So, I’m a commercial buying, commercial coloring woman and yes, I am still natural. Being natural to me means using no chemicals that alter my hair’s texture. The commercial coloring system I use does not alter my hair’s texture nor do the commercial products I proudly buy either. The odd thing is, henna* can alter your hair’s texture even though it is clearly from a natural resource – go figure!
There are many who will judge you for your choices but the key thing to remember is that no body appointed them in charge of what you do with your hair or even the authority on whether we are natural or not. Commercial products just like processed food is a personal choice and we have to respect peoples choices no matter what we think about them.
Saying someone isn’t natural is pretty much an excuse to push an idea on that person by attacking the very thing they identify with the most. I myself for a time believed that using chemical dyes some how made me not natural, but even though that was pretty closed minded of me, I did not push that way of thinking on others.
Likewise if you know a person that uses only all natural products and dyes, they are not any more natural or better than others who make a different choice.
In the grand scheme of things what does it really matter? We all really do know how to define natural hair, it is almost pointless to try to define and and redefine it every time we are faced with this argument but we understand the need to do so. We have women with texturizers wanting to fit in with that crowd, and while technically that girl is not natural, the value she places on being part of the community is what is most important.
As a community the best thing to do is know what being natural means generally and for our own personal satisfaction. After you are done with that then move on to respecting other peoples choices when it comes to taking care of their hair whether in the kitchen or in the isle at Walmart.
Have you been ridiculed for using commercial products? Comment below
Rochelle Corilette Liyah Warner says
Everyones personal opinion one being natural is different.
This i don’t understand..
How can the natural community be so divided..? Riddle me that!
Sabrina Richmond Perkins says
We have several divisions within our community!!!
Rochelle Corilette Liyah Warner says
And we shouldn’t at all.
Riiah Baptiste says
It’s funny that this article shows up on my feed as I’m sitting here with the Shea Moisture color in my hair (for the 3rd time this year) Lol. I’ve been told that I’m not natural since I color my hair, I’m going to go bald, etc but I don’t give a hell what your opinion is. My hair is between bra strap and mid-back length and still growing. My texture hadn’t changed and I’m going to keep coloring and calling myself natural because that’s what I am. I don’t have any chemicals in my hair that have altered the texture I was born with. One thing that I dislike about the natural hair community is the need for some to slap a label on everybody and put people into little boxes. Why can’t we just embrace each other as beautiful natural women regardless of hair color or type? It’s sad.
Sabrina Richmond Perkins says
Do you, boo!!!
DaNee Cunningham says
Yea idk why ppl say straightening your hair isn’t natural.
Sabrina Richmond Perkins says
Some folks just got to say something!
Deondra Davis says
Lol, well I guess I’m not natural either, because I eventually want to color mine too, I press it out twice a year to trim, and I buy store bought products, that’s not necessarily always a natural line! Smh, I feel the same way she does about being natural when she said natural is anything that doesn’t change your texture, hair dye doesn’t make you not natural just like wearing weave over your natural doesn’t change you from being natural, to me it’s just called a change up or new style!
Sabrina Richmond Perkins says
Thanks for understanding
DaNee Cunningham says
Lol soon ppl gone be like “I don’t see chemical, I see ppl”
BlackHairInformation.com says
thats hilarious!!…
Shanice Sahel says
Who entertains what naturals have to say. The same ones who only had their own hair for less than five years? The ones who still use race as a defined for hair? The ones who don’t want 4c hair but will still say that 4c chick is mixed because her hair is long. Naturals can get gone and let people do weh dem ah go do! None of their business yes I’m natural
Mo Cox says
I don’t understand why people are making this ‘natural’ thing difficult. You’ve either chemically processed your hair or you haven’t.
Kelly Jamila says
who cares. I don’t know why what I do to my hair painfully and slowly kills other people and why they care either ! Geeeeet offff meeee
NubianPrize says
WHY ARE WE STILL HAVING THIS STUPID MYOB CONVERSATION ???!!! You use WHAT WORKS for your hair ! JEEZ this fighting about hair ignorance is APPALLING !