I get really torn when I have to share stories like this, I do not know if the person writing such shenanigans is just looking for a way to go viral by saying something stupid and does using our platform to address the issue add fuel to a fire that just did not need to be started?
I typically reconcile those two thoughts with one thing…maybe somebody out there can still benefit from the conversation and as such we should discuss it.
Kenyan blogger Nancy Roxanne wrote a piece on uReport titled “Ladies, natural hair is ugly! There, I said it.” In the article she goes on a tirade making the case that natural hair isnt for everyone and that it is a ‘pain to manage’. Her experience with natural hair other than the fact that she was born with it, is through a friend of hers who transitioned to natural hair and then back to relaxed in under a month.
I did not bother to check out how deep Roxanne’s habitual addiction to weaves and wigs* are on her social media, but word on the street is that she is probably more of an expert on imported hair than she is with the one she was naturally blessed with.
Read her article below:
It is said that a woman’s beauty is in her hair. Women go to great lengths to achieve gorgeous hair. Some perm and relax their hair. Some spruce up their hair with extensions*. Others sport weaves or wigs*. And then we have the pompous of them all; the ‘naturalistas’. They believe that nappy is happy. I beg to differ. In my opinion, the eye-appeal of hair is in the length and volume. But that is just me.
The natural hair community in Kenya is something of a cult, what with all these natural hair gurus over-sharing routines, regimens and hair recipes on social media. I never cared much about ‘team natural’ until I watched a friend transition from relaxed hair to natural hair then back to relaxed hair in under a month. Someone needs to blow a hole in this natural hair Shangri-La that some people have got going on.
First of all, natural hair is not flattering to everyone. I even dare say it is ugly. Only a handful of women actually look good with kinky* hair. Still, masses of unenlightened women wake up one day and decide to rock natural hairstyles only to end up adding to the ghastly parade of natural hair disasters being flaunted around.
Secondly, contrary to what the naturalistas may want you to believe, natural hair is a pain to manage. Getting natural hair to look presentable enough to leave the house is a nightmarish chore. Washing, detangling and styling involves a gruelling regimen where you spend hours with hands over your head.
Who cares.
Well she should keep it personal…saying her natural hair is ugly..if thts how she feels abt it…but to make it general is just pure ignorance…I’m natural for almost 2yrs and it’s a journey to get to know my hair and find out what works best. I’m not going bk to relaxers. #naturalhairisbeautiful
Her and her friends natural hair is a mess. I’m a lil over one year natural took the big chop to start over. I did this for myself n my daughter.. I want to show her natural beauty. And the hair HSS it’s own personality.. I call mine amazing lol
Lol…natural hair may not be for everyone, and it is a pain to manage, but when you get them curls poppin…..fly. I’ll take natural over relaxed anyday.
Preach!
When you are raised to think that then maybe. I think it beautiful! Endless options with natural hair!
I don’t think she’s mean or has a problem. Naturalistas etc go public with – it’s your own hair, love it, grow it etc.
Now someone goes public with the opposite message- and suddenly there is s problem.
She is expressing an opinion I’ve heard for years. Nothing wrong with that.
And by the way, I’m 2 years natural!
Yes. Naturals support other people going natural. However, this more downing natural hair than supporting relaxers. She said naturals are the most pompous and natural hair is ugly. It’s a very negative opinion piece. No real facts except natural hair being difficult to manage.
From the point of view of her friend. When you go through it yourself then you can give your opinion. Besides there are other reasons that women go back to natural hair, like health and scalp issues. And of course natural is for everyone, you were made that way.
She makes some valid points about the challenges of maintaining natural hair. While I am enjoying the improved health of my hair due to increased self-awareness and better hair-care practices, styling it…let’s just say that my wigs and my headscarves have become REALLY close friends lately.
Whatever -_-
Wisdom is a wonderful thing, this unlearned individual should embrace it, before opening her mouth, I have been natural for the last 6 years and my hair is down my back, it’s beautiful, well Ms.Kenyan Blogger let’s see how beautiful your hair is when it’s relaxed and on the floor, or your walking around like you have a carpet burns around your hairline because the perm has taken out your edges, I am not against anyone who wants to relax there hair, it’s what works for you, I just think some people should think before they speak, and another thing do you know how many of the other race wish they could half of what we do with our hair, and I am not going back to relaxers, it’s my choice.
The white man told her blonde stringy hair is beautiful and she believed it!!!
How can she are anyone say natural hair is ugly. It the pure strain of black hair. Please check yourself
I’m sorry but Some hair is just a hot mess. It’s a matter of opinion like ppls looks.
But you said it right-some hair is just a hot mess. Some natural hair, some chemically treated hair, some weaves, braids and wigs..are a hot mess. Not everyone who thinks their hair looks good, no matter how it is styled, looks good. And everyone is like that once in a while, a bad hair day/week/month! I disagree with the generalization this chick has made with natural hair. I’ve seen beautiful natural hair, and I have seen natural hair that has me convinced someone told the wearer that going natural means get up and go without a style.
i dont know about her hair…but my natural hair is beautiful….and i wear my hair very short and i keep it sassy
The way I look it is if the world ended and the zombie apocalypse came. Who would actually be able to maintain their hair??? Lml
She just doesn’t know how to take care of her hair… And her friend has no patience. I wouldn’t say natural isn’t for everyone but the care for one’s own hair isn’t for everyone
Well every woman has a choice how they want to wear their hair so let it be and I guess it is that persons opinion to say natural hair is ugly probably because they look and feel ugly wearing their truth instead fake and chemical hair is the choice.I personally love my short fro and wear it well. Nautral hair is not for everyone .
She could say her hair is ugly and we all could agree. My hair is beautiful naturally. She probably own a wig shop or into relaxers and not getting much sales so frustrated.
Exactly
FULLY BRAINWASHED
Only from her European standard of beauty. She can still learn how to love herself but, who has that kinda time
Who is this person? I need to know so I can never listen to any other stupid bulls**t they have to say…
As long as I like it, it does not matter what anyone else say, js!
She’s not doing something right..
this lady is an ass
I’ve been natural 14 months and I LOVE IT!! Natural hair is beautiful. All I know is you have to be ready to embrace natural hair.
You so right
So she based her opinion on her friend’s hair who transitioned for month? That’s not long enough to embrace anything.
Not getting a perm for a month isn’t even transitioning… She needs a new source
i never see you emphasise on places like “american blogger” or “nigerian blogger” anyway it’s her problem if she thinks it’s ugly or maybe because where we are not many natural hair ladies have 3A type of curly hair or maybe just maybe the naturals she has met don’t take time to make their hair neat, trust me i have met ladies like that and they make natural hair look unkempt hence bad reputation
She presented her opinion respectfully. Just because it’s not what you would like to hear doesn’t mean she’s in the wrong in any way.
she’s just mad because her weave business is failing. #siturdumbassdown
I love my natural hair, but some women can’t go natural and that’s ok.
That’s what soft power does. It makes you feel unattractive and discontent with who you are and you don’t know why. Messages that tell you (be thin, be blonde, have big boobs, be young!) If you’re not self aware certain media will make you feel ugly if you allow it to.
I’m confused, after her friend was natural for one month it was too much? wtf was she doing to her hair. The first couple months are the easiest. It’s once you get some length that it becomes work. I hated my natural hair about 7 months in and then after a year i cut my perm hair off and that made life much easier.
Just like Whitney said “learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all”.
It is not the hair that is ugly… The way you styling it is ugly…a big difference! Natural isn’t for everybody but some naturals just need the right help of a caring educated stylist willing to help them transform their hair from so called ugly to a thing of beauty!
Whatever. People are a trip. I cut mine off, have waves and curls.
Ladies you want to know what’s ugly, ugly is when your tracks is hanging on to your hair for dear life, when you weave is a different textures for your hair, when your weave haven’t been comb out in weeks with fur balls in it, and when y’all weaves and wigs wearing sistah is patting you hair out in public like y’all got a head full of fleas.
I don’t know what she is talking about, but she is not speaking for me. Since I have dropped the perms , my hair is thicker , fuller and longer. It is in good shape, and it doesnot cost me and arm and a leg , not like weaves do. I JUST braid or twist it, and wear it….cause I am BEAUTIFUL, and I don’t need know one to tell me, CAUSE I KNOW IT…..I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE. THANK YOU. You need to dig deeper and forget about your surface beauty for a while….cause clearly your inside needs some cleaning, and then you will see what a wonderful woman you are, with life that has been given to you.
People definitely write things just to be controversial and shocking. Everyone has an opinion!!!!
I think everyone is entitled to their opinion. And my opinion is the beauty of hair is how you rock it. I personally deteste wigs/weaves but braids and natural and knots I like a lot. I’m not a big fan of a fro for myself but I like it when someone rocks a fro. Everyone has their own style and time they want to spend on their hair. Let everyone be.
Their are a lot of things some think it’s wonderfull and others think it’s very ugly… Everyone has an opinion and some might disagree
she says she’s a recovering narcissist……smh
I really don’t care if she finds natural hair ugly. I love my natural hair and will continue to live my life no matter what anyone says . Also I’m 2 years natural. Not everyone has kinky 4c hair . I dont , but either way kinky 4c hair is gorgeous as well.
I read the article….. She’s got a valid point. Natural doesn’t look good on everyone
Some people who are nature look like they just rolled out of bed didn’t bother to comb their head and like all kind of stuff is living in it. I love to see people do natural kemp hair but not everyone is blessed with beautiful curls and those are the ones that need to put in a little more work on making it at least look as if they care about their natural hair. I cut all mines off and attempt to do natural. I have a decent grade of hair but too much work for someone who hate to do hair. My sister loves her natural hair and she look awesome. So when I say it’s not for everyone I mean it’s not for you if you not willing to put in the work and make it look good.
Who is this Kenyan woman that we have to care how she feels about nautral hair?
Her thougths on natural hair poses no more threat to me then the thoughts of the world’s smartest tardigrade.
This poor woman is brain washed and she does not realise it. She is a victim of what we have been taught by the white folk, to hate our dark skin and all our natural features and go through such strenuous measures to actually look like them or close. We try and shape eye brows in a certain way, lighten our skin and weave on straight hair. For some of us, a weave is just another protective style and for some, they would die if they had to go out in public in their natural hair (if they still have any after all those chemicals and mishandling). She must respect other people’s choices and be polite if she has an opinion about them.
Her hair, her choice. She has a right to her opinion about hair care.