The natural hair trend has been around for quite a while now, but in recent times, it seems like everybody and their sister is jumping on the bandwagon. You’ve probably wondered why anyone would want to keep their hair in a difficult-to-manage state of wiry, semi-unkempt, trauma inducing dryness. Really, what exactly are the benefits of ‘’going natural’’? For those of us who have asked ourselves (or others) that question, this article is for you. Sit back, and enjoy. You never know, after this, you just may join us!
Growth
A lot of the time, many ladies have experienced hair growth only up till a certain point. (Chin length, shoulder length, etc.) But after going natural, the hair gains a life of its own and reaches lengths that they could only dream about before (myself included).
Fullness
Going natural means an end to lifeless, thin, limp hair. Chemical straightening of hair results in breaking the bonds in our hair which makes it lose its curls, and many times, its thickness too. My hair is fine in texture, and relaxers just made it worse. I would look like the proverbial ‘’iya eko’’ after retouching, and I just ended up covering it with weaves. Since going natural, my hair is full and strong, and I’m even getting compliments about it.
It’s healthier
Lauren Wise of Boston University’s Slone Epidemiology Center led a research team that found that that hair relaxer use could increase the risks of uterine leiomyomata commonly known as fibroids because of the exposure to chemicals in the relaxer from lesions caused by burns to the scalp.
Uniqueness
Because DNA is unique to each individual, our hair is also distinctive, meaning that your hair is an exclusive! No two
people can have the same type of hair, not even twins, and this allows you to rock styles and trends in a way that is uniquely yours. We can all agree that hair is a major identifier for us ladies, so imagine the possibilities…
It’s way less expensive
I can hear some people shouting out at this point, but trust me, I’m right. Black hair care is a $9 billion industry while 30 percent to 34 percent of all hair products in the United States are purchased by Black women, 9try adding up the amount you’ve spent on weaves, extensions, relaxer, salon fees, etc. in the last year!). I know that natural girls buy a lot of products for their hair, but this is simply because a lot of us are in the process of trying out things that work (or not). When you settle into a hair routine, you’ll find that most of your hair treatments can be done within a few minutes in your bathroom, and by yourself, no less!
The versatility is amazing.
Natural hair has so many styling options, it’s ridiculous. You can actually wear a different style every day. From an afro, to straw curls, to straightened, to protective styles like weaving, braids and dreadlocks, your choices are endless. The photo above says it all.
Black and proud!
Our natural hair is uniquely African, the afro has been a symbol of Black Empowerment for a long time, and it represents our beauty and strength as a people. Many view going natural as an awakening or an acceptance of the natural beauty of Black women and a rejection of the European concepts of what has been regarded as “beauty” for far too long. The natural hair movement is helping a lot of Black women confirm that we are beautiful just the way we are.
We live in a society where straighter hair is seen as “more beautiful” than kinky hair. Unfortunately history and society have taught many of “us” to be ashamed of our hair’s natural texture. Natural hair is often labeled with adjectives like “unkempt”, “ugly”, “unprofessional”, etc. but information is much easier to access these days, and a lot of women are sharing their natural hair stories (and trials!), particularly on Social Media. Slowly but surely, we are seeing the emergence of a group of women who are rocking their hair with pride, and encouraging others to do the same. Stay tuned to this blog for more articles about natural hair.