Comments on: Natural Reactions

By: rainy

rainy — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:23:26 +0000

i know this is about hair but i think this noseyness and rudeness extends to all area…i cant tell u how many women come up to me ask WHY are u not pregnant yet or WHEN are u having a baby…also question WHY do i think i want a natural birth,,,i think people want to question anything that is diffrent for the norm…and i gt the hair stuff to….sigh

By: misspeo

misspeo — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:24:41 +0000

Ha, ha. Some of those questions sound like they came from me. I’m transitioning to natural since June 09 and now I find myself seeking out women who are natural. I usually ask the same generic questions: How long have you been natural? How long did you transition? What made you decide to go natural? I totally agree with the ignorance some of us women have about our own natural hair. I personally could not tell you how my hair looks natural but I’m really anxious to find out. ^_^

By: Shante

Shante — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:20:53 +0000

I went in Victoria’s Secret a few weeks back and the store clerk just had me baffled. She walked up to me, said she liked my hair, and asked how I got it like this. I was thinking “are you serious, you’re black too, you should know”. So I just told her I was natural and had been for going on 4 years. Then she said she liked the “spongy” look and her daughter’s hair looked the same…smh. Last time I checked my hair didn’t look spongy, actually my hair is not that thick at all, especially when it’s flat ironed (only twice a year is all I can take). I have like 4 different patterns in my head I have yet to figured out what my hair type is.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:42:10 +0000

I’ve been natural for about 6 years now. Transitioning was the hardest part, especially being in corporate America. The funny thing was that is was my “sisters” who gave me the most grief with questions like, “Soooo, what are you doing with your hair?” and “Is THAT the style you were going for?

After 2.5 years I transitioned to locs and that was another trying time for my co-workers. Now that my locs have matured and are shoulder length, I get… “Well, I like YOURS cause they look neat.” or “How do you keep them from looking nappy and dirty like my neice/nephew.” And these are the compliments, well they are supposed to be. LOL

There are a lot of women who have never known the texture of their hair. Parents are so quick to pull out a “hot comb” or put a perm in infants hair. The wrong products and tools are used, those that strip the hair of their natural oils and combs that tear and tangle.

I too was addicted to “creamy crack” years ago. I over processed my hair when the slightest new growth made its appearance. Not realizing that that hair was damaged by chemicals and not my actual texture.

When I transitioned I wasn’t aware of Afrobella.com, but did a lot of research on various sites and google groups which helped me through my transition.

By: Bianca

Bianca — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:01:14 +0000

I’ve had this conversation way too many times to recount. I get annoyed because there is no point in me trying to tell you YOU need to love and accept the texture God has blessed you with. So many women that I’ve encountered wanted my hair texture, and it makes the conversation next to impossible.

By: Malaika B.

Malaika B. — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:37:28 +0000

Hai all!

I’m 22 and been natural all my life. My parents wore their hair in dreadlocks so I’ve always loved my hair and never felt the need to use chemicals, even though the pressure to do so was overwhelming

Growing up in the Caribbean it seemed most people of color couldn’t understand and would always question my parents and my choice to be natural.’..O wauw! Her hair is so full and thick, when are you going to relax it? It would look so much better!!!’ Thankfully I loved being different and have always been proud of the natural state of my hair, so I’d always turn to them,laugh and ask why I would do that?!
My family has always loved me for that.

The ‘Hair’ situation’s different now. Living in the Netherlands people LOVE my hair.They see how much fun I have with it and sometimes even seem jealous.Because I love reading blogs ,such as yours, or checking youtube for inspiration I get creative and have fun with my curls. Strangers now walk up to me and ask for advice how to get there hair like mine. Their remarks about their hair being to curly or ‘nappy’ just make me happier I never felt that way. I always smile and suggest these blogs and reassure them that with some effort, they’d look AMAZING (just like me;)).
{It’s always better then that burning sensation I’ve heard of!!!}

And yes, for the few that don’t like my hair, well that never bothered me in the past, so why now..

Peace!:D

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:41:12 +0000

I didn’t have any issues with friends or family about going natural. Plus I do not feel like I have to please anyone or get validation from people about my hair. I always felt that it is important to do what makes you happy. I gotten compliments from people of all races. It’s how you carry yourself and being comfortable in your own skin. I enjoyed reading this article and responses. Bye Beautiful Bellas!

By: SmileyFaceInAlabama

SmileyFaceInAlabama — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:20:55 +0000

Salut! I’m a black girl in Alabama who just turned fourteen and has worn my hair natural all my life. I don’t get all that much love for my hair… in fact I kinda get a cold shoulder when I wear my hair out(my favorite) instead of in braids.
Then there are the kids who call my twists “spaghettis” in that sugar-sweet ‘joking’ way that 15-year-old girls have. A few ladies of elder generations firmly hint that I get a perm. The few compliments I get are from people out of town…
I’m prolly going to do the Baka Beauty naturalaxer thingy and then just flatiron my hair…mabye experiment with color, I’m thinking pinks or reds…(this is not because of peer pressure, btw…it’s totally my choice!)

By: Miss Tiff

Miss Tiff — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:28:01 +0000

O! how I enjoyed this article, so many many valid points, I couldn’t have written it better myself.

It made me smile because I know change gone come (sam cooke).

Light the way Ladies.
Light the way.
Leading by example is the only way.

Thanks for sharing.

By: J.Adia

J.Adia — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:16:12 +0000

I wasn’t going to comment on this thread, because my sentiments have already been said by other posters. I was at a speed dating event last night and these two women kept going on and on about my hair. They liked it, but of COURSE, the knew it wouldn’t look right on them. They just kept going on and on about how they just can’t wear natural hair. I was unsure of how they wanted me to respond. Either you want to do it or you don’t. If you don’t feel you can do it, there’s no reason to pontificate on your hair texture and it’s “unruliness.” I’m not standing over you with a pair of shears, waiting to cut off your relaxed ends!

I’m glad my martini was kicking in otherwise, I’m sure I would have been openly rolling my eyes.

Most women in my family are natural, so my transition was not a big deal. and most of my friends are relaxed, so I never got any pushback from those who I am close to.