Love Yourself: How to Embrace Your Curls and Own Who You Are

If you had asked me a few years ago if I loved my curls, I would have laughed. I remember being a little girl, standing in front of the mirror, pulling at my hair, trying to straighten it, tie it up tight, make it disappear. I just wanted to fit in. I wanted to look like everyone else. What I didn’t know back then was that the very curls I was trying to hide would one day become my strength, my signature, my power.

All my life, I tried to fit into molds that weren’t made for me. I learned to love myself only when I realized that I didn’t need to change a thing to be whole. It was a process, one that didn’t happen overnight, but it changed my life. I know how hard it is because I’ve lived it. But I also know how freeing it is when you finally embrace yourself fully. That’s what I want to share with you, the journey that helped me realize that every curl on my head is a gift and that I am exactly as I’m meant to be.

Why Every Hat We Create Starts with 'Be'

When I created Wholein by Benkin, I knew I wasn’t just designing hats-I was creating a message. Every hat in our collection is named “Be” followed by an empowering word: Be Bold, Be Free, Be Unique, Be Loved. These aren’t just names; they are daily reminders that you are enough, exactly as you are.

Each design is a reflection of my own journey, moments when I needed to remind myself to be brave, to be free, to be me. And when these hats land in your hands, I want you to feel the same empowerment.

How Do You Start Loving Yourself?

Studies show that self-acceptance is one of the biggest keys to happiness, yet it’s also one of the hardest things to practice. In a world that constantly tries to put us in boxes, we need to remind ourselves daily of who we truly are. So, how do you do that? Here are five steps that helped me:

1. Practice Daily Affirmations- Start every morning by saying something positive about yourself in the mirror. It sounds small, but it rewires your mind. Try saying, “I am beautiful exactly as I am” or “I love my curls”-it makes a huge difference.

2. Surround Yourself with Supportive People -The people around us shape how we see ourselves. Choose to be around those who uplift and encourage you.

3. Invest in Yourself and Your Self-Care - Not because you have to, but because you deserve to feel good. Find a haircare routine that makes you enjoy taking care of your curls as an act of self-love.

4. Embrace What Makes You Different - That’s your superpower! Whether it’s your curls, your personality, your dreams,whatever makes you unique is exactly what makes you incredible.

5. Remember That Self-Love Is a Journey, Not a Destination Some days will be easy, some won’t. But what matters is choosing to love yourself every single day.

Final Thoughts

I’m writing this from the most personal place because I know how much this mindset shift can change your life. I know what it feels like to want to be someone else, and I know what it feels like to realize that everything I needed was already inside me.

At Wholein by Benkin, I want every hat to be more than just an accessory-I want it to be a reminder that you are beautiful, strong, and whole exactly as you are. Your curls are part of you. They don’t need to be “tamed” or “fixed”-they need to be free, just like you.

So remember-Be Bold, Be Free, Be You.