What's Your Definition of Natural?

[SUZIEq]

I was just thinking about the same thing too What will one do then?

I haven't had a chemical in my hair for 19 years but I'm not natural because I color it because of my gray hair????? I don't think so, wait until some of you guys have gray hair and tell me how you feel.erplexed

 

[Crackers Phinn]

Sorry, but I'm angry. If you only knew what I went through in the nineties being taunted by mainly black women(to the point of harassment) because of my natural hair, you would see where I'm coming from. Then, to have people who have only been natural for a minute tell me I not natural gets my blood boiling.

You can be angy and you can call yourself whatever you want to. That's perfectly ok.

But nobody gets to tell me that I must believe that a woman whose hair is at the opposite end of the color spectrum from her new growth is natural.

I'm not salty. This is just my world view.

 

[HAIRapy]

WOW, MY MULTI_ QUOTE WORKED FOR THE 1ST TIME!

Colored hair doesn't address the TEXTURE of one's hair...it just means that one has colored hair.

How would you classify the nature/texture of the colored hair?

That goes back to where we disagree on the word "natural" From what I learned during this conversation in this thread is that some believe natural is just texture. Others believe natural is texture and color. I believe the latter. One is not better than the other natural/not natural/color, they are just different. You right, color doesn't address the texture, but it does address the way your hair has changed the way it naturally grew out of your scalp.

I was just thinking about the same thing too What will one do then?

Once your hair turns gray, you color it if you want. There's nothing wrong with that.

 

[Neith]

So what if you are relaxed with colored hair. What are you called then?

Again, for the purposes of hair board definitions

Natural: no relaxer
Relaxed: relaxer
Texlaxed: Relaxed with texture

The rest is a non-issue for the vast majority of people on hairboards AND in real life.

If you are relaxed and have colored hair... you're relaxed and have colored hair

It's not an issue for me. It's just a FACT.

If you color your hair your hair is now colored.

Are you saying that when you color your hair... it's not colored? That would make no sense, would it?

It's no big deal. A huge percentage of people of all races with all hairtypes color their hair. I don't look at people and say "it's a damn shame she colored her hair "

I'm just confused why people would feel that they have to deny it. That if they are not called natural, it's an insult, especially when it's not natural anymore. I didn't say the texture isn't natural... the color isn't. Which is the truth. Dunno why there is resistance against simply stating facts.

 

[SUZIEq]

Other people's opinion does not have to be yours in any way shape or form. You alone define your life and hair and whatever it is you want to call your hair is based soley on your opinion.

And another thing, I was natural when some of you were still in diapers and you start telling people who is and who isn't. If I want to henna my hair to get rid of these ugly grays so be it but none of you can ever say I ain't natural

 

[RegaLady]

i think wearing a weave is not natural, sorry!oke:

 

[HAIRapy]

You can be angy and you can call yourself whatever you want to. That's perfectly ok.

But nobody gets to tell me that I must believe that a woman whose hair is at the opposite end of the color spectrum from her new growth is natural.

I'm not salty. This is just my world view.

ITA


You know what everyone... this is like debating religion. No one is going to convince anyone about this. You will believe what you will believe.

 

[naturalgurl]

Originally Posted by laurend
And another thing, I was natural when some of you were still in diapers and you start telling people who is and who isn't. If I want to henna my hair to get rid of these ugly grays so be it but none of you can ever say I ain't natural

Henna'ed hair isn't considered natural? Wow, it's natural, non chemical but this will put you in the "processed hair" category. Oh well, I still consider myself a natural-natural. If it came from the earth and hasn't been chemically altered, that's good enough for me!

 

[Poohbear]

i think wearing a weave is not natural, sorry!oke:

I agree as well.

 

[RegaLady]

I be VERY HONEST, I could care less if I were 100% natural, and who thought I was or wasn't. It doesn't make one woman better or worse than me.

 

[Poohbear]

I be VERY HONEST, I could care less if I were 100% natural, and who thought I was or wasn't. It doesn't make one woman better or worse than me.

I agree with you AGAIN!

 

[HAIRapy]

i think wearing a weave is not natural, sorry!oke:

No, it's not natural, I agree. But I believe someone can be natural under that weave/wig.

 

[Learning2LoveMyLocks]

I have often pondered that question myself as well. I do consider myself natural because the texture that grows out of my head isn't altered with any relaxers, perms, or any such as. I have had my natural texture bleached and colored and now currently have it dyed black. My natural color is black but the colors are chemicals. My waves do slightly loosen with color applications but only slightly. My purpose of color is just to alter the hair color not texture so therefor I consider myself natural.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

I think we all understand that. But for all intents and purposes, texture is way more important than color.

What does it mean that texture is more important than color?

If somebody's hair is this color, what would you notice first, texture or color?

 

[laurend]

Yes, I color my hair and I know I'm natural because when I walk down the street sometimes I still get that look, you know that one "oh her hair is natural and it's not pretty, she needs put a chemical on those napps".

The napi nazis are in good form today.

 

[HAIRapy]

I be VERY HONEST, I could care less if I were 100% natural, and who thought I was or wasn't. It doesn't make one woman better or worse than me.

ITA with you If I were natural, or thought I was- no one could tell me otherwise if that's what I want to think. BUT, that was what this thread was all about. Asking what one's definition was of natural. I'm actually suprised, and enlightened at the responses. I never knew that there was (in some opinions) a difference between natural and virgin and colored was considered natural by some. You learn something new everyday.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

^Are you kidding me?

REALLY?

I'm done.

 

[Poohbear]

What does it mean that texture is more important than color?

If somebody's hair is this color, what would you notice first, texture or color?

I know this answer isn't helpful but I would notice both texture and color at the same time!

But in all seriousness, when I do see a black woman with natural hair, I notice her hair texture and style first more than anything whether it's black, brown, red, gold, or gray.

 

[Neith]

Henna is a chemical. It's a natural chemical. There are probably more natural chemicals than man made ones on this planet.

I'm unsure whether it's permanent or not.

I wouldn't consider someone who got a rinse or semipermanent color to be "unnatural" because they don't actually change the make up of one's hair, it is just deposited on top and eventually rinses out. It's a temporary change.

but PERMANENT colors and blaching your hair stays forever, you can't rinse or get rid of it. It aint natural anymore and it's never going to be again.

Yeah, I also don't get why texture is more important than color. You hair has two main characteristics. Texture and color. Why is there pressure to juct focus on texture?

 

[HAIRapy]

^Are you kidding me?

REALLY?

I'm done.

I'm not sure if you mean me, if so, yes. I've never gotten into a debate about natural and not natural before, and I've never paid attention to it before either.

 

[LadyKaypnyc]

I'm not sure if you mean me, if so, yes. I've never gotten into a debate about natural and not natural before, and I've never paid attention to it before either.

Same here, I didn't know it was that deep. I guess I'm naive, but I didn't know that people felt so strongly about how one defines "natural"

I actually don't mind the discusssion. Although I respect everyone's opinions, I will continue to call my nappy colored tresses NATURAL

 

[HAIRapy]

Same here, I didn't know it was that deep. I guess I'm naive, but I didn't know that people felt so strongly about how one defines "natural"

I actually don't mind the discusssion. Although I respect everyone's opinions, I will continue to call nappy colored tresses NATURAL

YOu know what, I don't even blame you because I will continue to think what I think too I'm glad to have had this convo too and this is a good thread. I've truely learned a lot. I don't do color, my hair is so dry (and already permed) so I'm afraid of it, maybe that's why I don't know about this stuff. I never even talk about coloring hair, I just assumed it wasn't natural- just like perming isn't.

 

[Poohbear]

Henna is a chemical. It's a natural chemical. There are probably more natural chemicals than man made ones on this planet.

I'm unsure whether it's permanent or not.

I wouldn't consider someone who got a rinse or semipermanent color to be "unnatural" because they don't actually change the make up of one's hair, it is just deposited on top and eventually rinses out. It's a temporary change.

but PERMANENT colors and blaching your hair stays forever, you can't rinse or get rid of it. It aint natural anymore and it's never going to be again.

Yeah, I also don't get why texture is more important than color. You hair has two main characteristics. Texture and color. Why is there pressure to juct focus on texture?

Sodium hydroxide is a natural chemical...If I use it on my hair, I'll still be natural.

But you know what though? When I had relaxed hair and before I ever knew online hair boards existed, I used to think my relaxed hair was natural because it was not fake, it naturally grew out of my scalp. How come relaxed hair can't be considered natural? Maybe natural is the wrong term to use for hair with no relaxers. Like someone mentioned earlier about there's a difference between natural and virgin hair. Maybe we can say virgin hair has no relaxers and no color, and we can say natural hair is just hair that real, not fake, and grows naturally out of your scalp but it may have chemicals on it or be styled a certain way to make it look different..........

HAHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

 

[Christa438]

No relaxers, texturizers, curly perms= NOT natural. Colors, braids and weaves=still natural

THE END

Im not a natural, but this ^ is what I consider a natural to be.

and... even if you choose to wear braids, weaves or wigs as a protective style, you are still natural. Maybe a person wants some style variety or wants to retain length using something other than say a bun, it doesn't change anything--you are still a natural IMO.

 

[Poohbear]

Im not a natural, but this ^ is what I consider a natural to be.

and... even if you choose to wear braids, weaves or wigs as a protective style, you are still natural. Maybe a person wants some style variety or wants to retain length using something other than say a bun, it doesn't change anything--you are still a natural IMO.

NO YOU'RE NOT! You have to wear your hair AS IS after washing it. No drying, no styling, no NOTHING!








I'm kidding

 

[LynnieB]

Sodium hydroxide is a natural chemical...If I use it on my hair, I'll still be natural.
HAHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

 

[prospurr4]

My definition of natural hair is hair that has its natural texture and natural color.

 

[LadyKaypnyc]

Sodium hydroxide is a natural chemical...If I use it on my hair, I'll still be natural.

But you know what though? When I had relaxed hair and before I ever knew online hair boards existed, I used to think my relaxed hair was natural because it was not fake, it naturally grew out of my scalp. How come relaxed hair can't be considered natural? Maybe natural is the wrong term to use for hair with no relaxers. Like someone mentioned earlier about there's a difference between natural and virgin hair. Maybe we can say virgin hair has no relaxers and no color, and we can say natural hair is just hair that real, not fake, and grows naturally out of your scalp but it may have chemicals on it or be styled a certain way to make it look different..........

HAHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

I see your point...when I had a relaxer, I thought my hair was natural too b/c I didn't have a weave....but now, when I think natural, I only see texture

 

[HAIRapy]

As far back as I can remember.. WAY before LHCF, I've referred to my hair as real vs fake and relaxed vs natural. When referring to my color, I said "This is my natural color" because I don't do color.

 

[naturalgurl]

Henna is a chemical. It's a natural chemical. There are probably more natural chemicals than man made ones on this planet.

I'm unsure whether it's permanent or not.

I wouldn't consider someone who got a rinse or semipermanent color to be "unnatural" because they don't actually change the make up of one's hair, it is just deposited on top and eventually rinses out. It's a temporary change.

but PERMANENT colors and blaching your hair stays forever, you can't rinse or get rid of it. It aint natural anymore and it's never going to be again.

Yeah, I also don't get why texture is more important than color. You hair has two main characteristics. Texture and color. Why is there pressure to juct focus on texture?

It's natural and hasn't been chemically altered(you know what I mean!). I'm against chemically altered stuff....so I'm still natural, I mean you know, using natural chemicals and what not!

WHO CARES!!!!??????