This research retells the stories of seven Black women with natural Black hair and hair texture during the construction of their professional identities while enrolled in medical and law school. This is the first study to explore the relationship between identity associated with Black hair and hair texture and the professional identity while entering an occupation. In this narrative inquiry methodology study, the Gendered Racial Identity concept and Black Feminist Thought were applied as a theoretical paradigm. Adopting narrative inquiry terminology, the narrators engaged in two semi-structured meetings and revealed five themes: (1) Respectability politics, (2) The expense of Black womanhood, (3) Good hair vs bad hair, (4) Disruption of the status quo, and (5) Proclamation of freedom. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]