I saw this comment on a post this week :
I do not, however, feel that someone that always wore weaves relaxed, then transitions, big chops, never shows their natural hair during the entire journey unless it’s to do a length check on YouTube or to get their weave changed, then continues to wear weaves non-stop is truly protective styling. That person is buffered from the full experience of being a natural and want it that way, in my opinion.
And I thought well that’s interesting, excuse me while I interrupt your divine experience!
I always thought protective styling was protecting your hair in a certain style to preserve it from over manipulation. I never knew that if you did it 90% of the time, then it becomes less protective than if you did it say 40% of the time. – is that what she is really insinuating?
If you wear your hair out all the time, are you more of an experienced natural than the girl who is ACTUALLY natural just like you but wears a weave all the time? What is the full experience of being natural? is it the same for everyone ? How do you really know what she has been through by just looking at her $200.00 ‘Brazilian hair down to there’?
Wigs and Weaves are a Personal Choice …
Here is my opinion, I agree, I think weaves and wigs* are a personal choice, I don’t particularly care for them but if I did I wouldn’t mind trying it a couple times a year. I do not however look at a woman who wears a wig and say ‘I am more natural, or I have more experience than her when it comes to natural hair’ because she chooses to wear a wig* all the time.
Weaves and Wigs*, Protect the Hair (when done right) ..That’s just what they do…
I do think wearing a weave or a wig is protective styling there is no way around that. Whether you did it when you were relaxed, transitioning, natural, 50% of the time 90% of the time, or even 100% of the time, it is what it is.
Our society is based so much on symbolism and judgement that sometimes something as practical as wearing a wig* becomes some high indication of unnaturalness (depending on how long you do it for). Natural hair is a physical thing, caring for natural hair is physical experience. How you feel about your natural hair, now that! That is emotional! That means it is not black or white, there is always gray area, and it can easily be debated and judged.
I cannot with good sense look at a woman who wears a weave and automatically assume she hates her hair, it could mean that she loves her hair so much she prefers to preserve it in a way that might not be conventional to the average joe. There is no way to tell unless you invite her out to a red couch somewhere and hand her a glass of wine.
The whole thing about ‘if you do this, then you are that’, or ‘if you do more of this then that means this’ and ‘you are more of that’ … can be so annoying…
Em
Ps – The point of the Nicki Minaj Pic, in case you are wondering :
1. Nicki gets alot of flack for showing her natural hair but never her face, and she predominately wears wigs or weaves or something to that effect
2. That Pic was bossy! – Elle Magazine did the damn thing and she looked so much more ‘natural’
3. She looks great out of costume and we don’t get to see that often, so.. WTH
You know I feel that yes wigs and braids and sew in’s are good for protecting. But I feel that when you are always wearing them then you have a problem with your natural hair, And how you look with natural hair. I have never been a fan of fake hair but I do understand it. Just make sure that you are not doing it to look like a certain type of women that’s all. One more thing I don’t get that if you have stopped relaxing and you are saying that you have gone natural (because of the curls ) then why get silky sew in ? I get the braids but I don’t get the sew ins that’s all. Why not get curly sew in’s for the more natural look?
I want that shirt!
thank you for this article. peole who act the fool for how someone chooses to wear their hair is ridiculous
This is a fantastic article!!!!
Wearing a wig/weave is a protective style also.the prob is most girls that wear weave all the time don’t deep condition,use a treatment or cut their ends.they just take it out and put the weave back in.most of them have length but it’s real thin
WRONG i wear wigs and weaves and I oil my scalp every other night deep con and all that jazz my hair is longer than most who wear it out everyday u know why because less manipulation and stress on my treses so all weavey wonders arent careless is a lifestyle babe
I want tht shirt, do they have it in black…..
If you find it let me know!
Your baby!! Hunter Cooksey
LOVE THAT LOOK!!! BAM!!
Funny thing about so many people going natrual, most are doing it for the wrong reason. You can have healthy hair no matter if it’s natrual or relaxed. Weaves,wigs,braids, plats, and pony tails are all protective styling that no one knew was protection until the big “lets go natrual fad” came with “the Bad hair movie”.
I live in Florida, natrual for 3 years however fake hair has and always will be my friend because the heat down here is brutal on my hair. Fake hair just makes it’s easier and my real hair is growing faster by not being touched. Reality if I did more to it by now it would be to my waist. But 3 years BSL isn’t bad considering what I don’t do
I choose to wear sew-in weave ♥
Stop hatin’ and debating!’
Where can we find that shirt she is wearing?
Found it! It’s not a shirt. It’s a bathing suit. Printed face bathing suit by Jeremy Scott for addidas. It is $95.
Another side of her !
This foolishness needs to stop. Do what you want with your hair and love yourself.
This would not be an issue if we encouraged each other instead of judging each other. No one’s journey is better than another. The emotional stuggle is real for ALL of us.
Why worry about what someone else is doing with their hair? Mind your business.
Since when is it a contest ?? Like really …
In my opinion, a wig or even weave is definitely a protective style. The less manipulation to my hair, the better. This is especially, true for me and my 4c hair.