Hey Anonymous,

Great question, as this is actually something I’ve thought alot about with the book.  If you notice the flashback scenes of Adrienne as a little girl, she does have naturally curly hair.  In fact, in the short story “The Thing in the Dungeon” she’s kinda sporting a tiny afro.

Here’s the thing: you’re actually getting ahead of me.  In the original concept for the series, Adrienne was running around with a full blown out afro and I’ll admit, it was awesome.  However, at the point that we meet Adrienne in the story, she’s spent years doing what she’s been told is correct and desirable and having her life dictated to her.  The story of Princeless is largely one of a girl(s) learning that she doesn’t have to be something else to be awesome.  She can be awesome being exactly what she is.

Now, I realize I’m going a bit down a rabbit hole here which is dangerous for me as a (white) guy to go down, but over the last few years I have had the immense pleasure of experiencing my wife (who is black) go through a similar journey herself.  When we met, her hair was permed straight, always brittle, and she hated it.  But that’s the way her mom and all of her family have always done it (not that there’s anything wrong with it by necessity, her mom would NEVER change the way she takes care of her hair).  However, Alicia was not happy with it and decided to go through the big chop.

My wife went through several different natural hair styles and is currently sporting shoulder length natural locs.  This is one of the first times I’ve ever seen her really happy about her hair.  Every once in a while, she’ll come stretch one of her locs out to show me how long it is with a big smile plastered across her face.

My wife is awesome and has always had beautiful hair, she just didn’t always know it.  I’m not going to tell you too much about Adrienne’s journey, but I will tell you that Princeless is as much about feeling comfortable in your own skin (and hair) as it is about rescuing yourself.

So, if the lack of natural hair in the books bothers you, I absolutely understand, but stick with it.  It is something that will be addressed!

Thanks again for the question.

NOTE/DISCLAIMER:  This answer does not constitute shade, shame, or advice on or to anyone that chooses to wear their hair in any way (natural or chemically altered).  I have zero experience personally managing hair that is naturally curly or kinky and would never presume to give a black woman advice on what she ought or ought not do to her hair.  I am a straight white male and aware that as such my opinion should and probably will hold zero weight when determining what you do with your hair.  My hair is irritatingly straight to the point that it sticks straight up from my head until it is nearly shoulder length.  As such, I choose to keep my hair very short.  Just do you and know that you are awesome.  That’s all I’m saying.