Why did I go natural?
The truth? It kind of just happened! Well, not really.
Let me start from the beginning. I was natural from birth to age 16, at which point my mom and I decided that it should not hurt me to get a relaxer. At the time I was very active in cheerleading/dance and the constant heat styling had started to break and thin my hair. So then the journey began.
I could give you the lowdown about all the popular salon-quality perms but I won’t. Things I worried about: overprocessing, underprocessing, chemical burns (every month), breakage, split-ends (many times the stylist had to cut 1.5in of hair to prevent breakage).
What I learned from getting chemical relaxers: Relaxers (perms) are not for everyone! My scalp and hair are unique.
I was also tired of fighting with salon stylists about what was best for my hair. I always tried to explain to them that I knew more about my hair than they did because I had been working with it my whole life! And many times they insisted on doing something that caused my hair to fall out! I’m like, “This is MY hair!”
So, what did I do? With not enough courage to chop it off and go natural, I started braiding and weaving more and more, until I looked up and I had worn my hair in braid extensions or sew-ins for the majority of 18mos. I took the sew-in down in February of 2011 and I had a full head of natural hair! I said to myself, “Great! I’ve always wanted to go natural! Hallelujah! I’m going to make this work and I don’t care who doesn’t like it!” And so it was.
Mo'Hair - My Homemade Natural Haircare Videos [Playlist] The four main reasons why I went natural: Health, Beauty, Cultural Pride, and Financial Expense Health
1.) Some people have sensitive skin and/or allergies. I am one of those people.
2.) I have become increasingly concerned about the chemicals that I expose myself to. 3.) Chemical burns from relaxers were a very common occurrence.
4.) There was always something about the smell of a relaxer and hair dyes that turned me off. I said to myself every time, “OMG, what am I putting in my hair? On my skin? And I hope that after years of using it, it doesn’t kill me.
5.) I was told that my hair falling out and/or breaking was a sign of poor health, a hormonal imbalance, or stress. So then a healthy head of hair must be a sign of optimum health. I sought out to find the truth.
Beauty
I have always loved my natural hair and how soft it felt. I look at afro puffs and I see beauty. It draws me in.
I like the way my natural hair feels, looks, and smells. I could lie on it like a pillow for days and days! In between straightenings, I enjoyed rubbing my face with it and smelling it (a habit which really annoyed my mother).
I’m a hair fanatic, period. I like hair types 1-4, though. Hair is hair. *shrugs*
Cultural Pride
There is a lot of pressure for people of color to conform to Eurocentric standards of beauty, labeling Eurocentric as normal and/or right while labeling Afro-centric as abnormal and/or wrong. To many people in our Western culture, Afro-textured natural hair is less desirable than straight hair. Yet for most people of African descent, Afro-textured hair is what they were born with!
Since I’ve learned how to do my own braid extensions, I think I could be more successful at relaxing this time around. However, I will not relax my hair because wearing my natural hair shows cultural pride. It's sad that some people feel threatened by me being comfortable in my own skin. "Oh, you’re comfortable being dark-skinned?" "Oh, you’re comfortable having nappy hair?" My answer: "Well, isn’t that the way God made me?" What is wrong with being proud of who I am, my heritage, and my African ancestry? Honestly, some women look at me as if I am an atheist or something because I’ve said “No” to ever getting a perm again. You know what? They will survive. This is my life, not theirs.
Financial Expense
Hair is expensive! Salon visits, products...
1.) Relaxers:
Week 1 $70.00 (the relaxer) + $20.00 (hair-cut or trimming ends to prevent splitting)
Week 2 $50.00 (wash and set)
Week 3 $50.00 (wash and set)
Week 4 $50.00 (wash and set)
Week 5 $50.00 (wash and set)
Week 6 $50.00 (wash and set)
Week 7 $50.00 (wash and set)
Total: $420.00/2 = $210/mo.
Week 8 Cycle starts over with a relaxer on natural roots
2.) Hair Weaving:
Braid Extensions.
(Senegalese Twists, Individuals, Micro Braids, Tree Braids)Price - If done by a licensed stylist, these cost usually $125.00 - $200.00. If done by an unlicensed stylist in their home, the cost is about $60 - $125.00. The braiding hair ranges in prices depending on whether it is synthetic, human, synthetic/human blend, imported, etc. $2.00 – $100.00+ per bag.
Also, time is a factor. It takes 8-10 hrs for 1 experienced stylist to complete.
Wear Time - The style lasts 6wks – 3mos, although it’s recommended for no more than 2mos.
Maintenance - About halfway, 3-4wks in, you may have to re-do the edges to keep the style looking fresh. (I wash my hair and scalp weekly nowadays instead of once every two weeks.)
Risks - Can pull hair out if done too tightly or left in too long.
Sew-Ins.Price - The average cost for a licensed stylist is $150.00 - $200.00. The hair (on tracks) ranges in prices depending on synthetic, human, synthetic/human blend, imported, etc.
Wear Time - The style lasts 6wks – 3mos, although it’s recommended for no more than 2mos.
Maintenance - After washing, it is best to sit under a hair dryer for 30min -1hr to make sure the roots (which are in cornrows) get dry. Some women even pay for salon visits to maintain their sew-in weekly. Also, when the roots begin to grow out, they may go in to get it tightened.
Risks - Can pull hair out if done too tightly or left in too long. It is also hard to do scalp treatments with a sew-in. (I soak instead.)
Glued-in tracks.Price - $50.00 - $70.00
Wear Time - The style lasts no more than 2wks.
Risks - Bonding glue has chemicals and may take your hair out when trying to remove.
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