Weekend Health Clinic: Black Hair Care–Going Natural
Natural Hair Care
by Ms SNIPS (ourhair.net)
Do you remember seeing your first Afro? Where you impressed, jealous, disgusted or shocked? Nothing gains a second look faster than a person of African or Ethnic descent wearing what God gave them naturally.. Whether you are on one side of the fence or the other about natural styles, their beauty is undeniable.Over the last 40 or so years, hair worn in its natural state has been as much about politics as it has been about personal choice. During the turbulent ’60’s and ’70’s hair worn naturally was about freedom more so than a sense of style. It was an attempt by people of color to embrace their individuality.
As we moved into the 1980’s, a more businesslike attitude overtook the country and our hair conformed right along with it. Relaxers where more popular than ever and the Jeri Curl was being born (thank heavens it died!).
Now we fast forward to the new millennium and people of color are redefining themselves and their commitment to hair that’s been fried, dyed and laid to the side. Once again, the hairstyles worn by African American and Ethnic women point to a new sense of pride and acceptance of natural hair.
Embracing this fierce new acceptance of self is a breed of woman who is dropping the lye habit in droves. Popular culture reflects this trend in commercials showing nappy heads in corporate offices, theatres, and malls, driving expensive autos and chatting via cell.
Many women who are either considering dropping the lye habit, transitioning, newly natural or have been natural for years, have all come from a common place of thought about their hair. They were tired of the chemicals, the long waits at the salon, the scabs and burns, the fear of anything touching our hair (even our men) and the thin lifeless beast relaxers left us them. For them, to no longer relaxer gave them truly wash and wear hair. In this article, we will walk you through the process of going natural and how to take care of a style the newly natural you! (cont. …)
It’s actually kind of funny that you mention natural hair. I’ve been growing
my hair naturally since I was 19. I’m now 25, and I have never regretted it.
I love my own hair because it is me, not me trying to make my hair something
it is not, which is straight. It is a shame more black women or those of black decent
feel the need to relax their hair or it will get “nappy” as if “nappy” is a bad thing. Nappy
is what we’ve always been.
Comment by April | January 30, 2005
I just discovered this website and saw that my article from my website, OurHair.net was here. Hopefully after reading it,more people will stop by OurHair.net to discover more about their hair and its care. Also, thank you for properly crediting OurHair.net as the source of the article as we have many people use my original work without bothering to say where they got it. Much success with your endeavors.
Comment by Monica, OurHair CEO | January 31, 2005
Thank you very much for the helpful information. It is a general practice of this website to not only note the author of the article, but also post only a portion of the article itself. That way, our readers must click on the (more…
link to read the rest of the article. Again, thank you very much for your very useful information. Hopefuly this site can bring more attention to you wonderful website!!
Comment by Duane | January 31, 2005
I’m one of those people who messes with her every few months. My philosophy is, it’s just hair if something goes wrong I just hack it all off and start over. (I’m about reay to do that now.) My mom thought I was nuts when I first started refusing perms back in highschool.
Comment by Samantha | January 31, 2005