Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Let's Talk Hair: Is Natural Hair So Black and White??


Hola Chicas/Chicos...so, I was thinking about the term 'natural' and what it truly means to be natural. I mean, does being natural simply mean having hair that is free from chemical heat alteration (relaxers, perms)? How about dry heat manipulation/alteration (blow dryers, flat irons, pressing combs)? How about using products that contain synthetic chemicals (shampoos, conditioners, styling products)? Artificial Hair dyes?

Now reading various hair forums I have come to realize not everyone has the same definition of "natural" hair. See, I always thought that so long as you didn't chemically change the texture of your hair, it was natural. Press it, dye it up, stick a weave in...if it wasn't relaxed, texturized or otherwise straightened with some type of chemical, as far as I was concerned, you could say you were natural and call it a day...hmmm.

Some definitions of 'natural' are:

  • In its original or raw form
  • Untreated, tanned or refined
  • Not tinted or colored; undyed
  • check this out...Afro,a hair style originating with black persons, in which the hair is allowed to grow naturally and to acquire a bushy appearance, was listed as part of the definition of 'natural'.
  • Not artificially colored or dyed
  • Having undergone little or no processing and containing no chemical additives
  • Free from affectation or constraint

So, is 'being 'natural' so BLACK and WHITE?

What's your definition of being natural

Happy Natty Hair

photo: www.fuckyeahcurlscurlscurls.tumblr.com

2 comments:

  1. Great post..like you, I felt that being natural meant having no relaxer or perm..I never even thought about dry heat and the manipulation of using blow dryers and flat irons..

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