Black women, are you chemically relaxing your hair these days? Has your hair stopped growing or does it fall out? Learn why so many black women are taking the alternative route: NATURAL!
1. Chemicals are harmful to your hair.
A relaxing chemical actually break down your hair. While it may seem like your hair is benefiting from chemical treatments, in the end you are slowly, permanently destroying it. Unfortunately, some people NEVER grow their hair back after 15 years of using straighteners. Now they wear hairpieces or wigs. A good movie to watch, if you haven’t already, is Chris Rock’s “Good Hair.” This movie actually demonstrates the process from chemical relaxers to soda cans. It’s a revelation.
2. There is more versatility
With natural hair, you can actually have straight hair, temporarily for a week or two. Or if you’re studying for finals, you can always put braids in your hair and leave it like that for a month. Or if you’re looking to style it up, try twists. Or you can get a wash n’ go, an afro, or an afro puff. With chemically relaxed hair, it is much more difficult to achieve these styles because with natural hair the curls shape these styles. With a chemical relaxer, there are no curls to mold and keep these styles in place.
3. A chance to embrace your roots – no pun intended
This is a time to pamper the hair you were born with. And it gives you the opportunity to try new looks. Natural hair is beautiful hair. Black hair is usually done by family or friends creating a nice atmosphere, almost like a social event to strengthen the bond of black women. The natural hairstyle has always been passed down from mother to son.
4. An opportunity to create a work of art
If you have ever looked at photos from Africa, you will see many different natural hairstyles. Many of these hairstyles are representative of something else. If you’ve ever been to a natural hair show, you’ll see the many different beautiful styles on display. Almost like an art exhibit, the person and the hair itself are on display, dangling with different jewelry and accessories. It’s a beautiful thing.
5. An opportunity to embrace your natural beauty
God created us a certain way. God is love and love is beautiful. You are beautiful. Your hair is beautiful. You are a queen and you deserve to embrace, design and personalize the only thing that God has given you, your natural beauty, your natural hair.