Black women promised they would never relax their hair again, which affected relaxer sales to the point that today they are on the bottom shelf of Wal-Mart for no more than $2.99 a box!
Now naturalistas are showing off their fun and simple natural hair styles on Instagram, with a huge following.
You see naturalistas putting their full bouncy curls on display and winning a huge following; the majority of whom are awestruck and wondering “how she got her hair to be that way” and commenting that they “want it too.”
There are numerous websites and blogs contributing to the natural hair movement with advice and tips on how to care for your own natural hair and the benefits of having natural hair.
Forums, message boards, mobile apps, and even Facebook have numerous groups and discussions for ways to care for and accept natural hair.
Mainstream magazines, TV shows, commercials, and billboard ads have praised natural hair and even have a huge cast call for natural hair models for their label or brand.
There are more black owned entrepreneurs who have created botanical and other natural ingredient healthy products that actually cater to the natural haired women like: Shea Moisture*, As I Am*, Camille Rose Naturals, Kinky* Curly, Jane Carter Solution, and Miss Jessie’s.
Even companies who used to sell relaxers have gone back to the drawing board to appeal to naturalistas with their “new and improved” hair products, by using slogans like: “Anti-Shrinkage” and “Argan Oil* and Argan Butter.” Barbie has even become a naturalista from wearing a huge Fro to having fierce locs. Everyone wants to contribute to the natural hair movement!
So here we are in 2015. Natural hair is not political like it was in the 70s and 80s. Now, the natural hair movement is overriding the social ideas and standards of what is “beauty.” The natural hair movement is more than black love and proud of being black with a strong fist raised.
The natural hair movement is not about relaxed vs natural vs weaves vs anything else under the sun. The natural hair movement is about self-love and acceptance of the hair you are blessed with naturally. There is no “you are with us or against us,” rather, the natural hair movement is saying, “I love my hair no matter what anyone else thinks of my hair and I support all of my sisters in love, bonding, and well… hair!