Quite a few people were outraged last year when Jill Scott went from her natural big afro to a short spiked relaxed hair cut!!! I couldn't believe some of the things that I was reading on the blogs and twitter. People literally felt betrayed!! REALLY? Lol. I was really cracking up when people were saying that she fell for the creamy crack (relaxer). Smh
I personally was transitioning from relaxed to natural hair last year. It lasted for nearly a year. It was a pretty good experience, but I prefer relaxed hair as of now. I am not saying that I will never go natural. When some ladies hear me say that I love my relaxed hair, they seem bothered or annoyed. I get the notion that some natural women automatically assume that a relaxed women has unhealthy hair. That can be untrue for quite a few relaxed women. Let me say this and get it out of the way because I do not want anyone to get the wrong impression. I think that natural hair is beautiful--especially those who rock it with great confidence!! I love it. However, I don't like it when women with natural hair frown on women with relaxed hair. What is the problem? I don't get it. People can do whatever they want with their own hair. If it is raggedy and a mess, so be it. It is their hair. To me natural over relaxed hair does not make ones hair better. I have witnessed women with natural hair who have areas of thinning. It is all in how you take care of your hair. I have also seen the same with women with relaxed hair AND women with relaxed hair that is waist length or even longer!
There is a horrible stigma put on black women that we cannot grow long healthy hair (whether it maybe natural or relaxed). I think the problem has been that for years some black women did not really know how to care for their texture of hair. Am I right about it? But in this day in time, we have youtube and other websites that help us to find out what texture of hair we have, what products are best for us and so forth. So time is truly on our side. We CAN have healthy long hair. It is all up to the individual. So if you are #TeamNatural then AWESOME! If you are #TeamRelaxed then go YOU! LOL. My beauties what is our take on this topic. Post your comment.
This really is an ongoing debate, and I think it is quite funny! I rocked natural hair for nearly 2 years (pre to post pregnancy) and then just recently relaxed it and am wearing a short cut. I LOVE my relaxed hair just like I LOVED my natural hair!!! This is one of the great things about being an African American woman. WE HAVE OPTIONS, and we should not hate on anyones expression of themselves because there is no right or wrong answer. And no matter how you wear your hair, (Long hair, short hair, natural hair, relaxed hair, real hair or fake hair...LOL) as long as you wear it with confidence you will look beautiful and feel great.
ReplyDeleteYESSSSS!!! My sentiments exactly Wendi. Well stated.
ReplyDeleteI personally can say that I have been on both ends of the spectrum and I think that it’s up to the person themselves. I’m natural now but it wasn’t completely by choice. I love having a relaxer and being able to try different style on my hair. But because of my blood pressure meds I have been forced to do the natural thing on go bald in which I preferably choose not to. Can I tell I difference? Yes. Is it a better experience? Not sure still working out the kinks. LOL Yet I will continue to try to figure this thing out. I rock my natural just as well as I rocked my relaxer. In this I’d have to say that I am PRO-CHOICE. Do what feels right and what you like. And kinky or natural hair doesn’t mean that it’s healthier because if you don’t get it treated (just like relaxed hair) you’ll loose it.
ReplyDeleteHey Cuzzo! I love both natural and relaxed hair. I've been natural for almost a year. I decided to go natural because I was having issues taking care of my relaxed hair. I was perming it too often and wearing styles that caused thinning. My hair is thicker now. I've tried to go natural several times, but I was really inspired after seeing how long and healthy looking my friend's natural hair was. And with natural hair, you can still have it straightened. I agree with you that it's a person's choice to wear their hair however they want. I'm not for or against either natural or relaxed. I decided to go natural because I was abusing the "creamy crack" a bit too much and it was causing damage to my hair, and I like the look of natural hair.
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