I'd love to respond, but I'm not African American.

I will tell you anyways because I really feel like it's important for all women to embrace, in any culture or ethnicity.
What does your hair mean to you mentally, physically and emotionally?
My hair is all knowing. If you take a moment to consider that, I think that you would realize that as healthy body is needed to produce healthy hair. Physically, when I am not right, my hair suffers, my body suffers. It's a visible sign to me, that when I am under stress, or illness, my hair shows this. It's a reminder to me to care for myself mentally and physically.
Emotionally, my hair makes me feel sexy and mysterious. THere's not a straight line to it, it's complex and curvy, it's beautiful and robust.
I have worn my hair very short, very long, and midway between the two, but what I always feel is that it's the first thing people associate with me. My curls, my style. That individuality is so important to me.