What is Natural Hair? And Why Do People "Go Natural"?
Black hair comes in many different forms and textures. Our hair can range from loose, silky, waves and curls to tighter, coarser coils, or anywhere in between. Our hair can be thick or thin. There is a lot of versatility within Black hair, despite the common misconception believed by some people outside of the Black community that there is not. The amount of versatility that our hair can have as well as the rise of the Natural Hair Movement which has inspired many people to educate themselves about Black hair has led to classification systems being created in order to better understand the different types of Black hair and the different forms of care each texture needs.
To be natural is defined differently by different people. It is agreed upon that to be natural means that your hair has not been chemically processed by straightening relaxers, often called “perms” or “texturizers.” But aside from this consensus, there are disagreements about what else it means to be natural. Some people believe that if one uses heat to straighten their hair, by using heat, that person is not “natural.” There is disagreement with this sentiment amongst some people because if a Black person whose hair has not been chemically processed uses heat to straighten their hair; it will go back to its natural form as soon as moisture touches it. The actual texture has not been changed. Some women have hair that is not chemically processed but straighten it and wear weaves/extensions or wigs. Some people still view these women as natural and some do not. This attitude applies to stances on coloring ones hair as well. Color does not change the texture of one's hair, but it is different than the way one's hair grows from his or her head. Unsurprisingly, there are different ideas and mindsets about being natural within the movement—which is common of most social movements. Because of this, there are many different reasons for why people become a part of the Natural Hair Movement.
From testimonies I have gathered, here are a few reasons Black women choose to “go natural”:
Disclaimer: Obviously these reasons do not apply to every individual who becomes a part the Natural Hair Movement, but these reasons do offer some understanding for people who don’t understand why being natural matters to some people
1. Some women, including myself, have joined the movement because they want to embrace themselves and their Blackness. They think their hair is beautiful the way it grows from their head and do not feel, or no longer feel, the need to chemically alter the texture of it. For some women, it is about feeling good in your own skin and not giving in to beauty standards set by a society that has never accepted Blackness in the first place. Some women who are natural or have gone natural for this reason straighten their hair with heat sometimes. Some do not. Some women who fall under this category have had natural hair their entire lives and some have had relaxers in the past but have made the decision to start over by cutting their hair off –often called “the big chop”—and growing out their natural tresses.
2. Some women are a part of the natural hair movement for health reasons. Relaxers often damage hair, making it dry, thin and susceptible to breaking off and falling out. Because of this some women no longer want to relax their hair.
3. Some women that relax their hair have been doing so for their entire lives and do not know what their natural hair looks like. Because of this, some women go natural because they want to know what their natural hair looks like.
4. Some women join the natural hair movement simple for aesthetic reasons—they love the way their natural hair looks as opposed to straightened or chemically processed hair. In addition to this, some women find it easier to take care of their natural hair than to take care of chemically processed hair.
5. Some women have joined the movement “just cuz’”
Every woman has her own unique reason or story for why they decide to become a part of the Natural Hair Movement and that is what makes the movement so versatile.
From testimonies I have gathered, here are a few reasons Black women choose to “go natural”:
Disclaimer: Obviously these reasons do not apply to every individual who becomes a part the Natural Hair Movement, but these reasons do offer some understanding for people who don’t understand why being natural matters to some people
1. Some women, including myself, have joined the movement because they want to embrace themselves and their Blackness. They think their hair is beautiful the way it grows from their head and do not feel, or no longer feel, the need to chemically alter the texture of it. For some women, it is about feeling good in your own skin and not giving in to beauty standards set by a society that has never accepted Blackness in the first place. Some women who are natural or have gone natural for this reason straighten their hair with heat sometimes. Some do not. Some women who fall under this category have had natural hair their entire lives and some have had relaxers in the past but have made the decision to start over by cutting their hair off –often called “the big chop”—and growing out their natural tresses.
2. Some women are a part of the natural hair movement for health reasons. Relaxers often damage hair, making it dry, thin and susceptible to breaking off and falling out. Because of this some women no longer want to relax their hair.
3. Some women that relax their hair have been doing so for their entire lives and do not know what their natural hair looks like. Because of this, some women go natural because they want to know what their natural hair looks like.
4. Some women join the natural hair movement simple for aesthetic reasons—they love the way their natural hair looks as opposed to straightened or chemically processed hair. In addition to this, some women find it easier to take care of their natural hair than to take care of chemically processed hair.
5. Some women have joined the movement “just cuz’”
Every woman has her own unique reason or story for why they decide to become a part of the Natural Hair Movement and that is what makes the movement so versatile.