For some reason, I've never thought much about other ethnic group’s hair. I assumed that black women were the only ones who had hair issues.

I was naive.

On Monday, I participated in "The Mane Event," a panel discussion about hair featuring women from diverse ethnic groups. On the panel was Sara Ellington Behnke, co-author of "The Must-Have Mom Manual"; slam poet Melissa Harris; Marcia Merrill, co-chair of Women's Intercultural Exchange (WIE); Rosie Molinary, author of "Beautiful You: A Daily Guide to Radical Self-Acceptance"; and Anna Sison, a Women's Inter-Cultural Exchange board member.

Some of you may be thinking: Who cares; its just hair?

Well, with a panel that included blacks, Asians, Hispanics and Caucasian, I came to understand that it's not just hair.

How ignorant of me to think that, because our skin color is different, that similar hair issues don’t apply to all women. It's about hair texture and how it grows out of each individual’s head.

Our hair is so much a part of who we are. For many women, it is tied into how we feel about ourselves, how we are treated by others, our femininity, and sometimes it’s about our health.

For example, Anna Sison, who is Asian, wouldn't go to a salon for years to get her hair cut because no one knew how to cut her texture of hair. It took her years to find a stylist.

Rosie Molinary, who is Hispanic, wrestled with whether or not she should straighten her thick, curly hair. As a mother, Molinary felt that it was important to be able identify with her young son, who is African, and has curly hair. She finally decided to straighten her hair, as it was easier for her to maintain.

Sara Ellington Behnke lost her hair to cancer. She taught me that there is a difference between just cutting your hair and having illness take it away.

The two hours that we spent talking with the 25 women in attendance was heartfelt and much needed. Our community needs more conversation like that to help break stereotypes and bridge boundaries.

The women on the panel taught me more than I could have imagined, and I am grateful.

For more information check out www.crossroadscharlotte.org or www.wi-ce.org.

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Lashawnda Becoats is style editor for Qcitymetro.com.

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