--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had been getting relaxers since I was…" description: "\"I had been getting relaxers since I was eight or nine. I had no clue. It was a personal mission to really find out who am when I'm not altering myself ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/teyonah-parris-12195_find_i-had-been-getting-relaxers-since-i-was_363645.jpg" --- # I had been getting relaxers since I was eight or nine. I… ![“I had been getting relaxers since I was eight or nine. I had no clue. It was a personal mission to really find out who am when I'm not altering myself to look like anybody else. Who am I when I wake up and I don't do anything to my hair? Who is that woman? I want to meet her. And that was what…” quote by Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/teyonah-parris-12195_find_i-had-been-getting-relaxers-since-i-was_363645.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/teyonah-parris-12195_find_i-had-been-getting-relaxers-since-i-was_363645.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/teyonah-parris-12195_find_i-had-been-getting-relaxers-since-i-was_363645.jpg) > “I had been getting relaxers since I was eight or nine. I had no clue. It was a personal mission to really find out who am when I'm not altering myself to look like anybody else. Who am I when I wake up and I don't do anything to my hair? Who is that woman? I want to meet her. And that was what catapulted my journey into going natural.” [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shedding external alterations reveals the authentic self, prompting a journey of self‑discovery and acceptance. **In simple terms:** Removing external changes helps find true identity. Key Takeaway Embrace natural self‑discovery. Themes self‑identity authenticity beauty Mood empowering reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career - public speaking - media appearances Key Concepts self‑acceptance body image personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What does your authentic self look like? - How can you support others in their natural journeys? A Different Perspective External pressures can hinder genuine self‑exploration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission/) [Personal mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-mission/) ## Related quotes > [As CEO of Unilever, my personal mission is to galvanize our company to be an effective force for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/as-ceo-of-unilever-my-personal-mission-is-to-galvanize-our-company-to/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [I'm motivated by fear of failure. It's a personal mission to say to all those people from years ago, 'Look, I'm seriously not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-evans/i-m-motivated-by-fear-of-failure-it-s-a-personal-mission-to-say-to/) [Lee Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-evans/) > [“Is what you're going through a natural process that cannot be avoided? If it isn't, what are the alternatives?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-soriano/is-what-you-re-going-through-a-natural-process-that-cannot-be-avoided/) [Jocelyn Soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-soriano/) > [We're going to do a natural birth. At first she was like, 'We should do it at home,' and I said, 'Look, either way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/we-re-going-to-do-a-natural-birth-at-first-she-was-like-we-should-do/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [“Aria smiled, then her gaze traveled to his waist. “Perry, did you know your pants are falling down?” “Yeah.” He didn’t have to look;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-rossi/aria-smiled-then-her-gaze-traveled-to-his-waist-perry-did-you-know/) [Veronica Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-rossi/) > [Transformation comes in a lot of different forms, but going natural really helped me love myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-hervey/transformation-comes-in-a-lot-of-different-forms-but-going-natural/) [Jillian Hervey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-hervey/) > [I wanted it to be back to a state where it felt like it was thriving, so I think that my hair's happiest natural,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goapele/i-wanted-it-to-be-back-to-a-state-where-it-felt-like-it-was-thriving/) [Goapele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goapele/) > [“and retreat from the busy and hectic day to day daily life or the desire for fresh veggies, gardening can fill that void. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-higgins/and-retreat-from-the-busy-and-hectic-day-to-day-daily-life-or-the/) Anthony Higgins > [“you understand the purpose of a personal mission statement. It is the picture of where you want to end up—that is, your destination is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/you-understand-the-purpose-of-a-personal-mission-statement-it-is-the/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [A personal mission statement becomes the DNA for every other decision we make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/a-personal-mission-statement-becomes-the-dna-for-every-other-decision/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [You wouldn't match Melanie and me up, and if we hadn't gotten stuck together as lab partners in junior high science, I doubt if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/you-wouldn-t-match-melanie-and-me-up-and-if-we-hadn-t-gotten-stuck/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [I believe that my personal mission in life is to grow and contribute, so I am learning and growing every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-gray/i-believe-that-my-personal-mission-in-life-is-to-grow-and-contribute/) [Farrah Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-gray/) > [Bodies are becoming our personal mission to tame, extend and perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-orbach/bodies-are-becoming-our-personal-mission-to-tame-extend-and-perfect/) [Susie Orbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-orbach/) > [The most effective way I know to begin with the end in mind is to develop a personal mission statement or philosophy or creed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-most-effective-way-i-know-to-begin-with-the-end-in-mind-is-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“The problem, says my sister, Kelly, is not that I can't get over Naomi - it's that I refuse to… Loving Naomi and waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-problem-says-my-sister-kelly-is-not-that-i-can-t-get-over-naomi/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) ## More by Teyonah Parris > [As black women, we're miles behind our white counterparts in being offered the space to create and craft female characters in major blockbuster films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/as-black-women-we-re-miles-behind-our-white-counterparts-in-being/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [As a girl, I remember looking up to pop singers, and they all had long, straight weaves and light skin. And I thought, 'That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/as-a-girl-i-remember-looking-up-to-pop-singers-and-they-all-had-long/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [When you have filmmakers like Justin Simien, writers, producers, actresses like Lena Waithe, who are people of color, they're creating their own content and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/when-you-have-filmmakers-like-justin-simien-writers-producers/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [I think, no matter who you are, at some point in your life you've probably said, 'OK, well, who am I, and where do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/i-think-no-matter-who-you-are-at-some-point-in-your-life-you-ve/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [It's important, as a young person of color, to see yourself reflected in the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/it-s-important-as-a-young-person-of-color-to-see-yourself-reflected/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [I don't even watch basketball. I can't even pretend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/i-don-t-even-watch-basketball-i-can-t-even-pretend/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [I'm influenced by many things. Simply turning on the television, I feel inundated with images and messages to be a certain way. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/i-m-influenced-by-many-things-simply-turning-on-the-television-i-feel/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [Whatever it is you do, study it, learn the ins and outs of it, and really work on building your craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/whatever-it-is-you-do-study-it-learn-the-ins-and-outs-of-it-and/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [I, for myself, have wanted to get more into producing because I want to be a part of the conversation and be one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/i-for-myself-have-wanted-to-get-more-into-producing-because-i-want-to/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [In working with Nick Cannon, he's such a generous guy, a generous actor, and he was very protective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/in-working-with-nick-cannon-he-s-such-a-generous-guy-a-generous-actor/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [You have to really understand and appreciate who are you are and know who you are and what you have to offer people -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/you-have-to-really-understand-and-appreciate-who-are-you-are-and-know/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [You have to be resilient to be a black person in America. The thing about being resilient is being able to fall apart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/you-have-to-be-resilient-to-be-a-black-person-in-america-the-thing/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [An actor hears 'no' more often than the average person. A black human and a black woman on top of that? That's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/an-actor-hears-no-more-often-than-the-average-person-a-black-human/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [I love period dramas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/i-love-period-dramas/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [For me, it's always about the work and the stories I'm telling and the slices of life I feel should be illuminated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/for-me-it-s-always-about-the-work-and-the-stories-i-m-telling-and-the/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) [Explore all 56 Teyonah Parris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) ## More Find quotes > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Consumers can choose organic cotton grown without pesticides, but it uses more water and requires more land than conventional crops. Organic cotton can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/consumers-can-choose-organic-cotton-grown-without-pesticides-but-it/) [Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/) > [You will find that the more successful the individual, the less inclined he is to make excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-joseph-schwartz/you-will-find-that-the-more-successful-the-individual-the-less/) [David Joseph Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-joseph-schwartz/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [They will find somebody younger, somebody funnier, somebody more engaged. As long as the court genre is viable, people are going to be looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/they-will-find-somebody-younger-somebody-funnier-somebody-more/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) > [I think I need the demons in order to write, but the demons have gone. It bothers me a lot. I've tried and tried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-think-i-need-the-demons-in-order-to-write-but-the-demons-have-gone/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [I'm very fond of classical music, especially Mozart. I find it relaxes me and helps me concentrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guler-sabanci/i-m-very-fond-of-classical-music-especially-mozart-i-find-it-relaxes/) [Guler Sabanci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guler-sabanci/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [Reading counts as partying, even if you're not enjoying it! Even if someone's forcing you to read, you can find a way to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/reading-counts-as-partying-even-if-you-re-not-enjoying-it-even-if/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [George Roy Hill, Redford, and I have been looking for a script to do together for 13 years. We haven't been able to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/george-roy-hill-redford-and-i-have-been-looking-for-a-script-to-do/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [People from all walks of life that you might find as a King Diamond fan - you don't look a certain way; you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-diamond/people-from-all-walks-of-life-that-you-might-find-as-a-king-diamond/) [King Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-diamond/) > [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [For me, I like to be different. I didn't want to imitate another wrestler. I always try to find something from other genres, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinsuke-nakamura/for-me-i-like-to-be-different-i-didn-t-want-to-imitate-another/) [Shinsuke Nakamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinsuke-nakamura/) > [For young people in the U.K. who find themselves without anywhere to live - perhaps they have left the family home after a relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/for-young-people-in-the-u-k-who-find-themselves-without-anywhere-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) Browse all 11,342 Find quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had been getting relaxers since I was eight or nine. I had no clue. It was a personal mission to really find out who am when I'm not altering myself to look like anybody else. Who am I when I wake up and I don't do anything to my hair? Who is that woman? I want to meet her. 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