If black women were taught to do their natural hair, would they still wear perms?

Question

Read the Details...
I'm a black female with naturally curly hair. I notice how a lot of black women used the same excuses for NOT wearing their hair natural.

Excuse# 1: Natural hair is hard to manage.
With the right tools, you can "manage" natural hair. You can't expect to treat black hair as any other hair. It needs different tools. Skinny combs, and hard brushes are things that break black hair.

Excuse #2: "managing" natural hair is EXPENSIVE.
The Average perms costs $ 65 dollars and up. Buying products for natural hair costs between $20- 40 dollars. You decide what's more COSTLY.

Excuse # 3: Natural Hair doesn't have "MANY" styles.
Excuse, me? There are cornrows, twists, bantu knots, afros, dreads, falls, two-strands, comb-coils, finger coils, wet sets, Yarn locks, braids, flat twists.

Excuse# 4 Straight hair is 'much" easier than natural hair.
APPARENTLY NOT! Most(75%) that wear perms have hair breakage, thinning, alopecia, hair allergies and low paychecks.

MY QUESTION: If black women were taught hot to "manage" Natural hair, would they wear it natural or cop out for the easy way out?

Answer 1

I don't think they are excuses...a woman has the chioce to wear her hair anyway she wants...and if a black woman wants to perm her hair...which by the way only cost $5 do-it-yourself, and $25 at the salon...then more power to her.

Me personally, I'm in the military and we have strick guidlines about hair care, and dreds and twist do not fall in to the category. Micro braids are ok but permed hair that can be pulled back tight is my perffered choice. I have had my hair natural for almost 20 years, and I can manage it either way. It's not that black women don't know how to "manage" their hair, they just choose to wear it the way the feel comfortable.

You made a very blanketed statment which is half the reason why you recieved such negative feedback. Just because the black women that you've talked to don't know how to "manage" their natural hair doesn't mean we all don't...
And there are plenty of other races that use chemicals in their hair than black people...Why don't you ask some of your white girlfriends why they perm their hair to look like yours?

Answer 2

Hi, I think that black women would have more options to keep their hair natural if they were taught to do so. Some women might still keep the perms out of self-image reasons, but at least if they had more options, they could decide for themselves whether or not to go the natural route. I fully agree with everything you said. I have been natural for 6 years and it has only been until last year that I found good websites and products that my hair can deal with.

Going natural is a whole different route. Its not only a physical transformation but a mental one. You have to be mentally ready. Here are some good websites for naturals:

www.motowngirl.com - natural hair care
www.nappturality.com - natural hair forum and support
www.growafrohairlong.com - great info on natural hair care and braid extensions regimen

Good products are key. Products on the market now have lots of chemicals. If you cant read half or more of the ingredients, its not good for you.Find natural based products.
Even if they have a few chemicals, its okay, due to beauty industry regulations, but stick with more natural ingredients. Here are some product websites for naturals:

www.curls.biz
www.curlicious.com
www.qhemetbiologics.com
www.sizta2sizta.com
www.honeyfig.com
www.sistasplace.com
www.nasabb.com - i buy black soap to wash my hair and 100% unrefined shea butter to moisturize my hair when dry.

When looking for products, consider what you need. Dont become a product junkie and have 5 moisturizers for your hair. That is overkill. Also consider the price and your budget. Expensive products are not always the best ones. Its all trial and error. Try the sample sizes if they have. If not, give one product a shot. You dont know until you try.

Also, good hair comes from within. Take multivitamins and hair vitamins, like biotin. A healthy diet is also key. Eat more vegetables and fruits, drink lots of water, exercise. This will help your hair greatly.

Naturals benefit greatly when spritzing their hair with water sometimes instead of putting more product in their hair. The water will reactivate your product. I think that if the info goes out, we will learn how to take care of natural hair, despite any texture, curly, coily, wavy, or kinky. Its all beautiful and versatile. Love your hair and your body. Your hair will show the love back. God bless and spread the word!

Answer 3

i'm a black girl with a big fro. I agree that is not easy to manage. at the same time, i have to be honest,I've had a perm for 5 years before that....I've been natural for 2 years and it's much more easier to keep it natural...the only thing though as you mentioned, most of us weren't taught how to manage it. Actually, i have very nappy hair and dry. I would give millions to know how to moisturize it and make it curly...the only products i know are the ones i used to use when i my hair relaxed chemically...and honestly they do not work on natural hair....but i'm hanging here and am not going back to chemicals anymore.... EVER

Answer 4

I am not a black women,but I do know allot about hair,all types of hair. I do get your point. I think over the years people have tried to convince black women that natural is not pretty and straight is better. I don't agree at all. I know black women with very pretty natural hair too. Like you said you can do allot of things with it. When you stay natural your hair and scalp is much more healthy.
For anyone that wants to go natural and wants to know how to take care of natural hair visit the web site www.sisterlocks.com

Answer 5

I believe it's a matter of making the information available. Hair cutters and modifiers and hair-care companies pay for the advertising to promote their own industries.

The alternative methods and products are not as well-known. If they were better known, more people would realize that working with their own hair is easier and less expensive than fighting with it. This applies to straight as well to to curly and beyond curly hair.

Answer 6

I have been doing my own hair for over 20 years now. I have worn my hair natural(curly) and now wear it relaxed. It is simply a matter of personal preference. One is no better than the other or any easier to manage.What's with the whole "coping out" statement? There are certainly more important things that we as African-American women can find to be passionate about! I AM NOT MY HAIR ring a bell?

Answer 7

I managed my Natural hair before I had it relaxed and I can safely say that I prefer relaxed hair. There is no way I would let my natural hair run free- the thought of having to comb it out is unbearable. But mostly I prefer how permed hair looks. We should all be able to wear our hair how we please- I wouldn't judge someone for wearing an Afro or even a weave and I wouldn't expect anyone to judge me for relaxing my hair. So, I'm not giving "excuses" for not having natural hair, it's just a case of choice, I know how to manage my natural hair just fine and did for years. I choose to manage permed hair now!

Answer 8

From a man's perspective, I want to be able to run my fingers through a black woman's hair. Everybody can not go natural, and it probably is a self esteem issue with some women. So I say whatever fits you, do it.

Answer 9

What's your point.And why is this important to you.Treat your hair the way you want and be happy.I don't feel any good vibes in this question.May be You should ask one of your friends in person.