Welcome to Gaia! ::

...Why not do it the right way?

While this question can refer to sorts of things,
I'm talking about hair.

Let's be real: our hair does not grow straight. It never has, it never, ever will. Our hair is unique and it sets us apart from all of the other races. And not all of our hair grows the same as a people, we could have so many different textures, even on our own heads. My hair, for one, grows in spirals.. right in the top of my head. The curl pattern is a bit looser around the edges, but I've read/heard thta it can take up to 8 months to see your true pattern..

Our hair is not "ugly". It's not "hard to manage". It takes special care, and you just have to keep it moisturized, and you can't use the same sorts of products that mostly everyone else uses (shampoos with laureth sulfates, alcohols, mineral oils, etc). You should use natural products like pure, unrefined Shea Butter from Africa, and all sorts of herbs. You can even mix home products to make your own shampoos and moisturizers, and you get to use essential oils and all sorts of things. It can get pricey, and some products can be hard to find, but you can always look to the internet to get what you need (sites to order from, etc), and there are even special sites like Qhemets Biologics and Oyin Handmade that make special products designed for natural hair care, and they're all at your finger tips. There are even special forums you can attend to get tips and advice from ladies growing their hair naturally, and you can even go on YouTube and look up all sorts of videos by ladies with their hair in their natural state, and product reviews.

I just feel that.. if we're going to embrace who we are, and how God made us (well, thats what I believe-- and that's what I tell anyone who has a problem with how my hair will be-- not sure about you all), why are we straightening our hair with detrimental chemical fire creams/perms/relaxers to look more like .. another race?

Think about it..

Opinions and discussion welcome.
Malicious/ill-meant arguments are not.
3nodding

Well...I think many of us have seen and replied to topics of this sort already. I personally don't have anything new to say about the topic. xP

Anywho, I think too that this guild is unfortunately very inactive at this point. sad

lawl.

Yes, I wish the guild were more active too. We have so many members that we could really have a ball here.

Yea, I remember a long time ago when we didn't have this many members (but we still had a lot), I took the time to PM everyone to let them know they should start posting. But I was also having contests and stuff here, so people wanted to post to participate in the contests.

I'm not sure why people keep joining if they aren't going to post here, like...ever. xd Hopefully things pick up soon.

i think it's a good thing to get back to your 'roots' and go natural with your hair. but i also see that black women have been doing creative [and sometimes destructive] things with their hair since the beginning of time. i mean, our hair doesn't grow in braids, but black women have been braiding their hair since they were put on this earth. i consider braids a natural style.

i also think it's been kinda engrained in black women to do different things to their hair. i honestly just can't keep to one style [right now i wear it natural, but it's a weird length, so i keep it wrapped up]. and all the women in my family are always changing their hairstyles.

i understand and think that it's unfortunate that a lot of black girls may feel that their natural hair is ugly. i also believe that a lot of girls hair really is 'hard to manage' [i'm one of them]. but for me, it's a choice of style and wanting to look different. there's a lot of ways to wear your hair naturally, but there are other ways to look different too. for me, getting a relaxer isn't meant for my hair to be more manageable, or mean that i hate my naturally nappy hair, it's just a different way to do it. 3nodding

I agree

IA with the OP. I thought my hair was the hardest thing to work with ever. Hours were spent trying to get it bone straight and flowing. I would be so upset when it reverted and equated that with it not being good enough. Then I sucked it up and went natural and it's the easiest thing to work with ever. Really, it's not that hard once you get the hang of it.

The fact is, most of us were taught how to take care of pressed or chemically altered hair (and looking at alot of black females not all that well). Most people don't even take the time to work with their hair. One little frustration and it's back to the lye, even if the hair is damaged. If we take the time to learn about basic hair care, it won't be that hard. And yes OP, those hair sites are a big help.

I share the same personal opinion. Back When i had long hair, I never even thought about straightening it. My 'fro was apart of me (subjectively as well). the end It was way to high maintainence( My theory is that the longer it is the harder it is to manage) so I cut it. I wish It wasn't as hard to manage, I loved having an afro.

Anyways! while I concurr With your original statement, I don't think It applys to everyone. I think that those who straighten there hair arent thinking about Racial Pride, I just think its a personal preferance. I don't think our hair would ever look like any other races, Straight or natural.

our hair is much thicker then most other races hair, and it really shows, even in straight hair. the texture, thickness, and flexability of our hair is visable (in most accounts)

I also believe that this is kind of parallel to whites getting tans. I'm pretty sure that most whites are proud to be white, They just want a darker skin tone because...it looks good? its resistant to sun? it gives good luck? I don't know, Whatever the reason.

All in all, while My personal views go with yours, I don't think that the hair reflects racial pride in those who just like hair that way. No matter how much its permed, or relaxed, our hair is still very distinctive.