Natural Hair and the Power of the Afro

Natural hair, what is that? Isn't everyone's hair natural? This sadly is not the case among black women. The movie "Good Hair" highlights the expensive cost for trying to "correct" Afro textured hair, and also some of the financial exploitation's of blacks through their hair. For many decades black women have chemically treated (relaxed) their hair and black mothers also treat their daughters hair from an age as early as three. The reason for this chemical treatment is to achieve a more European look of long straight hair. The black woman, who is far from today's vision of beauty (white, blonde hair and blue eyes) may have seen their hair as abnormal. Many black women feel unattractive with their Afro textured hair and chemically relax their hair regularly to become more appealing.Though many would argue that that is not the case and its just more convenient to manage permed hair.

I asked a few of my friends who were fellow black women and were chemically treated, how would one go about properly caring for Afro textured hair? The response was unified in that they did not know how to do so properly. It seems that for many black women, since they are commonly relaxed from an early age, did not experience their own natural hair texture enough to see if it worked well for them. Since young black girls are being relaxed early, they often accept the straight haired look as the only option left for them and it almost becomes a cultural thing. Young black girls also grow up being bombarded with advertisements for the latest Barbies, Strawberry Shortcake dolls etc. all of whom are usually portrayed with more white features. These little girls then grow up with these childhood idols who look nothing like them. Over time they then begin to want to be more like their idols and assume some of the idols physical characteristics.

As a black woman who has gone through the changes of returning to my natural Afro textured hair, I questioned myself many times throughout my journey. I found it odd that it became so acceptable among the black community to chemically straighten our hair. Even more so is that growing up for me, Afro hair was not acceptable in a work space. Your hair had to be relaxed to look more put together and professional. Why was it unattractive to have an Afro? How does having an Afro make you any less professional? Many powerful black civil rights leaders had Afro textured hair, yet they were organized, professional, and powerful enough to leave lasting marks in history. The Afro in it's self symbolizes black people, it symbolizes  black is beautiful, it symbolizes the struggle and strength of blacks throughout history. So why chemically straighten it?

Her hair story: