Everyone wants to be natural!

[DigitalRain]

I've only been at my job since late March. Right after I started I got stares at my hair. Then the questions started, like what do I use in my hair, when did I cut my hair off, etc. Then hinting about going natural themselves.

So now there one girl who is transitioning after I started working there and recently did a mini big chop. My other coworker has decided after talking to me that she wants to do braids to transition. Another coworker told me this am she's decided to big chop too and asked who does my hair, lol.

I think this is kind of cool and definitely not the response I thought I'd get once cutting of the chemicals. My mom always called my hair bad which of course made me hesitant about bc'ing. Granted I've gotten some stank looks but its far better than I expected.

 

[CurlTalk]

Aw! Isn't it great seeing more and more of our sisters embracing their god-given textures? Lovely...and to have an impact in that is really cool.

 

[kmn1980]

I experienced that. I went natural before it was cool and I had a job where every BW in the place was looking all upside my head everyday. One day, a lady from three floors up in a different department came down just to look at and touch my hair to "see if it's soft." Then, the rumors about me having "good hair" started. I SMH'd and LOL'd all at once. These days it's better but I can still sense people staring at my hair when I'm in line at the grocery store.

I've had 6 friends who told me that I was their "inspiration" to go natural. One came to this epiphany when she was burned so bad by a relaxer that her whole hairline was literally dookie brown raised scabs. 2 ended up going back to the relaxers after less than 2 years. The rest, are still at TWA stage because their attempts to self-texlax failed miserably. Unfortunately, their motivations were wrong or they didn't understand that you have to know how to take care of your hair if you want it to retain length. There's a misconception that just because you are natural, your hair is going to start growing like weeds but if you're still mistreating it...

I think it's good that more BW are going natural but it's disappointing that it's usually some catastrophic chemical process that gets them there and it's even more disappointing when some don't learn from their (hair) mistakes.

 

[SND411]

The whole "natural hair phenomenon" is interesting for me because I decided to go natural without knowing there was any type of "revolution." I had never vistied hair websites in my life until I actually wore my hair out. It's weird, because it seemed like I just got swept into it without even realizing.

 

[JustDoIt]

^^^ I feel the same way.. when I stopped relaxing, it was because I moved to Asia and didn't have a stylist.. then my husband suggested I just go natural without braids after almost two years of wearing braids. To tell the truth the concept of "natural" never occurred to me because I just thought it wasn't something that adults do..
Now I've cut off my relaxer more than a year ago so I'm happily natural now.. only to find the hair boards last year (it never dawned on me to even look online about hair care)

 

[DDTexlaxed]

DR, that is because your hair is on point! I am hoping that I can get there.
​

 

[KurlyNinja]

I finally got sick of having horrible dandruff because of relaxers a few months ago! Other problems were there as well, but it was mostly the dandruff/dry scalp that made me stop. Only reason I found LHCF is because I had no idea how to care for natural hair and I ended up on google. Soon my friends started noticing my extreme interest in hair products and how I was no longer using flat irons or blow driers. They, too, decided to transition as well. I'm not sure how long most of them are going to last because I know most are just doing it because it seems like a good idea at the time, but either way I'm glad they are trying to learn more about their own hair. If anything they will at least now understand why I wish to go natural even if they do decide to go back to relaxers sooner or later.

 

[greight]

I do kind of think it's becoming a trend on college campuses. I think by the time I was a senior in college, a good portion of girls were natural that used to be relaxed to the hilt (as in hair falling off...).

I think that natural hair in the beginning is a lot easier since it's wash and go. But when it gets longer, I think you gotta stick with it and not get frustrated with the knots, tangles, etc. At least I had to .

Now, a better statement would be "Everyone wants to STAY natural." I've seen a lot of folks relax their hair after 1 or 2 years of natural-dom. Pssh, even I've wanted to .

 

[BostonMaria]

I was inspired by a co-worker when I decided to go natural. She didn't really have a regimen, just let it do what it wanted to do. She wasn't extremely helpful, but seeing her beautiful WSL natural hair (I think she was 3C/4A) made me want to have natural hair again. She ended up quitting before I got the chance to show her my natural hair.

Now that I'm fully natural and my hair is growing I've been inspiring co-workers at my job. Its a great thing. I also have friends that have relaxers and they come to me for tips on how to retain length.

 

[Coffee]

In my almost 60 years I've been natural quite a few times in my life. I tend to change up every couple of years from being natural to a relaxer. Right now I'm in my relaxer stage, not sure how long I'll keep doing a relaxer. I already know my natural texture, so finding out about it, is not a big deal to me. I can be me anyway I decide to wear my hair.

 

[newbeginnings2010]

I love it! Most of my whole family went natural AND my stylist went natural before I realized that I would have soooo much support while transitioning! I can't wait to get rid of all this chemical!

 

[newbeginnings2010]

I finally got sick of having horrible dandruff because of relaxers a few months ago! Other problems were there as well, but it was mostly the dandruff/dry scalp that made me stop. Only reason I found LHCF is because I had no idea how to care for natural hair and I ended up on google. Soon my friends started noticing my extreme interest in hair products and how I was no longer using flat irons or blow driers. They, too, decided to transition as well. I'm not sure how long most of them are going to last because I know most are just doing it because it seems like a good idea at the time, but either way I'm glad they are trying to learn more about their own hair. If anything they will at least now understand why I wish to go natural even if they do decide to go back to relaxers sooner or later.

Ditto on the bold! Dry scalp was one of my main reasons for quitting, too.

 

[Morenita]

It's absolutely infectious! You see natural hair in all of its splendor and versatility and it gets you to thinking. I transitioned unsuccessfully twice (didn't know how to deal with the matting/tangling) before finally completing the transition the third time around. My cousin inspired me and I'm never looking back. My hair always relaxed easily and quickly, I just got sick of the entire process.

It also fits in well with the whole "green" movement thing. I hope that the trend will continue and increase.

 

[BrooklynSouth]

Good for you...your healthy hair is inspiring the others.
I was one of the few family members with relaxed hair until I became overwhelmed with the salon proccess. I like inspiring other women to go natural or at least attempt to do so. A few are too hard headed to do what I suggest such as keeping the hair moisturized, conditioner poos, spending a little money for products, making their hair a priority, sealing with oils and doing more frequent shampoos. My little niece is my biggest joy as she was natural all of her life until she followed friends into the weave world-left her with lots of breakage..she is now relaxed but listens about co-washing so can stretch for months at a time. I've no doubt she'll go natural again.

 

[SummerSolstice]

its funny when the ppl that were making fun of my natural hair in highschool are now asking me for help to transition
i think its great more ppl are starting to realize that relaxers arent mandatory for us

 

[belldandy]

it's cool that more ppl are going natural
but not everyone wants to be natural no. I don't really want to be. The idea is cool though.

 

[LovelyNaps26]

I dunno how it happened but for some reason a few of the young ladies at my church see me as a natural hair expert. I wore a quick weave wig on Sunday and the young lady next me asked if I straightened my hair. When I said no she was so relieved, responding "I really like your hair". I got alot of worried looks this week with that wig b/c it looks so realistic. I think I'll put it aside on Saturday to put people's fears to rest.

My mom stopped getting relaxers about a year after i went natural, even though she was less that happy I went from BSL to twa overnight. much to my surprise my little sis went natural last year and started looking at vids and asks me about hair products. My mommy only wears will 24/7 so I can't say that she's embraced her natural texture (3c/4a). i just think she got lazy

 

[finickyone]

I completely understand what you are saying.

Since going natural, two of my friends & my sister are now natural. Judging by the comments & questions I get when I am out shopping, more women definitely seem to be interested & curious. I get the craziest questions though, like how do you comb it? If they ask to touch my hair, I usually get, "it's so soft." I mean really, do they think its suppose to feel like a Brillo pad. I've even had younger girls to walk up to me & just say they love my hair. The best comment was from a 3 yr old girl. She was riding in a shopping cart & kept staring at my fro. She then pointed at me & told her mother that she wanted to braid my hair. Her mother was so embarrassed & tried to shush her. I cracked up & said, thanks for the offer baby girl, your braids look very pretty, but I love wearing my hair like this. She gave me the sweetest nod & smile. Her mother seemed so relieved. LOL

 

[Nasdaq_Diva]

I think it's good that more BW are going natural but it's disappointing that it's usually some catastrophic chemical process that gets them there and it's even more disappointing when some don't learn from their (hair) mistakes.

How true it that! I see this alot too and it just breaks my heart. They are choosing to stop relaxing for the wrong reasons. Even if they have a catastrophic horrific experience..they usually go natural to let it 'heal up' and once it starts to look better and then length comes..they run right back to the crack. I wanna just ask, "why have you not figured it out yet" But it's a learning and growing process for all.

The whole "natural hair phenomenon" is interesting for me because I decided to go natural without knowing there was any type of "revolution." I had never vistied hair websites in my life until I actually wore my hair out. It's weird, because it seemed like I just got swept into it without even realizing.

Goodness! I didn't either. I just decided on my birthday that I was gonna go natural. I cut the relaxed ends off Nov 2003. I knew of no 'line of demarcation' or co-washing to keep my hair moisturized. Hell, I'd never even heard of a BC until I started visiting forums online.

 

[BEAUTYU2U]

The whole "natural hair phenomenon" is interesting for me because I decided to go natural without knowing there was any type of "revolution." I had never vistied hair websites in my life until I actually wore my hair out. It's weird, because it seemed like I just got swept into it without even realizing.

I went natural without knowing about the "revolution" too. But I did visit hair websites before I BC'd. I just never realized it was like a movement.

 

[KnottyGurl]

subbing...

 

[Kneechay]

it's cool that more ppl are going natural
but not everyone wants to be natural no. I don't really want to be. The idea is cool though.

i dont think she meant literally that everyone wants to be natural...

 

[doll-baby]

If it were not for the hair boards I don't think that I would have gone natural. I have learned so much about how to care for our natural hair texture I was itching to test what I had learned in to practice.

 

[Angelicus]

Wow, I am looking at my new growth right now thinking about what if all my hair looked like this... :scratchch

 

[SunKissedBrown]

...it's usually some catastrophic chemical process that gets them there ....

A "catastrophic process" is precisely what motivated me to go natural. Some bootleg "stylist" messed up my hair with relaxers.

And while I lived through the misery of chemically damaged hair, I will admit I was scared for a while to transition because I thought going natural meant wearing short styles or dreads (nothing wrong with either, but just not me). But, I've been inspired by so many beautiful natural women in here and other boards!! Gosh, if only I knew years ago, all the styling options for natural hair, I would be at waistlength by now

 

[MzK]

I too, have noticed an increase of natural heads. I deceided I wanted to be natural, so my last relaxer was in March '09. I got crazy stares from the ladies at my job, but now, 1 of them is transitioning to natural as well.....even got the same type of braids I had when I was transitioning! LOL

And the compliments are just great when ppl notice my hair. I wish I went natural sooner.

 

[Meritamen]

I'm tempted to go natural after seeing my sister grow out her hair to where it is now falling. I also help her figure out regimen fixes and style her hair sometimes. I want the same kinky curls that she has but I don't know if I can manage all that hair on my own head (both of us have a lot of thick hair.) So I'm gonna see how this relaxer stretch turns out... either it will turn into a transition or I'll texlax next time. I don't want straight hair anymore really, don't think my hair can handle it.

 

[Anew]

These days it's better but I can still sense people staring at my hair when I'm in line at the grocery store.

This was me before the BC... It was more of a "I can't wait" stare, lol

 

[MrsIQ]

Wow, I am looking at my new growth right now thinking about what if all my hair looked like this... :scratchch

Same here! Maybe once I reach MBL, I'll transition.

 

[SignatureBeauty]

In 2003 I met this lady at my daughters school and she had dreads and she was telling me all about her Natural experience and she told me about shaving off the relaxed hair and how much growth she got in a Year and she was a 4a/4b really dense hair, so I was like, this sounds good, I came back the next day with a shaved head and it felt so good, the wind on my scalp, the water hitting my scalp AHH! And it grew out Nicley, but I became bored and Relaxed, then I became bored and went back natural. Now I am texturized.

But it is very inspiring to see beautiful big natural hair, who knows I might just not touch up and grow on into Natural again! My daughter is Natural and LOVES IT! she does not want it anyother way and she is 14. she inspires me alot and I encorage her alot but it don't seem to work for me LOL!!