I am glad that you chose to show your generation that it is alright to be natural. you go girl!

Peace!

Your hair is yours, given to you from God by way of all the ancestors you have had.
Comb it and wear it how you please because you are Free; and Power to you.

Saludos…

My two bestfriends are both natural and they kept telling me, you have such good hair, you should grow it out. Mind you at the time, my permed hair was breaking off more than usual. So April of this year I decided to do it.. to embrace those waves that I never gave a chance. My mom was like, no way.. you’ll perm your hair again before you know it.
Imagine her face when I walked into her classroom, red faced and rocking my TWA. lol
I admit tears flowed when I cut it, just to see all of that hair hit the floor. My grandma loved it, she was so mad my mom permed it in the first place.
I am happy I did it. I LOVE my hair. Can’t keep my hands out of it
Far as men go, I believe he should love me just the way I am. The same guys from last year still talk to me and more…black, white and beyond. And they like it. Some just can’t help but touch it and be amazed at how soft it is =/ lol but whats most important is that I’m comfortable with myself inside and out.

Over the course of 10 years, I have worn weaves, flat ironed my hair, wore braids and twists and big curly afros. I think that part of the beauty of being a black woman is the versatility we have with our hair. I will rock a straight wig just as fast as I will wear a curly one.

And just because one is natural does not mean that their hair is healthy and being natural is not always a symbol of black pride. I know too many women who have gone natural because it is the in thing to do.

I gave people $200 a month to put chemicals in my hair that made it weak and susceptible to breakage. $200 a month!!!!!! And it didn’t even approach the look of naturally straight hair. Weaves and relaxers are BULLS**** and I’m not going to sugar coat it or offer any tolerance for it.

Relaxing your hair is self hatred. You are trying to emulate people who think you are ugly anyway. People who pity you for not having their type of silky, flowing hair. I know its hard when your own family and your men hate themselves so much they are disgusted with how you choose to wear your hair. I didn’t have a lot of support either from my family. But I didn’t care.

Any man or person who would abandon me or withdraw their love for me doing something as crazy as wearing my hair the way it grows out of my scalp naturally is insane and I’m better off without them.

My hair is beautiful, natural and easy to care for. Water, Shea butter and fluffing with the fingers is all it takes. I wash and condition weekly. I’m fortunate that my husband likes it. I was tired of being complicit in my own degradation.

I am beautiful whatever some ignorant, racist black person thinks. My hair is beautiful. I am black and I’m proud and no relaxer will ever touch my head neither will any euro-style wigs. That type of “beauty” is a complete fraud. I believe in true beauty and pride.

“This design is intended to be an affirmation in support of so many black women who have made the bold choice to proudly wear their hair in its natural state (e.g. no weaves, relaxers, or other straightening chemicals or treatments). In the face of rejection, disdain and near universal disapproval, your assuredness, comfort and natural beauty gives general admirers the impression that your decision was effortless. You wear it well.”

http://www.ruconscious.com/au-napturale-tshirt.html

If you really want to be natural, find natural styles that look nice. All over the internet…

I also appreciate your comment about finding what works. I have been unable to experiment with products. I usually just wear my hair in twists. I have not been successful with other styles because I cannot afford products. However, I believe that once I am able to find what works for my hair, I will love it even more. Thanks for mentioning Komaza Care. I have done some research and so far, all the reviews are positive.

http://www.ruconscious.com/natural-tshirt.html

Now as far as products are concerned…I recently discovered Komaza Care and I love their products. I was once a product junky but I am no more. I moved from the bay area which was near the water to the high desert and my hair is still on point. Soft as ever, no crunchy hard feeling and etc. I also love their products because they are natural and use aloe and coconut. I also seal my ends and lock in moisture with shea butter. What a difference! Natural hair is a process but once you find what works for you…boy does it work!

However, it seems to me that a lot of black women are not getting the memo.
Natural hair still needs to be groomed. Natural DOES NOT mean no mantenance. There are too many how-to’s on youtube and other sites for us to just say F’it… I’m going to get up out of bed, put on my clothes, and hit the door.

Men are attracted to women who look like they give a damn about thier appearance… Sorry… but it is true. You can have on the cutest dress, the flyest blue jeans, the sexiest top, but if your hair looks like WTF aka a hot mess, guess what… The rest of you will be preceivd as such.

I wear my afro to work ( in a corporate office full of white folks in ALABAMA ).
But guess what, part of my morning routine is to put some water on my hair to loosen (revive) my coils, and then I’ll put some type of moisturizer (ph 4.5 – 5) and/or oil depending on need to give my hair some shine and curl / coil definition. I then either shape my hair with my fingers or use a pick to gently lift and shape my hair so that it is round and neat. Takes 15min or less.

If you are walking around with natural hair that is shapeless, dry, rough to the touch, and funky… you need to do better.

Please bring out the beauty in your hair by taking care of it. You don’t have to spend 4 hours applying product to your hair, twisting or braiding it up, then sitting under the dryer for 1-2 hours, then taking your braids or twists down every morning to have decent looking hair.

The simple things make all the difference.
If you frequent youtube (or even if you don’t) check out kimmaytube. She is one of a few well documented naturals who has successfully grown waist length natural hair. She is one of many women who can help guide you on natual hair care.

Be Well!
Tisha

PS.
My husband LOVES my natural hair. I recently had my hair professionally flat ironed to get the ends trimmed and my hair evened a bit. He did NOT like that look on me at all. When I washed my hair and revived my coils, he couldn’t keep his hands out of my hair. Black men do too love natural hair wearing black women… but they love it even more if you show it some TLC and bring out the beauty in it!