Over the past few months as I’ve found myself immersed in my natural-hair care research I’ve come across ENDLESS videos, tutorials, tips and advice on new ways to manipulate natural hair to obtain a certain, defined look. While at first I loved it, these days I don’t know how I feel about it anymore…well yes I do. I don’t like it (I’m not taking a stance on whether it’s right or wrong). I’ve talked with a few close friends about it, but haven’t spoken publicly on it because I didn’t want to hear the backlash. Today however, after reviewing Curly Nikki someone did a post on this very topic which has now given me the courage to speak out on it.
I don’t like when natural-haired sisters consistently manipulate their hair to make it look like something that it’s not.
When I made the decision to stop wearing relaxers, I understood and accepted that the alternative would be to wear my hair in it’s natural state as it grows out of my head. My rationale for this expectation was my group of friends that had already began the transition. Those women never braided, twisted and rolled their hair in the hopes of acheiveing a different look the next day. Nor did they spend hours at night carefully detangling, drying and trying various different styling options. Their mentality was that they were accepting their hair for what it is and were going to fearlessly rock it. I subscribed to that mentality. Throughout my transition until now I’ve consistently rocked wash n go’s with the occassional roller set (once) or bantu knot out (once).
It wasn’t until last fall when people began asking me what I was using in my hair to get it to curl like that when the reality of the natural-hair community hit me. Many naturals are obsessed with obtaining a look that is opposed to their truth. I can’t tell you how many times I’d have to tell women that I did nothing to manipulate my hair texture and watch their eyes get disapointed. “You mean that’s not a straw set?” or “You didn’t braid or twist your hair the night before?”
My mentality is why would I do that? If my hair doesn’t already do that naturally, then what is the point? For so many wanting these more defined looks and who are going through great lengths to get it, why not go down the street and put in a texturizer or something. That texturizer would give you the look you spend hours attempting to manipulate anyways. At this point, what makes many naturals any different than women with relaxed hair? At least the relaxed chick had enough sense to make it easier on herself by cutting down on daily styling time.
I understand that people may say it’s so easy for me to talk because my hair has well-defined curls with zero manipulation from me. Truth be told, I understood that about my hair which has helped push me to stay this way. However, if curl definition is what I consistently wanted and my hair didn’t do that, I would be out here getting a texturizer or something. Why fight my hair daily to acheive a look that it’s not trying to do? Just like all those years I appreciated and wanted bone-straight hair. Why on earth would I have been natural? I eagerly applied my super-strength relaxers every two-months and watched my HEALTHY hair grow straight down my back.
People tought the unhealthiness of relaxers and how damaging they are but truth be told my hair was healthy with relaxers. Many women I know with them take very good care of their hair and have healthier hair than many of these naturals do. Healthy hair is healthy hair regardless of the presence of chemicals.
At the end of the day, it’s JUST hair. Lol yes, quote me on that. So what if you’re not “natural?” If you want big curly hair, go get the perming system. If you want straight hair all the time, go cop that relaxer. And if you just want your hair to do it’s own “thing,” release it and see what happens…
So overall, the point of this is to say that I’m not into all of the extensive styling techniques to force your hair to look a way that it naturally does not do. If you want your hair to look a way it naturally does not, there is probably a chemical out there for that.
No offense to anyone. End rant.
P.S. I understand the idea of trying something new and rocking those twist outs/braid outs, etc on occassion. My personal pet peeve is the woman who will never let her hair just be…she insists on rocking everything but her own. And remember, I’m not saying if it’s right or wrong, I’m just saying I don’t like it. I just enjoy seeing the different types of curls, textures and looks Black women acheive…when everywhere I turn the naturals have manipulated looks I get annoyed lol.
Fancy A. Yancey 