Why do black American sistahs straighten their hair?

Question

Are we so unproud & unsure of our beauty as black people that we want to look like europeans? it saddens me. We must be the laughing stock of the world!

Answer 1

Iam an African-American with Chemically Straiten hair, and its not because i wanted to be like any one else or i wanted to have what people might call " whites people hair" its because i felt that i can do my hair faster and better with it being straight. i dont think people should be stereotyped because the have straiten hair. I am Black and very proud of it, even with my straiten hair.

Answer 2

I for one am guilty of straightening my hair. I go to a mostly white school. For years, I wore my hair in boyish cornrows, and my mom thought it was time for me to go with a more mature look, so I surrendered to the hot comb. For three years I did this being forever watchful of the weather, being careful to bring an umbrella wherever I went. I didn't want to move a muscle because God forbid, I would sweat and make my hair "unpresentable". Of course I could never get a relaxer because it was too damaging to my hair. During those years, I was so jealous of the girls at my school, all of them being white with "good", "wash and go" hair which was something I knew I could never have. These three years later, I thought to myself "Why can't my hair be wash and go? Why must I process it to make it look "nice"?" Now I realize that there is nothing bad about my hair, and I do not need to straighten it to look pretty. So I guess some do it to fit in with the rest of the culture, but others do it to make it more manageable. Although I don't agree that we are the laughing stock of the world.

Answer 3

You shouldn't be sadden by this at all. Some Afro-Americans are not blessed with good hair. I don't see anything wrong with it but only with chemicals. When you are surrounded by a society that critiques you daily on ur looks, you would try to uplift ur self esteem not for others but for ur self therefore I know I'm not a laughing stock of this critical world. God bless the Hot Comb! Amen.

Answer 4

I am a white female, and I perm my hair. I get comments about why do I torture and damage my hair for what...curls? Well, yes. I do it for me and me only. That may sound selfish, but it also doesn't mean I'm trying to be what I'm not. Everyone has many reason for the things they do. Just don't do it for any other reason than this....you are happy with yourself and you are doing it for you, because of your own volition.

Answer 5

I have natural untreated hair. It is not soft, it very course, it is very thin but it is also very full. I happen to be very comfortable being "nappy."

That said, there is something to be said about being able to pull a comb through straight and silky hair every now and then.

I say, "do what you like." I just think no one should dictate how someone's hair should or shouldn't be.

Answer 6

Because thats what we were taught to do. I wear mine natural because its healthier but I am guilty of putting the chemicals on it in the past. We are not a laughing stock.

Answer 7

I am caucasion with long stringy hair and I would love to have afro curly hair. I guess we are never happy not matter what. If I had been born with curls I probably would want to straiten them thus the vice versa. Anywho you girls rock no matter what ya do to your hair. :o)

Answer 8

my reasons for doing so is because my hair is so much easier (and painless) to comb. But I stop doing so because it damages your hair. If I could have the 'fro without the pain, then I'd be so much happier.

Answer 9

thats a good question, but I for one am natural and have been for a year and a half. i guess black females say their hair is more "manageable" relaxed.

Answer 10

b cuz a lot of women are born with unstraighten hair.......