasons. First, I hate figuring out what to do with my hair by myself. Growing up, that was my mom\u2019s problem. Second, I hate spending money. Especially on my hair. I hate spending money on shampoo and conditioner, hate spending money to have the stylist blow-dry and straighten it. You may be asking why I don\u2019t do it myself. The truth is: I never learned how to and I don\u2019t feel like learning at the moment. So, tired of waking up with stiff braids and seeing my roots growing out, I decided to get a silk press.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t know, a silk press<\/a> for Black hair is a flat iron session where your hair is pressed straight enough to move, bounce, and lay down without chemicals. It gives a straight-hair aesthetic without the long-term damage of a relaxer. The downside? One drop of water, one night of sweating, one gust of humid wind and it\u2019s over.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t even try to do it myself. Flat-ironing and blow-drying hair is complicated and requires a level of technical skill that I don\u2019t have. I sent a message in Curly Cuties, the GroupMe for Black hair at U-M: \u201cDoes anyone have good recommendations for affordable silk press?\u201d Yes, I forgot the \u2018an\u2019, I was in a rush. With only about 2% of students at the University of Michigan being Black women<\/a>, Curly Cuties is sacred. In a community where everyone is just trying to survive and maintain their hair, that group chat has come through for Black women time and time again \u2014\u00a0connecting them with affordable hair-care recommendations and appointments.<\/p>\n

I got a quick response for a $51 silk press, which is insanely cheap. I just needed to come washed and conditioned, which is perfect because I don\u2019t have a blow dryer. At the same time, I knew washing my curly Black hair in a Predominantly White Institution, also known as a PWI, dorm shower would not be an easy feat. It\u2019s small, and a lot of my hair would be coming out, probably ending up getting stuck around the drains and leading to complaints. So I ordered shampoo and conditioner and went for the sink in the laundry room \u2026 which only has freezing cold water.\u00a0<\/p>\n