I chose to tell this story because the phrase “beauty is pain” is deeply real in Black communities. I grew up knowing the long hours, clenched teeth, and sharp discomfort of caring for kinky, curly hair. But I also knew the tenderness that comes with it. This story allowed me to show both the pain and the gentleness that's required to carry you through it. The bond between braider and subject is built on trust, communication, and care. Tender is about how love shows up in difficult moments, and how that connection makes the pain worthwhile.