I have written before about natural hair nazi’s, sorry, police in another post. You know the ones I mean, they think they wrote the rule book (that nobody read) about what it constistitues to be natural.
Most of the rest of us describe being natural as ‘hair texture that has not been altered by relaxers, texturizers or curly perms’. Apparently to these natural law enforcement officers, coloring your hair takes you out of the ‘natural category’ and into a black hole of not relaxed but not quite natural.
Some even worry that using henna* revokes their natural credentials. *Trying not to laugh!*
Usually these naturals hang out in their dedicated forums where freedom of speech is an foreign idea but recently, Solange Knowles came under the scrutiny of these ladies in the comments on a post on Curly NIkki.
The post has 115 comments on writing this and while most are largely positive, you do see the occasional one that makes you cringe. I read the words ‘she’s nothing special’, ‘her hair always looks unkempt’, it looks dry’, ‘it needs a twist out’ etc.
After this supportive post about some ladies taking things too far, Solange went off on a tirade on twitter against the natural hair police, their criticism of her hair and how she wears it. Here’s what she said:
- It is a rare occasion that I ever bring the conversation of “Hair” onto twitter or anywhere for that matter.
- But just wanted to share something…
- After noticing and pointing out the constant hair comments on my instagrams, someone sent me this ….http://modernemeid.tumblr.com/post/24577741089/are-we-going-too-far-when-it-comes-to-other-peoples
- Im only going to say a few things.
- I cut my hair ALL off 4 times in my life all for very different reasons….I only reiterate this because this is nothing new for me.
- This 4th time did not define me, just as it had not the previous 3 times.
- I’ve never painted myself as a team natural vice president. I don’t know the lingo and I don’t sleep with a satin cap…
- However, I did noticed when I picked out my hair, I kept seeing feedback about needing a “twist out”. Connnnfesssioonnn: I HATE twist outs.
- Correction, I hate the way they look on me. SO i end up always picking them/steaming them out.
- Look, all i’m saying is. My hair is not very important to me….so i don’t encourage it to be important to you.
I agree with Solange obviously. We made a big hoopla when she decided to go natural but since then even though she has become the spokesperson for Carols Daughter products, she didn’t’ nominate herself as the go-to person for how to wear natural hair or the importance of satin caps.
Solange has never expressed a desire to grow her hair long, she only wants it to be healthy. Who is anyone to critisize her styling choices? Let the lady wear her ‘fro!
What this really shows is that even with the huge take off of the natural movement, many women who have gone natural only do so because they realize that they can wear their hair in anything but it’s natural state.
We may have decided en mass that relaxed hair is out but we are still caught up in the idea that frizzy afro hair is bad and the only acceptable way to wear 4a/b hair is either to define each of your curls to death or create curls with twist outs and braid outs.
If anything, Solange is more ‘natural’ than most of us. She dares to wear her hair unadorned and as it grows. The woman deserves praise not criticism!
Karen could not have said it better that even the way hair is classified is now a clear indication to me that as subtle as it may seem we will continue to suffer from mental interiority perpetuated by others but accepted and stamped by ourselves causing severe self stigmatisation in black people. I salute Solange. You have not become enslaved by your own hair as many of the “natural hair police” do not even know they are, enslaved by their hair!
I get what she’s saying though. What’s the point in being natural if the real goal is to make your hair look curly? I’m so tired of the texture discrimination. I’m waiting on a natural movement that embraces my NAPS & edges that aren’t baby hair. I hate that my hair has to be curly to be considered “done”.
I hate that people still say “baby hair”
Lolol
If you have to create it then it’s not baby hair. You used grease and water. Lol
You go girl
Well said Solange 🙂
She looks nice anyway she wears her hair. She can’t look ugly if she tried; she is a pretty girl. Hair or no hair.
Thank you, Solange. Our hair does not need to be tamed. Your hair, your choice!
I think that even in the “natural hair” community some people are afraid to show their hair’s real kinkiness. Tight or loose curls, I love it all.
Well said
“we are still caught up in the idea that frizzy afro hair is bad and the only acceptable way to wear 4a/b hair is either to define each of your curls to death or create curls with twist outs and braid outs”………Isn’t that the damn TRUTH!
At the end of the day the hair on my head is MY BUSINESS unless some of these critic’s are planning to pay for the maintenance, they need to Hush & worry about what’s growing out of their own heads.
I love her hair. I just wear my natural hair as is. I wash and comb it or rather pick it. Sometimes, I don’t comb it because the shrinkage is my fiercest opponent so why bother. Lol.