Comments on: You Have Taught Me

By: aerjogg1

aerjogg1 — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:17:55 +0000

Just want to respond to F. Green. I thought your response was pretty thought provoking. I recently started wearing my hair in the natural state. Been doing this approx 1 year off and on. I have no relaxer and have not had one since 2002. I pressed my hair…thanks to my mom who taught me and helped me become an absolute expert in the area of straightening and laying it out! She was an expert. My mom’s hair is straight with a little curl and my dad’s hair is as kinky as can be but soft. So my hair has always been very long and healthy while pressed or relaxed. It was when I cut my hair very short that I realized I have beautiful natural hair. My hair is long again but I wear it natural most of the time.

F. Green, I understand exactly what it means to shampoo and condition in the shower, shake my head and simply go. I did that for months without applying products to my hair. Then I started to realize without any products my hair started drying out. I did not like putting products on at all except a little oil because I found certain products left my hair brittle, greasy, hard, or mushy. But, after trying many different products and trying different amounts, I found that some products do work in terms of helping to keeep the moisture in your hair. So it’s not that the products changed the texture of my hair at all..they don’t. At least I haven’t found any products that straighten my hair just a little. The right products simply coat my hair and prevent horrible drying out and allow my curls to stay in tact. To allow my hair to “air dry to it’s default state of kinkiness” is what I have done up to now or the last month. My hair needed something to help coat it and keep it from drying out. In fact the product I am currently using helps to protect it and keep it in its most authentic state because leaving it to dry in the elements of the environment whether the weather is hot, humid, dry, cold, and depending on the area we have no idea the chemicals in the atmosphere, all of these factors can have a huge impact on the health of our hair. When I was young and when my mom did not straighten my hair, braiding, twisting, or tying it up kept it from the elements and kept it healthy.

I’d rather not braid or twist my hair so using products that coat it to protect it helps to keep it in its authentic state. Products that coat the shaft help my hair to stay healthy and my hair doesn’t appear so dry and brittle. I have learned that my hair with the “right” products stay in it’s authentic state. My hair when pressed or relaxed certainly alters the texture and can be very unhealthy. I have nothing against straight hair but know that I damage it when I straighten it. My mother kept my hair straightened because that is all she knew how to do. She straightened my curls and I have pictures as a 2 year old with huge wire rollers prepared to sit under that dryer I have used off and on for over 30 yrs.

I absolutely love my curls and thank God in heaven for allowing me to learn that curly is beautiful and so lovely! Thank you for this post!

By: Myung Madonia

Myung Madonia — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:08:09 +0000

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By: Confused

Confused — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:08:35 +0000

You recently read your article and it read “A 100% natural woman doesnâ€™t straighten her hair with heat, wear wigs, or have hair extension of any kind. She wears her hair as it grows, and uses products and hairstyles that enhance and protect her natural kinks and curls.” I question why you deleted doesn’t straighten their hair (heat is known to cause damage and change one’s texture), but you left doesn’t wear wigs or have hair extension (which cannot change the natural texture of that persons hair)? Very Confusing???

By: Sanora Greens

Sanora Greens — Sun, 27 May 2007 01:55:02 +0000

I also agree with the India Arie song playing in the background of this page! *Smiles* I think you are beautiful when YOU know you’re beautiful. It can be natural or whatever if you’re comfortable in your own skin, and know your inner strengths that’s what makes you a beautiful woman!

By: SASHA BLACKMAN

SASHA BLACKMAN — Fri, 25 May 2007 14:19:37 +0000

India Arie’s song ……I am not my hair says everything that needs to be said about black women and their hair

By: Noelle

Noelle — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 21:47:11 +0000

Your article was really insightful and I really enjoyed it. you speak alot of truth. My ubringing has mainly been around white people, the area in which I grew up was prevalently white. As a result the majority of my friends are white. Growing up wasn’t always easy. Being constantly surrounded by beautiful white women with flowing, european hair often made me feel incredibly inadequate. My mother always asserted that i was beautiful and that i should be proud of my afro hair, but being insecure i endured years of weaves (yes I did the whole beyonce look) painful relaxers and tedious micro braiding, but it was these expensive adoroments that made me feel beautiful and feminine. At nineteen i went travelling to thailand for a few months with firends, and at that time I had a lot of time to think about me and beginning to love myself. My attitude changed and I took out those micro braids. I’m twenty one now and i’ve never looked back. I love the fact that this is the real me, there is nothing fake about me anymore. My hair is beautiful and I can’t go a day without a compliment about it. everything for me changed, my confidence, my attitude I just feel so free. This is my personal experience of going natural, I’m in no way judging any woman for having a weave or a relaxer, because I’d be a hypocrite if was, but what i will say is give it a chance and if you don’t like it then go back to the weaves, as being natural is not for eveyone. Big love Noelle

By: toni

toni — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 16:52:55 +0000

So helpful and informative.

By: afrobella » Presents for All-Natural Bellas

afrobella » Presents for All-Natural Bellas — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:49:14 +0000

[...] Don’t get it twisted, ladies – we already went through the Definition of Natural before. [...]

By: AuntieT

AuntieT — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 00:27:49 +0000

I have been locking almost a year. It has been a very difficult and challenging decision because of the time its taking to get to length. I wore my hair in long braids for years and I’ve really had a hard time dealing with the transition since styling locks is limited when your hair is not yet shoulder length. Not to mention, I think you are subtly pressured by popular culture and media especially if there is a part of you that wants to fit in there somehow.
However, there is a good side. I enjoy seeing my own hair growing and the creative side of me enjoys the beauty of the different shapes it takes on. I am Leo and my locks are colored so sometimes my hair takes on Leonine appearance which I like. It has made me feel more like myself with locks but I still dream of cutting them off and going with a straight black weave!
I have had dealings with the lock police as I like to call them. These are the sisters who feel like you must be afrocentric or eating berries or whatever they feel fits into their narrow view of what lock wearers must do. I had a loctician tell me that women who wear perms are stuck-up and we proceeded to debate about the negative attitudes that go back and forth.
I personally view locking as a personal choice. I was inspired by the variety of women I see in my city, where lock wearers have multiplied in the last ten years. I saw a few sisters in the store one night who were proudly locked and dressed like they were in a rap video. That told me that you don’t have to be limited in how you rock locks. LOL
I have since had conversations with many beautiful lock wearers since I’ve developed lock envy of women with long locks!!
I do think its a shame that women like Goapele, both women in Floetry and actress Vanessa Williams (from “Soul Food”)) who were visible natural hair wearers, have all cut their locks. But I guess they are just doing what they feel, as I think, in the end, what we should all strive for.
The site is beautiful, thanks for the interesting articles.

By: Jasmine

Jasmine — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:43:19 +0000

Thanks Coffy!