Comments on: Relaxing Your Hair Is Just A Hairstyle Not A Sell Out

By: BHI

BHI — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:12:25 +0000

Thanks girl!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 06:46:02 +0000

Well I love my hair wether it is relaxed or natural. BTW even though it is almost impossible to do, relaxer isnt suppose to go on your scalp anyway. It is only for your new growth, so if it is being applied correctly, then there shouldnt be many worries. If you know how to properly take care of your hair, soes it really matter? I wish a female would come tell me Im a sell out because I relaxed my hair… ALMA keep doing what you do. You have love from me all the way from Baghdad Iraq! MUAH!!!!!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 06:39:36 +0000

AMEN! Best comment so far. I have went from natural to relaxed and back and forth again. Black females need to grab on to reality and hold on tight. It is a simple change in appearance. The same people talking about “Be black be natural” I dont see them walking around in moo moos with baskets balanced on their heads. Get over yourselves. Weomen go natural for different reasons and relaxed for their own reasons. Mind your business aslong as you are striving for healthy hair that is the bottom line. SHUT UP! Go to college or something. Gosh!

By: BHI

BHI — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:45:34 +0000

There you go, you kinda proved what I was trying to say with the smoking analogy. They smoke because its practically normal until they realize that it is not good for them and they quit. In my case, relaxing your hair was a rite of passage, everyone did it, and when I was finally allowed to relax nobody told me about the dangers, or maybe they did but I was 13 and determined so I didn't care! It wasn't a question of self hate. In time I came to hear and absorb the dangers of relaxing my hair and yet I continued to do so year after year. It wasn't until I heard women preach the BENEFITS of natural hair that I finally listened and decided to go natural.

However I lets be honest, some ladies will NEVER go natural so all I can do is help them get throught the experience with as little damage as possible. I'm a proponent of texlaxing/texturizing over relaxing one's hair to avoid scalp burns and leave some strength and elasticity in the hair. They get a taste for their hair in an 'almost natural' state and hopefully eventually decide to go all the way natural.

In the meantime, relaxed ladies believe that their relaxed locks are just a hairstyle, they are not selling out and I agree with that because it's truly what I believe having been one of them in the past. I would not congratulate somebody for choosing NOT to get a tatoo nor will I hire a mariachi band if someone decides to go natural, they are not making a statement with their hair, they are simply leaving things as they should be.

By: BHI

BHI — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:12:28 +0000

I cannot in good conscience say that I believe that relaxers are slowly killing ladies hair because I have seen ladies who have been relaxing for over 30 years and don't have the thinning edges and bald spots that you speak of. In actual fact if asked directly I do tell people that I believe that natural hair is 'healthier' than relaxed hair because of the added strength, elasticity and versitility. I win over more converts by telling them this rather than if I was telling them that they are self-hating by using relaxers.

In the meantime, I do accept that the great majority of women choose to relax their hair but don't want to be seen as lepers for choosing to wear their hair straight. Maybe what we should be doing is campaigning for gentler relaxers that don't burn the scalp to be standard on the market? I don't know, all I know is sadly in spite of everything women will continue to relax their hair.

In actual fact I have lived in Africa, my grandmother still lives there and I think the most likely scenario for the why people choose to buy white bread is because it saves them from making it themselves!