My decision to go natural was not intentional. In fact an appointment with an overzealous beautician with scissors at the beauty salon did. However since that decision was made, I have found a new part of myself, I have come to love my natural hair and subsequently learned to love myself more and more. For that I am now thankful! Here are 5 reasons why others and I believe that natural hair is better for women than weaves or relaxed hair.
1. It’s scientifically proven to be healthier. Natural hair is stronger than chemically altered hair or hair that has been damaged or weighed down from weaves. Relaxed hair and hair that is constantly weaved has usually sustained a lot of damage, broken off, dry and or brittle.
2. Natural hair is extremely versatile and can be very easy to work with. From afros to braids to twists to dreads – you name it- it’s possible! Because our hair by default is strong and more coarse and curly in texture, it is very resilient. When it is well taken care of and trained can do basically whatever you want it to do.
3. Long term usage of weaves, glue and over processing with chemicals can lead to conditions like alopecia. Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by pulling on the roots of the hair, which can lead to permanent loss of the hair. Also according to Livestrong, over-usage of weaves may lead to the atrophy of hair follicles, which causes them to produce brittle thin hair. With that said, I do believe that wearing a wig or weave for a certain time to give your hair a respite from styling can be beneficial to the natural growing process. It is just imperative that you wash and condition your own natural hair also to ensure it stays healthy. It’s all about balance.
4. You can become acquainted with another part of yourself. I found when I made the decision to go natural; I had no recollection of the actual texture of my hair before I had a relaxer. My mother did my hair when I was little, and I got my first chemical at the age of 6 or 7, so I had no reference point of what my hair was really like. Some people say their hair is nappy and kinky and so hard to deal with, but they have no viewpoint of their hair without comparing it to the ends of their chemically altered hair. Going natural I got acquainted with a part of who I am and I fell in love with it.
5. Stereotypes of beauty will never change unless we as black women make our own way and embrace what is beautifully us. With the cajoling of the other sisters in a show that I was doing this summer, I wore my afro out for the first time since I was a child. It wasn’t until that moment I realized I didn’t think my natural hair was attractive. That thought hit me very deeply. Until then, I’d been wearing wigs and head wraps to cover my braided hair, as I let it go through it’s transition. I had convinced myself my reasoning was, I didn’t want to damage my hair as it grew. It was actually because I was ashamed of how it looked.
No offense to those of you who relax your hair, if you do it because you want to, that’s great! I personally had to reflect on the reasons why I did or did not want to get a relaxer, and l found it rested in a fallacy of the historical cultural standard of what beauty truly is. The natural movement is transforming the worldview of beauty-especially black beauty. It all starts with self-perception. When we as individuals embrace what we are, the world will begin to notice and accept the beauty that we naturally possess…
Written By: Kristina Love
Tweet Me: @klovesda
Visit Kris’ Personal Blog HERE