Lovelyish

You can do whatever you want with your hair. Ignore what other people say. You’re the one who sees it every day, so why listen?

I think anyone has the right to change up their looks when and how they want. I have never thought of how a black woman’s hair should be, I have only ever thought they should wear it how they like it. 

Hair is hair.

Do whatever you want as long as it makes you feel pretty!

It’s there to enhance your looks.

This is kindah like the whole debate between makeup or no makeup. ;d

I don’t see a problem with straightening your hair or doing anything else with it, really.

no, women of every race change their hair, and i severely doubt it’s due to identity crises. it’s just a part of personal aesthetics. i think it’s great that you’re so willing to experiment with your look. 

I think they all look good.

I think it’s beautiful either way.  Choose what best fits you, and just be proud! 
Relaxing your hair doesn’t change who you are, it just gives you more possibilities for style. =D

I love big beautiful hair on black women. It’s your hair–your choice.

if someone gives you crap for changing your hair, smack ‘em around! =) 

My hair is naturally a very pretty red, but a few people have given me hell for putting bright red streaks in my hair. 
If it makes you happy, do it.

Its just hair.. I don’t see what the big deal is. hahah. Do what you want with it. I don’t see why anyone could be offended or look down on you because of how you choose to do your hair.

I have curly hair.. And I like to wear it straight these days.. A couple years ago I wore it curly every day.. Why should it matter?

i don’t see why it’s wrong to change your hairstyle if you like it. and if everyone’s happy with what god gave them, then nobody should dye their hair, or get surgery, or wear makeup. but since everyone does… i don’t see why you shouldn’t change your hair.

this is the same as asking if white people should get curly perms IMO…. BUT at the same time, I do understand the political statement behind black people’s hair.  I think it’s ridiculous and you should wear your hair the way you want.  If you wear your hair natural b/c your friends think you should to prove pride in your heritage, you are still conforming to what others want.  Just wear your hair the way you want to wear it.

i am much happier with my hair relaxed~ it’s easier to comb through and saves time in the mornings.

I’m Asian and most Asians (especially the Japanese) have stick straight hair and I don’t.  I’ve been chemical straightening it for the past 7 years and it was NEVER about trying to look more Asian or to be accepted.  I just feel more polished and sophisticated and it’s easier to keep up.

So damn those who always think they’re “thinking ahead”.  That’s b*ll.

@curious_maya@xanga - Same here.

It’s the same when some women get braids or weaves. Stupid people assume you dont have hair or something.

it’s your hair; so do with it what you like.  I’ve done it all to my hair, and if anyone doesn’t like it; they have the choice to look away.  Have you ever thought of getting the brazilian keratin treatment?  It doesn’t chemically straighten your hair, but it’s a treatment that keeps your hair straight for 3-4 months.  You eventually wash it out and since there’s no chemicals you don’t damage your hair.  Some people relax, and then do the treatment the same day.  I’ve done this and loved it, I’m puerto rican and have ver tight curly hair.  it made my hair straight and it was so healthy and didn’t dry out my hair.  However, it does have formaldehyde(sp?), and the amount approved by the fda amunt is .2%. So if you ever consider it be sure that there is no more than .2%, and that your stylist knows how to do the BKT. Maybe it’s something you would like to look into.

Black women should do what they want to do.  White women should get afros.  And ALL women should chill out, do the best that they can with their looks, and realise that beauty comes from inside, not out.  Outside is just presentation, nothing more, nothing less.

@makeupjunkie -   I”ve done it too, and loved it.  My hair has gotten healthier with each treatment, and I love that I can color and to the BKT all in the same day.  You are correct in saying that you have to be sure that your stylist knows what he/she is doing.

  If Caucasian woman got a perm; would it mean she is ashamed of her straight hair?  Just because you want something different it doesn’t mean you’re ashamed, and if it’s easier to manage why not?  God gave you your hair, and its yours to do with it what you want.

As a guy I can honestly say that I don’t find a woman’s hair particularly important.  The reason is simple enough: Girls don’t go out with awful looking hair.  Sure.  You see bad hair styles on TV where some cracked up hair dresser goes off the deep end to try something new.  That happens.  But in real life?  I can’t remember the last time I saw someone in person with a hairdo that I would consider horrible.  Even some 30 second job is going to be better than a wacky comb-over.

tl;dr = Don’t worry about it because you will know if it looks bad.

Like you, I’ve worn my hair relaxed and natural. Right now I’m rocking the former. Even though I like my hair’s natural texture, I feel like it’s easier to wear my hair straight because it’s just easier for me to deal with. And if anyone has a problem with it, well…that’s just it, they have a problem. Not me.

Beautiful either wayy =) 

That little fro was totally cute on you! (I’m very much a fan of the mini fro!) Your hair looks good since you’ve changed it as well. I would say that you are not ashamed of your natural hair since it’s not like you never rocked the natural look. You seem pretty secure in your roots (of hair). Don’t listen to negative comments.

I need to submit a post about natural hair…

THANK YOU.

Just do whatever you want to do. It’s that simple. No crying or worrying over what others think. Just do it. I always do.

Conforming? Not really. Following a trend maybe.

I agree that it sometimes seems like my every hairstyle choice is a political statement to other people. I stopped relaxing my hair because it always makes it break off, period.  But it turned out to be a decision I was constantly explaining to people who assumed I did it in protest of relaxing and trying to achieve a non black standard of beauty. My hair was actually easier to manage relaxed but if I didn’t stop I wasn’t going to have any hair to manage. lol So I’ve been wearing my hair natural and in single braids for about 5 years now.  My hair is so out of style I should be in again any minute.

Many minority women face the same sort of thing when they change aspects of their appearance that are thought of as defining characteristics for their ethnicity (for example, an Asian woman going blond might be accused of trying to be white).  I say do whatever makes you happy!  You know your reasons, and that’s enough. 

Wow you’ve done so much with your hair! It must be fun to try all those different hairstyles. The good thing about hair is that it’s renewable. You know what you like and what looks good on you, so why not just go with that?

I think we women of color are damned if we do and damned if we don’t.  Asian women can’t color their hair without being accused of trying to be white- hello, there are over a BILLION of us on this planet, all with the same hair color.  Some of us might want a little variety sometimes.  And my black friends can’t agree on whether it’s okay to relax their hair or go natural; some of them think that black women who relax their hair are bourgeois and sell-outs, while others think the natural look is too “black”.  We women can’t stop tearing each other down long enough to appreciate each other’s beauty and accept that what one person chooses to do with her hair/body is not a reflection on her people, nor is it an attempt to be what she’s not.  Someone who’s rude enough to tell you that you’re trying to be the next flowy-haired Pantene girl has her own identity issues to worry about and is projecting them onto you!

So no, I don’t think you’re a conformist just because you want to change it up sometimes.  If you want to rock a relaxed hairstyle, I say rock it and embrace it.  No one needs to be pleased by it but you.

I’m tired of hearing people who have problems with Black people straightening their hair. The majority of young Japanese women color their hair, and people of all races have gotten perms. Relaxing is no different. And the non-Black people who make comments like that should spend a day with Black hair so they can understand why a lot of Black women straighten it. My hair is only half-Black and it can be a real pain to deal with!

Right now,I am going back to the natural. My scalp has a problem which means I have to wash my hair frequently. You just can’t do that with a perm because your hair is already stripped and fragile. I am going to China in a few weeks and it is humid over there. I just don’t want to deal with a curling iron. I want my hair to be low maintenance. All a short fro requires you to do is wash,hair oil and go. It is simple. You just have to wash it more often than not but I need to wash my hair often so that’s good.

personally, i dont even know what my hair looks like anymore because i’ve relaxed it since 3rd grade, and i like it like that.

its a personal choice. the question could be ‘should white girls get curly perms?’

I personally think that people need to just get off of other peoples backs…..I think this is what conforms to society..the judgment of others for their personal preferences. I’ve been natural for about 5 years and decided to relax because when my hair is longer on my face…it flatters me more and it’s what I like for my hair. screw what people say….it’s our choice, our lives and no one has the right to pass judgment unless your name is Jesus Awesome Christ……thank you and good eve!

I do believe there is a bit of a double standard there, you’re totally on the right track. I’ve given a lot of thought (and read a lot of blogs!) to going natural again and I just can’t do it. I keep remembering my hair before the relaxer and I just keep picturing all the combs/brushes I broke, lol. I think I have more options with what I want to do w/ my hair if it’s relaxed. I can still get a ‘curly’ or ‘wavy’ look without having to beat my hair into submission.

Plus, I think it’s a personality decision… like, where you’re coming from in your life. And for me, that means I’m expressing myself through relaxed tresses. Besides, so long as it’s healthy what’s the big deal?

You should do whatever makes you feel beautiful.

@planetedie@xanga - agreed. well said

@planetedie@xanga - if i could give you a facebook “thumbs up” i sure would!

they can do whatever they want, and people can think whatever they want to think. who are we to stop them?

I really believe you (and everyone else) should do what you want with your hair. I understand where you are coming from though. Just a couple a weeks ago my manager (who thinks she’s special because she straightens her hair only with flat irons and not relaxers) told me I was back to “being a slave to the white man” because I’ve started to relax my hair again. If that’s true then she’s “being a slave” too just for straightening her hair without chemicals! Flat irons or chemicals, you’re still altering your natural hair texture! Sure, hair straightening for black women may have started from trying to conform to white society and relaxers can be damaging (if you don’t take good care of your hair) but nowadays I think black women do it just because they want to. I like my natural hair (i worn it natural for about a year now) and now I’m back to relaxing my hair because I like that too.

I know what you mean about curly curly hair, I’m part black and when ever I wash it it curls right up. I have cut really short (short in the back to I could spike it and a swoop bang in the front I always have to straighten it). Anyways its your hair do what you want with it, its not every else’s hair its your’s and they can’t tell you what to do with your hair.

To me my hair comes down to a couple of things:  How am I going to take care of it?  Can I wake up and comb it through and be out the house?  Can I wrap it up at night?  Will it damage my hair (cuz im trying to grow it back to how long it once was) ?

I would grow a fro but my hair just isn’t the type.  So I get a relaxer once a year, just before school starts.  Makes my life simple..er…

So do what you want, hell everyone do what you want with your hair!  I wanna try the Beyonce blonde but…I dont think it will work…soooo…

I really don’t care who relaxes or doesn’t relax… as long as it’s taken care of and not neglected, but that goes for hair in general.

I had relaxed hair since I was a small child and my hair never really broke off or whatever like a lot of women’s apparently did, but seven months ago I went natural and I don’t see myself ever relaxing again. However, if someone makes the conscious choice to relax their own hair then I’m not going to go in their face and tell them they’re ashamed of their race, because that’s stupid.

I don’t recommend relaxing the head of a child though, because it burns and you’re putting damaging poisenous chemicals on a child’s head, but wait until they’re a little older and can make the decision for themselves.

Well , I’m Jamaican-American and all my life I’ve had long hair & throughout elementary and middle school I had to deal with ” Is that your hair ? ” , ” Are you mixed ? “, ” Your hair is so nice and curly ….. Is it real ? ” ETC. & I recently cut my hair and wear an afro & I constantly get asked why I dont get a perm like the other black girls and it gets to me but, what can I say people are ignorant enough to believe every black person in the world has to have “nappy” hair. So, In my opinion it’s whatever you please although, the stero-type is that black women can’t have long hair of their own without it being a weave.

White women straighten their hair too. *confused face* There is nothing wrong with wanting to straighten your hair. I don’t see how it is any different for a black woman to straighten her hair. That makes no sense. How you want your hair is a personal choice. I like to have mine straight because it’s easier to handle, instead of big poofy curls in my face.

I am happy to have thick hair because it looks cool. But I do not like the curls all of the time. It is awesome to have a choice in what you can do with your hair.

So, it is alright for black women to straighten their hair. There is nothing wrong with it.

It’s your hair, you can do what you want.

it’s too general of a question. what about clothes and makeups? 

I really loooove black afros.
just sayin. I wish I had one. but I’m too white and my hair is too slick to ever be one.
Maybe your friends wish they had hair like yours.

please, hair is hair. change it according to your own preference! (although i do think, ideally, that everyone should learn to embrace their natural beauty more rather than change to fit any style.) i think it depends on the reasoning: if you’re doing it to fit in or if you’re doing it because you yourself like the look. (A side note: I think dreads are the most beautiful hairstyle in the world, when they’re kept clean and maintained well. Search Idan Raichel on Google: he’s an Israeli musician with dreads and I have a huge crush on him. A beautiful man with beautiful hair!)

The reason this is such a big deal is because of other ways “minorities” have been pressured into westernization (via cosmetic propaganda, in this case): the recent trend of asians getting plastic surgery on their eyes to add folds of their eyelids (to try to look more “white”), black skin bleachers (again, to try to look more “white”), etc. This pertains to the ways Anglo-Saxons have, throughout history, raped the cultures of non-whites and pressed westernization upon them, trying to give them more Anglo-Saxon characteristics (I really shouldn’t even need to give examples, for you’ve likely read about it all before: the Hawaiians, the Native Americans, the blacks, etc.). It’s just another facet of a controversial topic that’s been in the news for a very long time, not only for blacks but for every minority.

I think it’s really up to you. I love the afro though! (x Wish I could try it, but my hair’s just flat. Maybe I’ll try a wig on haha

It’s your hair, do what you want to do with it

I don’t think it’s fair that other races can dye and perm their hair and it’s not a problem, but when Black women relax it it means we’re ashamed

A lot of black women don’t have the progressive view on hair that you do. They don’t see it at just hair that can be relaxed, cut off, worn natural, relaxed again. Most black women are very attached to their hair and kind of see it as one or the other. Either you’re natural or relaxed – there’s no middle ground.

I’m not going to lie, I feel more women should wear their hair natural. A lot of black women claim that natural hair is hard to deal with when they’re relaxed hair isn’t even healthy. I think it would teach a lot of women that it’s just hair – just dead protein, and not the hoopla we make it up to be.

But as long as you’re taking care of your hair and not taking it too seriously – you can do whatever you like with it.

My hair is natural and I would love to dye it blonde. I could only imagine flack I would take for that.

i am from the carribean and so my hair is naturally curly also , i prefer the natural look but

straightened , it’s just as pretty

ignore what everyone says…I bet you would look great with natural curls…I have three daughters one with very curly hair straightens it each day, the other two with straight hair wish for curls!