Five years ago, I locked my hair, mostly because I wanted to wake up every morning and know exactly what it would look like. When I left the loctician’s shop, I blended in with everyone else walking through New York City—no one gave me a second look. That’s why I wasn’t ready for the reaction when I left New York, or for there to be any reaction at all. In Accra, Ghana, security guards whispered “Rasta” under their breath; in Negril, Jamaica, men called me Queen Sheba and serenaded me on the beach; and in Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico, where I spend part of the year, a woman told me that I—with my locs curling every which way—looked like Medusa. (She was right.)

So yeah, people had opinions. Including me: Lately, I found myself getting a bit tired of the style, wanting something that would, by some miracle of framing, give me cheekbones. And I was dealing with the most classic of lesbian problems: confusing what I found attractive with how I wanted to look. Maybe it was time to finally get a blowout or go back to braids. Either way, I was bored with my hair.

I told this to the stylist Travis J Speck when I went into Suite Caroline, a chic salon on Greene Street. He reminded me that hair can offer more than just simple stability. “Have you played enough?” he asked, piling my hair into a messy bun. Then he attached a jeweled dragonfly to my crown, its wings catching the early April light. He was right; I’ve never dyed or drastically cut my hair, bouncing between the same few styles for the past ten years. I needed to play.

Together, Speck and I took notes from a range of inspirations. First: the other Black women of New York City, with cowrie shells, thin gold ropes, and ivory beads dotting their different styles. Speck and I also checked out the fall runways: At Chloé, stylist Anthony Turner wanted hair to be “animated” by accessories like feathers and charms, weathered and windswept. “These are trinkets this woman has found along the way on her adventures and attached to her hair,” he says. Hair was braided and teased out, then punctuated with thin metal coils and dangling silver charms, like ornaments on a tree. “I like the idea that these pieces weren’t what we would ordinarily put into hair,” he added. At Dries Van Noten, earrings arranged by hairstylist Olivier Schawalder climbed from the earlobe into the hair, while at Ann Demeulemeester, a silver, choker-like hair band held back strands with a gritty texture. At Simone Rocha, a sparkly clip pinned hair at the temple. Cartier is now selling a feather-like piece you tuck into a bun, while Bvlgari just released a brooch that can be turned into a clip.

Speck sent me home with my own assortment of goodies: delicate pearl and rhinestone Jennifer Behr magnets that I could stick into an updo; thin gold snakes twisted into a spiral, meant to clasp an individual loc; that dragonfly, which I wore in my hair all afternoon, enjoying the amused looks I got on the way back to Brooklyn. Once home, I packed them carefully in my carry-on—I was returning to Oaxaca the next day. Oaxaca is a very stylish town, dressing itself in the most radiant colors: a kaleidoscope of egg-yolk yellow or sky-blue facades with turquoise flags hanging over the streets. And when the city celebrates, in festivals or wedding processions, people embrace adornment, ribbons woven through long, jet-black ponytails, fresh flowers tucked behind ears.

But by the time I arrived, I found myself reluctant to use the gems, worried I would draw too much attention to myself. I started with a single snake coil; it felt like an extra coat of mascara—a reminder of stylistic freedom. The next afternoon, I arrived at my language school to find my teacher wearing a pitch-black jeweled hair band, so it looked like a galaxy was floating through her strands. It inspired me to clip stones through my hair the next day. They caught the sunlight, and my teacher couldn’t help but notice.ice. “We look the same!” she said. I gave her some to take home.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Charmed Im Sure How to Beat Hair Boredom designed to be natural and helpful

BeginnerLevel Questions

1 What exactly is Charmed Im Sure Is it a product
Answer No its not a product Its a mindset and a set of tricks to help you stop feeling bored with your hair Think of it as a guide to refreshing your look without making a drastic change

2 Im bored with my hair but I dont want to cut it Can this help
Answer Absolutely This approach focuses on small temporary changes like new partings different textures or creative accessories You can beat boredom without losing length

3 Whats the simplest thing I can do right now to feel less bored
Answer Flip your part to the opposite side It instantly changes your hairs volume and shape and it takes zero effort

4 Do I need expensive tools or products to try this
Answer Not at all You can use things you already own a few bobby pins a scarf dry shampoo or even just water and gel for a slickback look

5 How is this different from just getting a new haircut
Answer A haircut is permanent This is about playing with what you have right now Its cheaper faster and riskfree You can change it again tomorrow

Intermediate Advanced Questions

6 Ive tried every hairstyle on Pinterest How do I get out of a deep hair rut
Answer Focus on texture not style Try a braidout twistout or airdrying with a sea salt spray Changing how your hair feels and moves can break the visual monotony more than a new shape

7 I have very fine thin hair Are these tips still for me
Answer Yes but adapt them Instead of heavy accessories use tiny colorful clips or a velvet scrunchie Focus on root volume and use temporary root sprays for a bigger look

8 My hair is curly How do I beat boredom without damaging my curl pattern