Kinks & Sh!t: "The Trend"

Today, Ara directed my attention to... lets just call it an opinion in writing form. The writer expressed her disdain for the increasingly p...

Today, Ara directed my attention to... lets just call it an opinion in writing form. The writer expressed her disdain for the increasingly popular trend to "go natural." She-- herself being natural and rocking a very short practically bald look (which let's not kid ourselves, looks fantastic on her)-- wrote that she is tired of seeing girls sporting short natural-- or as she describes "nappy" heads as part of this trend. She says, not in these exact words, that the motivation for these "females" (wait that was her word) to leave the chemicals behind is transparent--its a trend. (Period). Not an effort to embrace one's natural texture or to maintain a healthier hair (life)style, but to pilfer from those, like herself, who she credits for starting this movement. In other words-- "STOP TRYNA BE LIKE ME, BITCH." (I'll address that in a bit). But wait before you judge her too quickly for not doing proper research, she did find confirmation in a male friend who said its most definitely a trend. "Healthy Hair? Pshaw. Why do women still have guts and not work out as much? You wanna be healthy? Hit the gym my friend!" (Not his exact words but migh as well be). Face palm.

If you would allow me... Ara and I are both natural. While she's been transitioning since August after having maintained a very healthy relaxed hair (life)style for quite sometime, (yeah. its very possible) I have been natural since Fall of 2009. After months of transition styles, sew-ins (yeah I said it), braids and lace fronts (yep!) I debuted my natural hair this January. I was natural once before (Freshman and Sophomore years) and because of ignorant opinions like these I was rather self conscious about my texture. Uneducated, even. I actually ended up texturizing it! And needless to say I relapsed on the creamy crack on my 21st Birthday for my sister's wedding much to a fellow bride's maid's consternation. But in case you're wondering if my decision to return  to my my natural roots was to be like everyone else or what have you, I'm obliged to shed some light on mine and possibly all you ladies embracing this trend's motivation to go natural. I shall provide visual aids.

Take a look at my hair back in June 2009.
And you could be thinking anything from "oh damn" to "it's not... horrible" but lets just turn back the clock a bit. This is me March (er... April?) of 2008. No relaxer but I did straighten it. And even straight...
There's clearly a difference. It maybe a bit difficult to tell from the picture but my hair is fuller, healthier and that is as long as its ever been. And come on, note the change is confidence. I'm clearly more fabulous in the second! That is my personal motivation for going natural and with no relaxers or any chemicals whatsoever... I say the second time around it's going rather well.

But, I digress...  Her bottom line for those nappy headed females: Natural Hair (particularly short styles if your head is bigger than your body) is not for everyone. And you know, sure, everything is not for everyone. But if we were born with such textures how can one person tell us... its not for us? Going natural for some maybe for health reasons but for others its just that: Being natural and embracing your true self. How can that be a bad thing? So, maybe its a trend. Maybe she's right about that.  In fact she is. More and more Fashion magazines are promoting more natural looking makeup,  how to dress your body whatever shape, and so much more. So authenticity is a trend. So? Some trends are good for us. If every drug addict hopped on the sober bandwagon because everyone else was doing it, are you going to argue that's a bad thing? I'm just saying.

Lastly, one of the more frustrating notions was her encouragement for girls with "nappy, dry and brittle" textures to put harsh chemicals in their hair? Because that will make things a hell of a lot better and I'm not knocking you ladies who choose to relax your hair, but I was truly taken aback by this! Why say this? I mean, just this is the "stop-tryna-be-like-me-bitch" nonsense that is just too prominent amongst women today. Instead of sneering at her fellow naturals, why not encourage them to take better care of their natural hair? Its so easy to criticize and hate and I fear, ladies, that we're way to harsh on one another. And... AND (!!!!) how dare you invite a man who most likely has no hair on his head to feel he has a say in what we do with our hair?! Ladies, we know better than anyone else our own struggles from said "gut" that never seems to go away to taking a brave step and leading a natural hair (life)style; I would think the last person to criticize would be a young lady who's faced the hardships that I've faced. And yet, she is the first one to do so. We seriously need to ask ourselves why?

Perhaps the silver lining in her poorly thought out message was to be yourself. Be uniquely you. And that's something dresscapades can get on board with. However, its views like these I'm afraid we have to avoid to truly do so. Trend or not, do it because you want to. It begins and ends with you, my loves.

And P.S.
Biting is a form of flattery.

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1 comments

  1. I really liked this blog. Trend or not as long as its being done I don't see what the problem is. I'm going natural for basically the same reason you are. Mostly because of the thickness. I'm sure I could have healthy hair with a relaxer, but it won't be as thick. I'm not going for the small fro at all, I look like a lil boy with that style so I'm rocking mostly weaves and braids right now. I don't think I really care about natural or chemical, its whatever to me. I just like doing different things to my hair, and after graduating I changed ALOT about myself, and hair most definitely had to be one of the changes. I'll see how it goes, hopefully it works out because I'm liking it so far.

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