Essay On How To Conk Your Hair

2. I am going to teach you how to conk your hair just like someone taught me. First things first, you must go to the market store to buy all the ingredients to make the congolene; this includes Red Devil lye, two eggs, and two medium-sized white potatoes. Yes, this makes the congolene, not a snack. Then, you will go to the drugstore to buy a large jar of Vaseline, a large bar of soap, a large-toothed comb, a fine-toothed comb, a rubber hose with a metal spray head, an apron, and a pair of gloves. You should peel the potatoes and cut them into thin slices. Go ahead and put them into a mason fruit jar and stir them while pouring on half of your can of lye. Unless you want to turn your metal spoon black, use a wooden spoon. Once it begins to look like a glob of jelly, crack your eggs into the mix and stir them up real fast. If it turns pale yellow, you are on the right track. Do not be alarmed, but notice the jar is hot. If you have put two and two together, you know it is going to be hot when you comb it in. The longer you suck it up, the better the results. Put the apron and gloves on, and comb your hair up. Next, you will rub the Vaseline through your hair and massage it into your scalp; remembering to apply it to your forehead, neck, and …show more content…
A conk was a popular hair straightening gel made from lye that was most used among African American men in the early 1900’s. Malcolm X had the idea to get his hair conked because it was popular, also he wanted hair that the white men had so he would feel more sophisticated. The conk symbolized acceptance to Malcolm when he initially got it done. He thought that if he fit in with societies standards, people would begin to listen and accept him. At the time of writing “My First Conk”, Malcolm feels ashamed of his choice of hairstyle and his thoughts about it from the past. He thinks that it is his first ever self-degradation due to the fact he went through something so unpleasant in order to conform to the opinions of his