I used to tame my curls
like they were too loud.
Straightened them flat,
ironed out the volume
like confidence.
Curly meant “messy.”
Curly meant “too much.”
Curly meant eyes staring.
But these coils are honest.
They refuse to lie flat.
They rise.
Every spiral says:
“I will not shrink.”
And maybe my fear
was never about my hair
maybe it was about being seen.
Kids Help Phone (KHP) is honoured to share creative content submitted by youth from coast to coast to coast as they Feel Out Loud with us. We thank the Feel Out Loud Community Creator of this piece for their contribution to youth mental health and well-being in Canada. For more information on the Feel Out Loud Community Creator Space and / or how you can submit your own creative content for possible publication, you can visit the submission page.
