Contents:
- Some Of Us Weren’t Ready
- Impatient Or Incompetent Stylists
- We Want The Best Of Both Worlds
- Final Thoughts
So straightening hair is a sign of insecurity which indicates that you hate yourself? Well according to some in the natural hair community that is the diagnosis for those of us who enjoy straight styles. This is something that is still happening in 2017; people are being snubbed because they choose to temporarily alter their natural hair by straightening it.
I honestly can’t understand how temporarily altering your hair texture makes you any less natural, but there are some in the community, who are all up in arms about what someone does with their own hair. What’s up with that?
I get that there is a strong resurgence of black consciousness, and there are those who claim that altering the kink in your hair – albeit temporarily- is evidence that you are psychologically damaged and hate yourself.
While I can appreciate that our psychology is responsible to a great extent for the decisions we make, I cannot accept that everyone who straightens hair is self-hating; a ‘Massa’ worshipping person with the house slave mentality, seeking acceptance from Caucasians who have projected their own ideas of beauty onto us. I would love to believe, and dare say, there are those of us in the community who are very firm in who we are, have a strong sense of self, and love ourselves so much it may even be perceived to be narcissistic.
We are not saying that self-hating blacks don’t exist, we just think it is a bit irresponsible to broad-brush everyone who enjoys straightening hair with that particular classification. So let’s look at why many in the natural hair community may choose to straighten their hair.
Some Of Us Weren’t Ready
Many of our mothers and grandmothers grew up in that era where the afro-textured hair was made out to be the badge of shame. In their ignorance and out of love – because they didn’t want their babies to have anything that would make them stick out as targets for Caucasian ridicule- they routinely straightened our hair as soon as they thought we could bear the heat of a hot comb. It was either that or a relaxer or Jheri curls. For this reason, many of us grew up without any experience of dealing with our true texture.
Fast-forward decades later to this point and we decide we want to have our natural hair, but we didn’t bargain on the challenges we would face when we became natural. Some saw the spiral curls of fellow black naturalistas and had unrealistic expectations that ours would look exactly like that of the natural hair icon on YouTube; then came disillusionment when we learned that it was not to be.
For someone with hardly any experience dealing with textured hair, this can be a bit overwhelming. It’s not that such people hate themselves, it’s just that they stick to what’s easier. In fact, many have healthy tresses tucked away under straight weaves, all because of the convenience.
LMAO, like some of isn’t told to for work, either way stop policing Black women’s bodies. White people do that enough
Gtfoh I straighten my hair cuz sometimes I don’t want to deal with my hair in its natural state but I definitely prefer my natural state of hair over straightened hair. I feel more beautiful with my fro than a straight style any day.
Some people are just plain crazy… If I choose to straighten my hair… It’s because I’m changing up my look… People read into stuff too much… smh
The black woman have been told her hair is not suitable for the workforce because it is to puffy and many times they use the word nappy. I love black hair in its natural form and black women are the only women that are told to change their hair. Many black women straighten their hair to comply with the work environment and I suspect some black women prefer not to wear their hair straight because the black woman have been told her is is not beautiful and silky. What people do not know is black hair is the softest and most delicate hair of all races. I love black natural hair.Black women stay true to yourself.
I got my daughter hair straighten and it is taking forever for her natural curl to come back
No it’s a sign of doing WHATEVER THE F**K you wanna do with YOUR hair. ♀️
That’s funny. I stopped relaxing my hair in 2011 and wouldn’t straighten my hair at all for years. But this year, my hair has been straight or in crochets (as it is now) most of the year. It’s only due to convenience. I absolutely love my hair in its natural state but it most definitely is more work! I can admit I’ve been straightening my hair due to laziness lol but I am most definitely NOT insecure! In fact, I’m more confident with my fro!!!
First people want to analyze black women for wearing relaxers. Now you want to analyze black women for straightening their natural hair. Come on man give me a break! I can’t believe that this page asked that question! Black women are not held to one type of hair one color one style one curl pattern. Get a life already!
I like to change my hair for me, not for work or any other reason
You know when I reach the pearly gates, I’m gonna ask the Lord…Lordt what was it about the Black woman’s hair that has people all in a tizzy for centuries down there? Like seriously…did it hold some sort of power or magic that would make the world go from zero to sixty from a simple change of style? No other woman on the planet has ever had this much attention paid to their hair as we have. Lord like really what gives?
See this right here is the kind of crap I hate. Please for the love of God. Leave black women and our hair and the right to do what we want how we want and when we want alone. It’s not that serious do what you want with your own damn hair! Life is entirely too short. Just because you may not straighten your natural hair and the next sister does, does not make you better. GTFOH!
Well, there some people who think straight long hair is better than natural hair, so what’s the difference? Hair is hair and everybody should be obligated to do what they want with it. So long as they take care of it and not neglect it.
It’s hair. You should be able to do whatever you want with it.
Good article! And no, it’s a sign that I have a lot of ish to do/not a morning person or want to do my hair at night after a long day There are something ppl who don’t straighten their hair and wear it kinky but, hate themselves…they just itch with weaves or they don’t feel like straightening it That’s them natural hair Nazi’s that say this craziness!
Might just be a sign of laziness
I feel more comfortable when I wear my hair at its natural state bc what you see, it’s what it decided to do lol..when I wear weave, I feel pressured to have it a certain way..unfortunately I still wear wigs to interviews etc bc I know how corp feels about our hair…but as soon as training over…make room for me and my puff…
Nope, not for me Straightening mine is a sign of I want a change up and can’t do a lot of longer wearing styles due my psoriasis and needing to wash every few days at least usually sooner so it’s either natural wash and go, twist out or straight for three days, the end
The only insecure people are those that think they can shame other people for their own choices
No it not insecurities is you want a change. Nothing to prove to anyone it’s what I want to do at that time. God bless have bless day if you csn
I straighten my hair because it’s a PERSONAL CHOICE….. GTFOH…….. NO INSECURITIES HERE THANK YOU
I personally don’t think that straigjtening your hair is a sign of insecurity. I do feel like whomever believes that is just ignorant. It’s a person’s personally choice as to what they want or choose to do with their hair. You don’t have to agree with it. It’s also not your hair so you don’t have to wear the style, either. If they are taking care of their hair and it’s healthy, why should it matter if a person chooses to straighten it? I personally straighten my hair to clip my ends and to every once in a while see my length. I like to see the accomplishment of growth with my hair. My hair doesn’t like to stay straight and it takes a lot of time, so i never really care to do it often. Again, it’s my hair and it doesn’t make me any less natural then the next female. This may also come off rude but I’m just going to be straight up about it. If you don’t pay for that female to get her hair done, help her out with what is being considered as an “insecurity” or you don’t do that female’s hair or anything that can help contribute to that female’s hair, then it’s not your concern. Turn off the ignorant thoughts and go on about your day. It shouldn’t be affecting you anyhow, seeing as though it has not one thing to do with you. African American females get enough bashing as it is from the Caucasian race, can we not do it to each other. By the way I’m going on 3 years natural and still don’t know how to do a proper twist out, but my hair is taken care of and I am happy with the results I have been able to see throughout time. When i see a female whose natural hair is nice i compliment her and sometimes ask for tips. It’s okay to give credit where it’s due.
Not for me..love the versatility of my hair!!!
this is funny Personally i like strait hair more because its EASIER TO DEAL WITH.
Nope , it’s enjoying the versatility of our hair and the multiple styles we can try! Loving this natural hair!
The natural vs relax beef is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard!
Sistas please don’t let hair be another thing to divide us.
Nobody wants to look like boo boo the fool
It’s all about your intent…. if it’s done out of insecurity then yeah, but if it’s done because you like your try different looks then it’s not a problem. My opinion anyway….
No its just easier to comb …
Straighten my hair is a sign of versatility.
Honestly, I only straighten it once or twice a year to see what it looks like but afterwards I miss my curls. Straight hair is boring to me.
No sometime you just want a different look.
Bulls**t.. We are allowed to change it up. Ppl just need to my their own business
Really
Did you read the article or just reacted to the title? I guarantee it’s not what you think it is so check out the first paragraph at least. (You probably deleted that other bhc for no good reason 🙂 )
Lol calling BS
Dam…here we go again.