Vogue Is Celebrating Black Women In The Army For An Important Reason

Vogue Is Celebrating Black Women In The Army For An Important Reason As any reader of Vogue well knows, images of hairstyles, beauty, and style in general commonly populate within its glossy pages. But on Wednesday (August 24), the magazine ran an online feature about one burgeoning hair trend that has an importance far beyond the sartorial.Titled New Order, the feature highlights the growing numbers of Black U.S. servicewomen who are embracing their natural hair for the first time since entering the military. Why the sudden evolution? In January of this year, the Army revised long-held grooming and appearance regulations that mandated straight hair. Under the former ordinance, all women with textured hair were required to straighten it if they wished to keep it long resulting in many Black servicewomen being forced to choose between wearing uncomfortable wigs or undergoing regular, harsh chemical treatments.When I first came into the military, people would always say, Whats the pro blem? Why cant you just straighten your hair? Army Captain Deshauna Barber told Vogue. I dont think people realize requiring someone with curly hair to have straight hair is like requiring someone with straight hair to make their hair curly. When youre repeatedly putting heat on textured hair, guess what? It falls out.As Vogues writer, Chioma Nnadi, pointed out, being forced to constantly straighten ones hair isnt only damaging to the hair itself it also served as added pressure placed most squarely on Black servicewomen and welches only exacerbated by the challenges of life on the front line, where all members of the Army are pushed to their physical and mental limits.Understandably, Black women have been celebrating the repeal of this oppressive mandate and we love that Vogue is celebrating alongside them. Check out some photos from the inspiring spread belowA post shared by Vogue (voguemagazine) on Aug 23, 2017 at 1049am PDTA post shared by Vogue (voguemagazine) on Aug 23, 2017 at 1049am PDTA post shared by Vogue (voguemagazine) on Aug 23, 2017 at 1048am PDT