Why do so many women relax, perm, or straighten their hair?

Question

It seems that so many people think they have "bad" hair. Well the only reason it's "bad" is because they put so many CHEMICALS in it. But if you use chemicals for reasons other than not liking how your hair naturally is, what are your reasons?

Someone stated that "most Black women can't go without a perm". So have you met most Black women? This is what I'm talking about. This mindset that our hair just isn't good enough without changing it. Once you put a relaxer in, the chemical make up of your hair will never be the same. Why would someone want to do that when they can just learn to take care of it the way it is? Healthy hair= Good hair. Straight does NOT = better.

Afros are NOT the only natural hairstyle possible. Twists, twist outs, braids, braid outs, puffs, etc. Lame excuse!

Answer 1

I have REALLY REALLY curly hair. Well when I was younger I felt out of place by having curly hair since all of the other girls in school had straight hair. So I went through a lot to have my hair chemically straightened, but that never really did any good. It only hurt my hair, my hair started breaking off about 3 inches from the head, which was horrible. So I finally gave in and dealt with my curls. It took me several years to figure out how to deal with my hair. How to wash it and what to brush it with and how to style it. So it wouldn't be frizzy and icky. So now I have beautiful curly hair and I couldn't be happier with it... I do have the same opinion of women who try to change their look. Just be happy with what you have, otherwise you will never be happy because you wont get the perfect hair.

Answer 2

well a while ago many of my guy friends told me i look better with my hair straight, and i agreed. however i would never chemically straighten it. I do use an iron somedays and other days blow dry it, but i always use regenerating products so my hair doesnt die on me. and getting a trim every 4 months or so helps with the split ends. you wont really understand WHY women dont like their natural hair until you have unruly or unflattering locks. its just a part of the female life.

Answer 3

Well most black women can't go without a perm, unless they want their hair to b all knotted and tangled up. It's not that anyone has bad hair, GOD(if u blieve) wouldnt have given anyone bad hair. It's just that sometimes in order for it to look good u'd have to put some chemicals in ur hair to do the trick.

Answer 4

I totally agree with you. I have naturally curly hair and I have learned to embrace it, even though I don't always love it. Most women are trying so hard to fit in that they will do anything to their hair to change it. I think it's sad. I wish more African American women would go with their natural hair as well. I just love natural African American hair and I wish that more women would cast off their weaves. I love the song "I am not my Hair" by Indie Arie.

Answer 5

BECAUSE I'M SOOO LAZY!! That's sad isn't it? I got my first relaxer at 14 (after much begging & pleading) & I loved it! No more having to "do" my hair, I could just take my scarf off rub a little moisturizer on it & go. But, after many years of color abuse (including a time when I bleached streaks in my hair & dyed them dark purple - it looked really hot for about 4 months) I decided to cut all my hair off & go natural about 7 years ago.
At first, when my hair was short, it was great. I got my hair braided for 3 months & gave my scalp a break by having an afro for 1 month. Well, all good things come to an end & after 3 years my hair was much too long to braid & my afro was enormous! I now understand first hand why everyone with a fro hand a pick in their pocket in the 70's. You can't lean on anything when you have a fro without completely destroying it! Once a guy on the train flattened the top of my hair by holding on to the rail above me, he apologized - he thought that my fro would bounce back when he moved his arm. At least he said something to me, there was many a time when I was walking around with one side high & no clue.
Also, almost every morning when I woke up I had to at least wet my hair & put some conditioner in it (if not wash it - see above story for why). I did it when I first woke up so I didn't have to leave my house with wet hair - not fun in the winter. Another issue that sent me back to fryin' & dyein' , cost. Do you have any idea how much good natural hair care will set you back?! My cousin has very curly hair & she pays $200 for a haircut, not every stylist can cut curly hair & she's gone too many years looking like a mushroom to be cheap when it comes to her hair. I have very thick wavy hair - like Diana Ross. I know she wears wigs but I get the same effect naturally & I don't really care for it. It doesn't go with my personality, or my face (I look like I'm 21 now & when I was 21 I looked 18). The only style that looked good on me was a afro tied back with a scarf, but I got tired of it. I tried to get different styles, but all of the natural hair salons in NYC are expensive. I'm talking $80 for a cut, $90 for straw curls & $55 for two strand twists. That's OK for an occasion, but I need my hair washed twice a week & that's just not cost effective for me. The same salon that I go to now for a $15 wash, set & blow charged me $40 to blow my hair out when it was natural & my hair is the same length now as it was then.
I suppose I could have done my own hair, but like I said before I'm lazy & I don't want to. I don't want to Bantu knot my hair at night to straighten it. I don't want to spend 2 hours twisting my hair. Hell, I don't even want to wash my hair myself. So, I'm back to relaxing. Tonight I'll wrap my hair & tie a scarf on it & tomorrow I'll unwrap moisturize & go - easy. I agree that not everyone should relax and/or color their hair, you should do what's best for your hair texture. Too many black women still internalize the racism that set up the whole "bad" hair "good" hair paradox. But until I'm a 65 year old caftan wearin' mama who can rock the whole Diana Ross look, I'll swear by my pink oil relaxer. Hey Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire & she wears a WIG every day! Under her wig she has a very very short natural hair cut. So, if all the money in the world doesn't make you decide to grow your hair out naturally - what hope does the poor lazy masses have?

Answer 6

Black people perm their hair because it's easier to manage that way. Besides, nappy hair is not fun to deal with on a regular basis.

Answer 7

I relax my hair because it is easier to comb and style by relaxing it. I would have an afro if I did not straighten my hair, and there is not much versality with an afro. I just like to wear different hair styles like different clothes. I don't want to be locked into one hairstyle. That is boring to me.

Answer 8

girls always want what they don't have. And as for hair type a girl who has straight hair wants curly hair and a girl who has curly hair wants stick straight hair. For instances I have really curly hair and I HATE it so I want my hair to be staight b/c I don't have it. So I must staighten my hair in order to get what I want. GIRLS ALWAYS WANT WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE.....ITS TRUE!

Answer 9

I don't know us girls are to complicated. We like to have different looks every day.

Answer 10

because they like to look good unlike men.