My Hair is Prettier than Yours | Teen Ink

My Hair is Prettier than Yours

January 27, 2012
By FullPotential GOLD, Downingtown, Pennsylvania
FullPotential GOLD, Downingtown, Pennsylvania
12 articles 25 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
Realism is an excuse for mediocrity.


"Your so ugly nobody can even look at you. It hurts their eyes!" She said to me. Then she threw her head back and laughed. Everyone laughed with her. I walked away. People pointed at me and laughed. I kept my head down. A paper airplane hit me in the head. I pretended I hadn't noticed. The kids on the bus insulted me just with their eyes. I read my book.

If you'll believe me, I'm actually very pretty. I have a pretty body, nice features, big eyes. But nobody can notice that. Because of my hair. It's not sleek and straight like everyone else's. It's untamable. It curls and frizzes and can't be pulled into a ponytail or pushed behind my ear. It's different. And they hate that.

I pulled my hair out of my face with a headband. My goal was to make eye contact with every person I passed.

Only four people would look me in the eye, and only one of them held it for more than a second. He locked eyes with me for five seconds. It may not sound long, but it felt like forever, especially since everyone else had averted their eyes.

They fidgeted with zippers and ponytails. They suddenly became very interested in their fingernails. Anything not to have to look me in the eye. Maybe she was right. It hurts them to look at me. But not because I'm ugly.

And when I was next to my locker and she came up and started making fun of my hair, I looked her in the eye. She faltered. All the kids around her averted their eyes. I heard their thoughts: Please don't look at me. Please don't.

“Worry about your own hair and leave mine alone,” I said to her. She blinked rapidly. Then I slammed my locker shut and stalked off towards science class. And just like a movie, they all stood there, not sure what had just happened.

Remember that old saying, “The eyes are the window to the soul”? They are. The one boy who held my gaze for five seconds learned more about me than any of the other students I was able to make eye contact with. And I understood him. Maybe the reason nobody else would look at me was because they were afraid I'd understand them. That they only want to fit in. That they don't want to become the next object of humiliation. That being popular is more important than being human.

By the way, McKenna, my hair is prettier than yours.


The author's comments:
I really don't care what they think about me anymore. Mainly because I feel in control when I try to look them in the eye. Maybe it's harder to insult someone when they're glaring at you instead of just taking it.

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This article has 26 comments.


lottie_d said...
on Feb. 3 2023 at 10:10 am
lottie_d, Hereford, Other
0 articles 0 photos 176 comments
omg i love curly hair, its so beautiful!!

Lida28 BRONZE said...
on Aug. 8 2021 at 10:03 am
Lida28 BRONZE, Thessaloniki, Other
2 articles 0 photos 38 comments

Favorite Quote:
Respect your mothers, everyone.

This text is so moving.....I don't know why some people want to bully others.....perhaps it makes them feel stronger or something like that....

Lydiaq ELITE said...
on Apr. 15 2021 at 7:41 pm
Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
179 articles 54 photos 1026 comments

Favorite Quote:
The universe must be a teenage girl. So much darkness, so many stars.<br /> --me

I'm sorry...I meant to say t hat the act of impersonation is kind of lame. Not any person. That last comment came off too harsh.

Lydiaq ELITE said...
on Apr. 15 2021 at 7:23 pm
Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
179 articles 54 photos 1026 comments

Favorite Quote:
The universe must be a teenage girl. So much darkness, so many stars.<br /> --me

JoeBiden is a prankster. Nobody be allowed to impersonate anyone on TeenInk. What a cheap disgrace.

JoeBiden said...
on Feb. 2 2021 at 4:08 pm
JoeBiden, Washington, District Of Columbia
0 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
My fellow Americans, here's the deal!

My fellow Americans, here's the deal. People should not bully someone because of their hair, like come on man. We need to unite, especially through this COVID Crisis. With my new proposal, I will eliminate bullying by 2023. I will introduce this proposal to the House of Representatives after this COVID Crisis.

- President Biden

on Oct. 19 2020 at 8:08 am
LightForce9258, Ewing, New Jersey
0 articles 0 photos 8 comments
True stuff right here. Don't let anyone talk you down from who you really are. As A boy, I agree with everything you said.

on Nov. 17 2019 at 11:16 pm
insanefoxgurl07 BRONZE, Fountain, Colorado
2 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If you're always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be."<br /> ~ Maya Angelou

YOU GO GIRL! As a curly haired person, this hit too close to home. My hair has a mind of it's own and never wants to cooperate. But yes, your hair is beautiful and I'm glad to see those bullies didn't faze you too much. Don't let anyone break your stride.

lsher24 said...
on Jun. 11 2019 at 1:39 pm
lsher24, Madison, New Jersey
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
This is very good! I like how it comes full circle at the end with the last sentence!

FoxPotato said...
on May. 22 2019 at 8:00 am
FoxPotato, Douglassville, Pennsylvania
0 articles 0 photos 11 comments
This is amazing!

iloveme1011 said...
on Apr. 2 2019 at 6:49 pm
iloveme1011, Greensboro, North Carolina
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
Normally I don"t take stuff to heart but when you posted your story and I read this, you touched my heart!!
I know what you mean with curly hair because I have curly /wavy hair and its so frizzy. I ABSOLUTLY ADORE YOUR CONFIDENCE!! You go girl!!

on Mar. 11 2019 at 6:12 pm
Avathebooknerd BRONZE, Cortland, Ohio
1 article 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Our fate lies within us you just have to be brave enough to see it” -Merida, Brave

I have curly hair and I know how you feel and my mom has to do my hair and I hate it.

on Feb. 5 2019 at 1:56 pm
anonymous_poster, Greenwood, Arkansas
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.

I relate to your article. My hair is naturally wavy/curly, and people made fun of me for it for the longest time. They would always taunt me, but as soon as I stood up to them, they backed down. I used to straighten my hair a lot in order to get them off my back, but as soon as I realized I was just running away, I left it curly, and I have never been happier to literally just let my hair loose and feel a bit more free than that time. (p.s. naturally curly hair is amazingly pretty so i'm certain you rock it!!!)

on Dec. 2 2018 at 1:14 pm
Upasana_ghosh004 GOLD, Serampur, Other
12 articles 0 photos 11 comments
Torture indeed is very painful. But if you want to know the sunshine you must know the rain

on Mar. 10 2016 at 1:24 pm
sweettobeme123,
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
i am so jealous of you you did not care what other people think about you .you never gave up you kpet moving no and i love what you siad that you are pretty and smart and you you have a pretty body and so big eyes and i thick that your hair is pretty ant way you put it and you dont have to keep no thinking that you are not pretty who ever say you not pretty than they not love this story

Aschwa3321 said...
on Feb. 17 2016 at 11:13 am
Aschwa3321, Greenville, South Carolina
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
I am so jealous of your confidence. Good job playing it smart. you go girl!!!

CianaB GOLD said...
on Jan. 4 2016 at 6:35 pm
CianaB GOLD, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
12 articles 0 photos 34 comments
I love you story. I"m also kinda jealous of you confidence. I wouldn't know what to say or what to do.

mplo said...
on Nov. 21 2015 at 10:19 am
Looking them directly in the eye is a great way to deal with such stupidity. Kudos to you for making those nasty kids look exactly what they are: Complete dolts who don't have anything better to do with their time.

judyhhh BRONZE said...
on Oct. 30 2015 at 2:52 am
judyhhh BRONZE, Beijing, Other
2 articles 0 photos 2 comments
that is a really awesome one.Bullying is always a problem in every school,and what we have to do is "see sth,say sth",we have to stand out and help those students in need.

Dujjo BRONZE said...
on Apr. 4 2014 at 4:52 pm
Dujjo BRONZE, Glasgow, Kentucky
4 articles 0 photos 16 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Does giving really mean hospitality, Or does caring for people? I think the latter. &quot;<br /> I know it&#039;s a random quote but I love it all the same!!!

That was beautiful! I'm a dude, and my hair is so curly and untameable it looks like an affro! I get made fun of for it but your method is so true. That's the same thing I do when someone is making fun of me, it's crazy how affective it is. Anyways keep up the good work!

free ray ray said...
on Apr. 4 2014 at 8:55 am
wow great storyy !!!