I, like many others on here, have used India Arie's classic song, I Am not Hair, as an inspiration. I've only recently started to tell people about my decision to go natural and have gotten mixed reviews. I've been constantly reminded that I don' t have "that" kind of hair, meaning my hair doesn't form cute ringlets or spirals when natural. Apparently natural hair is only cute when it looks like that and I have nappy hair so.....I guess I won't be cute in their eyes? Next comment, "Your gonna lose all that hair". I think I'll be OK! Hearing comments like these have the tendency to make me doubt my decision. So, I'll throw on some India Arie and forget about the detractors. But as much as I love the song, to what extent do I embody the principle? I'd be a liar if I said I don't think hair is important. In fact, I think hair along with eyebrows can completely alter your face. I'm a marketing major, so I believe that appearances do matter. But I also know that Black women (me included) put too much emphasis on their hair. Here's a story to illustrate my point, Per usual, my sister (13 at the time) was getting her touch up on a Sunday afternoon. I (11 at the time) watched as my mother applied the relaxer as I usually did because I found the process so interesting (I was still natural at the time). My sister had a friend over who pointed out to my mother that some of her hair seemed to be coming out in the comb. My mother told her it was normal and she needed to stop worrying. My sister's friend left and it was time to rinse. As my mother rinsed out the relaxer, clumps and clumps of my sister's hair fell out. I stood there mortified as I watched my sister become bald-headed. If you walked into the middle of this scene, you would've thought someone died the way we were wailing. I immediately called my father and then my aunt sobbing to tell them what had happened"HER HAIR, IT'S GONE, SHE'S BALD". My mother tried to calm us down but it was as if the world was ending. When my father got home, he looked at us like we were crazy! Did I really call him on the phone like that sobbing over some hair? It wasn't even my hair but I felt the pain for my sister. She declared that she was not going to school the next day but my mother shot that idea down, gave her a comb over to hide the fact that she had no edges and called it a day. Looking back on this scene I get a good laugh. My sister still doesn't find it so funny. But, in our defense, it was junior high and losing all your hair one month before graduation is a traumatic experience. (Still, two years later I went and got my first relaxer). The fact that we mourned her hair like it was a person is quite an issue. And many women have similar stories. Our hair can be important to us, it can serve as an outward expression of who we are, it can be an accessory. But it should not be the end all, be all. Our lives can go on with or without it. And there is certainly not one standard of beauty when it comes to our hair. So I'm excited for the napturality that I will encounter in the months to come. I am not my hair, my hair is part of me. (P.S. My mommma told me I had good hair, and that's all that matters soo glad/surprised I have her support)

1. WomanofBeauty Says:
   Feb 8, 2010
   Stay strong with your decision because it's a personal choice and the people that love you will stand beside you the entire way. Thank you for your comment also!!! I use Organic Root Stimulator's Replenishing Deep Penetrating Conditioner from Sally's Beauty Supply. They sell it in a small pack for($0.99 or $1.29) and the bottle for I believe $6.99. I will be doing some posts on deep conditioning and protective styles so look out for that.

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