Is Our Natural Hair a Fad or Forever for Black Women?

It has been about 10 years since a large number of people, with African American decent, decided to return to wearing their hair in its natural state. This certainly does not include everyone, but many people are proudly walking through this journey as a recommitment to where our ancestry originated. This is an expression of individuality in our black culture versus chemically treated straight hair which seems to be a blueprint laid out to copy Caucasian hair patterns. Will this individuality last or are we going to return to the days of permanent relaxer treatments?

This is a very controversial subject in the black community. I, personally, am still stuck on the creamy crack. Am I addicted? The answer is probably yes. My hair has been relaxed since I was in the third grade. I started doing my own hair at an early age and going back to natural hair has never been a thought. I have been going to the hair salon every two weeks since I was a child, and I trained my daughters to be the same way. We have now learned to shampoo and treat our own hair instead of our faithful two-week appointments and it has worked out well.

All three of my daughters have stopped getting relaxers because their hair is beautiful in its natural state. They can wear their hair so many ways. The most natural would be for them to wear it curly by spraying some type of moisturizing product on their hair each day. This will avoid the hair becoming dry which could lead to breakage. The main reason that my children went natural is because they experienced breakage. This interfered with them growing their hair to the length that they desired.

Since their hair is no longer chemically treated, many times they will put it into a protective hair style. This simply means that it is a style that avoids excessive combing and manipulation which can cause it to become damaged and cause breakage. Even though the hair is no longer chemically treated, natural hair can tend to be very dry if the correct products are not used for moisturizing. Along with dryness, too much heat or too much manipulation can also cause damage to natural hair.

One thing that I do not have to worry about is extreme manipulation since I still have a relaxer. The relaxer straightens my curl pattern which in turn reduces tangles. I do still have to make sure that my hair maintains moisture. This is just natural for black hair whether it is relaxed or not. I have tried to go all natural, but I can firmly say, that is not for me. My hair has a tight curl pattern, or as we say in my culture, it is NAPPY! I cannot deal with the everyday maintenance of natural hair. I will continue to say, “Relax me please.”

Although relaxers do have a certain amount of convenience as well, I do not see natural hair as a fad. My daughters never talk about getting a permanent relaxer to straighten their hair. They love it just as it is and the freedom that comes with it. I will say, for them, they will forever keep their hair in its natural state.

The natural look works best for them because chemicals tend to cause more damage than good in their case. When my girls were young, my husband’s grandmother told me that chemicals would change the texture of their hair and she was absolutely right. We have two totally different types of hair. Although my hair can flourish with a relaxer when it is treated right, my daughters do much better without this chemical treatment.

I cannot say that all women who are natural will stay that way. Some have tried it and simply find it easier using a permanent relaxer. This does not require as much maintenance as a natural hair style would. This new journey for many women works. It offers a type of freedom that just cannot be bought with a relaxer. Is it more than just embracing our culture? I believe so. It is our own individual expression of how we look and feel about ourselves, but it also involves a certain convenience. Ladies let me know what your feelings are about natural hair. Do you prefer to be natural or relaxed and why?