MAXIME
“ Why can’t I just wear my hair free like everyone else?
So I never let that stop me’’
“I've actually always wanted to have my hair straight, but my mom never allowed me to perm because she said it was bad for your hair. She was always stressing the health of my hair."
After her mom’s passing, she finally took the leap and got her first perm. It was pure magic and the transformation she'd dreamed of since childhood.
"I think it's probably one of my best memories when I got it straightened for the first time. I've never seen my hair like that, it was just so wild. I was so in love with the idea of being able to run my fingers through my hair.”
Maxime has two modes: full out natural curls that demand attention or low maintenance braids and twists that let her blend in. For her, it’s all about balance.
The importance of healthy hair
Maxime was taught to embrace her natural hair from a young age. Her mom banned her from getting harsh chemical perms and relaxers, while Maxime secretly yearned for that sleek curtain of straightness she saw everywhere else.
Balancing attention and personal comfort
Here's what people don't understand about natural hair: it's never just about hair. When Maxime wears her curls out, she's making a statement whether she wants to or not. She's taking up space. She's being seen. And she's accepting that some people will find her "distracting."
Most of the time she wears her hair in simple twists or braids. Sometimes a chic bun. The key is keeping it low maintenance the be both practical and comfortable.
" I only do styles if I have an event. Otherwise, my hair makes much less of a statement. And what I mean by that is: I usually have 10 twists in a loose ponytail or bun. And that's actually how I look most of the time.”
But when she went for her second perm the damage was done. The chemicals were killing her hair, and the breakage was so bad there was only one thing she could do: a big chop and start over.
"I permed it twice. The first time I really loved it, and then the second time it just started to break off. I really chopped it down, and I've been natural ever since."
Turns out mothers are in fact, always right.
"I do remember years ago at an internship, someone once told me ‘Your hair is pretty distracting.’ That kind of stuck with me. I thought, okay maybe it’s distracting. But at the same time, why can’t I just wear my hair free like everyone else? So I never let that stop me from wearing my hair how I want.”
Then there’s the matter of practicality. Helmets, hats, and headphones are out of the question. Even getting dressed in the morning can be a hassle. So sometimes she has the energy to wear her crown proudly, and other times a girl just needs a break.
But when she feels like turning it on, she turns it to 100. Because when Maxime lets her hair out, it’s nothing short of glorious. And it’s guaranteed to command attention.
"If I'm like, ‘Okay, today, I'm really gonna look good.’ That's when I wear my hair out. I know it attracts quite some attention, and I know I get a lot of compliments."
For occasions and special events, she loves this. But other days she just wants to blend in and move through the world unbothered.
This story is part of Natural Identity, a portrait series uplifting Black voices and hair journeys in and around Amsterdam.
“My hair is returning the energy that I give it, which is also a reflection of me. Even if it looks unfinished, it's still holding up. But if I really pour that love into it and make sure it looks good, then it returns the energy.”
But even when her look is low-maintenance, Maxime doesn’t feel less like herself. This hair style is part of her personality too, a little quieter and under the radar. Some days she's the star of the show. Other days she's beautifully, strategically blending in.
She knows she can turn it on, but sometimes other things in life need her energy.
Energy and resilience
Finding the right hair salon for her curls was no easy task. Curly-girl salons could make it look good, but she didn’t feel like they understood how to keep it healthy.
Luckily she found Anoeska and The Natural Nation to treat her curls right. After all these years, she still remembers her mother’s lesson: hair health is most important.
For Maxime, her hair reflects her personality: the energy you put in is what you get out. When she treats her hair right, it looks like this. When she doesn’t put in the effort, it still stays resilient underneath.
Images by Jennifer Grube
Writing by Caitlin McCarthy
Hair Style by Anoeska from TNN
