angaliquew
New Member
you blow dry it or press it occasionally? Does having natural hair mean that you just don't straighten it with chemicals (perm/relaxer)?
Just curious...
Just curious...
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Is your hair considered natural if...
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ClassicBeauty
New Member
In order to avoid confrontation, I've accepted that it means different things to different people. In my opinion, natural means no chemical at all. No relaxer, texturizer, color, etc. To some people, color makes no differnce. To me, it does. To some, heat makes a difference. To me it doesn't. There are a lot of different opinions on the internet.
PinkSkates
New Member
I use the term ...my hair is natural" meaning that I use no chemicals to keep my hair permanently straight. Now whether or not I wear my hair in its "natural" state does not change the fact that I have no chemicals in my hair. If I press my hair straight it is still chemical-free. If I blow dry my hair straight it is still chemical-free. As long as my hair is 100 percent free of chemical relaxers then my hair is "natural". I hope that makes sense.
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MissMarie
***sigh***
To me natural means you don't permanently alter your hair's characteristics. I guess in a literal sense it could apply to color, but heat styling is temporary.
I do use natural when talking about women who don't use straightening chemicals but do color their hair. Most times I think black women are mainly referring to texture; natural vs relaxed/texturized.
I do use natural when talking about women who don't use straightening chemicals but do color their hair. Most times I think black women are mainly referring to texture; natural vs relaxed/texturized.
bLackButtaFly
Well-Known Member
I look at permanent straightening methods only, so you can still be natural to me. Some take color into account, but not I Or else I'd lose my "natural" card
DeepBluSea
Well-Known Member
Before hairboards, I thought natural meant no chemicals. I included folks who pressed their hair or colored their hair.
I know people personally who say they are natural but they have a text. It is natural to them because it still has some texture.
I know some people who are natural but hair color has changed their texture. My mom's friend keeps her natural hair in a twa with blond color. The blond took her hair from a 4a to a 3a.
There is also someone on LHCF who has transitioning from henna in her siggy. So, I assume the henna changed her texture.
Some have coined the term napptural to distinguish people who don't use heat from those who use heat.
As you can see it does get confusing. I define my own hair and keep it moving with regards to everyone else's. As long as you aren't trying to fake other people out . . .
I know people personally who say they are natural but they have a text. It is natural to them because it still has some texture.
I know some people who are natural but hair color has changed their texture. My mom's friend keeps her natural hair in a twa with blond color. The blond took her hair from a 4a to a 3a.
There is also someone on LHCF who has transitioning from henna in her siggy. So, I assume the henna changed her texture.
Some have coined the term napptural to distinguish people who don't use heat from those who use heat.
As you can see it does get confusing. I define my own hair and keep it moving with regards to everyone else's. As long as you aren't trying to fake other people out . . .
glamazon386
Well-Known Member
I believe so. But there are other people who will dispute that it's not.
angaliquew
New Member
I pose another question, do you believe that blow drying can change the texture of you hair just like pressing it?
Incredible1ne
Well-Known Member
That's what natural is to me too.
stargazer613
New Member
I use the term ...my hair is natural" meaning that I use no chemicals to keep my hair permanently straight. Now whether or not I wear my hair in its "natural" state does not change the fact that I have no chemicals in my hair. If I press my hair straight it is still chemical-free. If I blow dry my hair straight it is still chemical-free. As long as my hair is 100 percent free of chemical relaxers then my hair is "natural". I hope that makes sense.
I totally agree with this!!!
Poli
Member
Yea I would think it just means free of chemicals. But there have been so many comments/definitions regarding natural that it can easily be turned into
Cichelle
Well-Known Member
When I say I my hair is natural, I mean I don't use relaxers or perms. And I thought that is what most people mean when they say it. But I learned over the past couple of years that there are differing opinions on this topic.
Now, the other day I was contemplating the difference between "natural" and "virgin". I think someone's hair can be natural and colored, but it's not virgin hair.
I do not think blow drying/pressing/flat ironing hair automatically puts you out of either category, unless it permanently alters your texture. In that case, I'm not sure...
Now, the other day I was contemplating the difference between "natural" and "virgin". I think someone's hair can be natural and colored, but it's not virgin hair.
I do not think blow drying/pressing/flat ironing hair automatically puts you out of either category, unless it permanently alters your texture. In that case, I'm not sure...
ClassicBeauty
New Member
Now, I know you are just trying to start a fight in here!
Again, to avoid controversy, I will say that FOR ME, neither of those things change the texture of my hair. I have been flat ironing my hair for a very long time, and it always reverts back to its natural textures. I have 3 different textures just like my father does and he has never used any heat or chemicals (as I have said in another thread). That's just the way we are. (Wavy in the front, big curls in the back, and kinkier in a small patch in the top)
Others have said this has happened to them, but I usually think that they must have burned their hair. I use a flat iron with adjustable heat settings, but even on it's hotttest temp, I have never burned my hair.
I will admit that I do not know how to press properly. I have tried with an electric comb, but it doesn't come out as good as my flat iron does.
I will also say that blow dryers are not good for my hair. I rollerset instead because blow dryers seem to give me splits and not look as healthy as the rollerset hair. (I flat iron it after the set.)
That's my two cents on the issue. Others seem to have different experiences.
angaliquew
New Member
Now, I know you are just trying to start a fight in here!
Again, to avoid controversy, I will say that FOR ME, neither of those things change the texture of my hair. I have been flat ironing my hair for a very long time, and it always reverts back to its natural textures. I have 3 different textures just like my father does and he has never used any heat or chemicals (as I have said in another thread). That's just the way we are. (Wavy in the front, big curls in the back, and kinkier in a small patch in the top)
Others have said this has happened to them, but I usually think that they must have burned their hair. I use a flat iron with adjustable heat settings, but even on it's hotttest temp, I have never burned my hair.
I will admit that I do not know how to press properly. I have tried with an electric comb, but it doesn't come out as good as my flat iron does.
I will also say that blow dryers are not good for my hair. I rollerset instead because blow dryers seem to give me splits and not look as healthy as the rollerset hair. (I flat iron it after the set.)
That's my two cents on the issue. Others seem to have different experiences.
I was just wondering cuz my hair reverts back to kinky from just blow drying it although pressing does change the texture of my hair permanently... but I know people say that blow drying your hair can change/damage it too.
Luvmylife
New Member
...what she said...
ClassicBeauty
New Member
I was just wondering cuz my hair reverts back to kinky from just blow drying it although pressing does change the texture of my hair permanently... but I know people say that blow drying your hair can change/damage it too.
Can you explain to me how pressing changes your hair permanently. I'm not doubting you, I just really don't understand. When my hair feels one drop of water or one bit of humidity, it automatically waves and frizzes up. REGARDLESS!
I have heard others say that, but I still don't get it. Please make it plain for me. Also, how do you press? Electric? Grease? etc.
Blackoutzangel05
New Member
I believe that being natural is free from chemicals that alter the texture of your hair. I never took color into consideration because that normally, well for me, doesn't change the texture of my hair while getting relaxers does. I don't believe that coloring my hair means that I am no longer natural...but I have read others that can argue that statement very well.
Blackoutzangel05
New Member
I am with you on that...while my whole head may not revert with one drop of humidity those roots are going straight to poofy-ville. For me, when I was getting pressed every week, I found that my ends stayed straight while my roots reverted quickly but under the shower head, it all went curly....LOL
CurleeDST
Well-Known Member
I define natural hair as hair that is not permanently straightened or natural texture not permanently altered by chemicals. Now color CAN alter natural texture eventhough that is not the purpose for applying it. I consider those of us with permanent color without permanent straightening chemicals natural.
Now when you get into napptural and all that - I do not know the difference nor do I care.
Now when you get into napptural and all that - I do not know the difference nor do I care.
Cheleigh
Well-Known Member
I think you hit the nail on the head in your previous post...someone burned their hair when pressing or blowdrying. I've heard some folks say that "pressing trains your hair," and what I think they mean is that the hair has been heat damaged and as such, doesn't revert completely back to the original texture. Some people who wear their hair straight 100% of the time might actually want this, I suppose.
I think whether you will suffer from heat damage depends on your hair's health, porousness, heating appliance temp, heat protectant (or lack thereof), and strand thickness/thinness. I have thin strands that were slightly affected by henna, so if/when I straighten, I assume that my hair may be more suspectible to heat damage than other heads might be.
Blackoutzangel05
New Member
angaliquew
New Member
I used to get my hair pressed at the salon with the electric stove every two weeks.
When I wore my hair pressed and washed it, my hair would not curl back up as it would in it's natural state. The roots would be wavy and the ends would be straight. Kind of how permed hair looks with new growth.
I have been transitioning for over a year and have cut a lot of my pressed hair off...now when I wash my hair it curls up as soon as the water/humidity hits it. I can definitely see the difference. Plus my hair is 10X thicker then it was when I was pressing my hair...so I definitely think pressing my hair alters its texture. Although, I haven't seen the difference from just blow drying...
CurleeDST
Well-Known Member
Trust me, hard pressing on natural hair is NOT PRETTY over time. It will permanently straighten those kinks and curls if the comb is too hot which indicates heat damage. You can put protein treatment after deep treatment and those hairs will NOT revert back! It is unfortunate. Now when I straighten I use the flat iron and I do not consider that a hard press b/c it doesn't get as hot as or rather I do not use it at the same heat temp as those stove hot combs the professionals use.
This topic can easily disintegrate into catfights over semantics if we are not careful and choose not to remain positive and supportive about it b/c it is all about education. We all have our own experiences and define things for ourselves which work for us. Thanks for bringing this up so hopefully someone who is confused about it can be even moreso! LOL! That IS our job isn't it? Hair ain't easy.
This topic can easily disintegrate into catfights over semantics if we are not careful and choose not to remain positive and supportive about it b/c it is all about education. We all have our own experiences and define things for ourselves which work for us. Thanks for bringing this up so hopefully someone who is confused about it can be even moreso! LOL! That IS our job isn't it? Hair ain't easy.
BroadstreetBully
New Member
I agree. I do believe there is a difference between "natural" and "virgin"
To me "natural" refers to a natural texture, which I have. Back in the day I would bleach my hair over and over again and use a hotcomb every morning. I know...shame on me! My have still retained all of its texture. So I dunno.
Hair Iam
Well-Known Member
[
I agree with her
[/QUOTE]quote=pinkskates;2510581]I use the term ...my hair is natural" meaning that I use no chemicals to keep my hair permanently straight. Now whether or not I wear my hair in its "natural" state does not change the fact that I have no chemicals in my hair. If I press my hair straight it is still chemical-free. If I blow dry my hair straight it is still chemical-free. As long as my hair is 100 percent free of chemical relaxers then my hair is "natural". I hope that makes sense.
I agree with her
DeepBluSea
Well-Known Member
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