Nappily Ever After

And why you should watch it

My hair is my crown of glory. Sure it's a bit kinky and sometimes a bit nappy, but it’s mine. I wear these curls with confidence, knowing that they are beautiful. But let me be honest. It took me years to finally embrace them. Even now, I cannot say that I am always entirely comfortable in my own hair. The journey of a Black woman’s hair is an emotional one that never ends, and the new Netflix film Nappily Ever After perfectly showcases one woman’s hair journey and how she comes to love it and herself. And at the end, we too love ourselves just a little bit more.

Nappily Ever After follows Violet Jones, a successful Black businesswoman who, from first glance, looks like she has her life together. She has a great job, a rich boyfriend, and jealousy-invoking, beautifully long permed hair. But, after one hard breakup, she realizes that something is wrong. All this time she was trying so hard to attain this fake image of perfection and to fit the mold of what society calls “beautiful,” but she ended up losing herself in the process. So, what does she do to fix it?

She goes bald.

Major plot twist, right? But after her intentional hair loss, we see Violet begin to evolve and embrace herself for who she really is. Of course, there is a nice romance thrown in the mix, but this movie is truly all about self-acceptance and self-love at its core. It’s why the film has been able to touch the hearts of many, regardless of race or hairstyle.

For Black women, it is a movie that shows our hair experience and journey, retelling it in a way leaves us feeling enlightened and understood. But it is also a movie about abandoning the stifling image that society portrays as beautiful in pursuit of genuine self-love. I won’t spoil anything more, but I promise that by the end of this movie, you will be cheering Violet on, clapping, and crying tears of joy because, like me, I am sure you see parts of yourself in her. So, grab your girls, grab your popcorn, and grab a friend’s Netflix password because this movie is a bona fide must see.

By Mikayla Aguie

Hey! I'm Miky or otherwise known as coffee critic, Disney addict, and travel enthusiast.

Oh! you still wanted to know more about me, well...

1. I probably watch way too much of House Hunters International

2. I prefer strolling over running

3.  My hidden talent is...still searching