Natural Hair

In media today there has been big trend in the African American community to go natural. Could it be the fact that there is a black family in the white house? Is there a movement of black power? It seems as though ever since there has been a positive representation of a healthy black family in the white house, African Americans are inspired or  feel more confident to be proud in their own skin. This sensation or condition is enabling the natural hair movement. I want to make it clear that going natural verses getting a perm or relaxed hair is not a right or wrong decision. However wearing you're natural hair I believe is the best way to go for health and economical reasons. 

Minorities for decades have been going through unyielding extremes to have straight hair.  We suppress and put ourselves through discomfort just to look susceptible not just to corporate America, but white people in general. For example, there's this Brazilian blow out which is harmful chemicals that are put into little girl’s hair, so that their hair can be straighten. White people aren't perming their hair. White girls wear weaves  or hair extensions and add a couple shades of color to their hair. They're not putting theses harsh chemicals in their hair, they simply wash and go.  

I want to make reference to Madam C.J. Walker for inventing the pressing comb, the idea behind that was for black people to have easier manageable hair. She became a millionaire for creating several types of hair care products specifically for the hair care maintenance. My question is why are African Americans so focus in the straightening of the hair instead of the growth process. Why do we spend so much time and money on our hair? In 1998, $150 million was spent on men's hair care products and $400 million was spent on women’s permanents and hair straighteners. In the African American community, black hair care alone is a $9 billion industry. That's a lot of money just for hair. 

Media has influenced us to believe that black people’s hair in nappy and out of control. That is so crazy to me because it’s actually influenced black people to believe the same thing.  It has gotten to the point that we are condition to believe that there’s something wrong with the way our hair naturally grows out of our head. So that is why I’m encouraging the natural hair movement. What’s ridiculous is that I am calling it a movement. What’s so momentous about natural hair? Overall message for this beauty breaker blog is love yourself and to have self-acceptance. By not chemically relaxing one’s hair, it brings you a step closer to achieving that goal.


This was a clip on MSNBC with Dr. Melissa Harris- Perry having the talk bringing in the awareness of the issue of natural hair verses relaxed hair on her show which airs Saturday's and Sunday's from 10 to 12 pm Eastern time.

This is video that illustrates part 1 and 2 of the topic

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