Natural Hair is Good Hair: Sistas going natural

In my adopted hometown, Washington, DC -- Mocha City if not Chocolate City anymore --  it is common to see fly sistas, of all hues, majestically embracing and sporting natural hair styles.

These sisters feel liberated to enhance and accentuate their naturally good hair.They wear: locs, twists, fros, braids, buns, updos etc.


Disclosure: I have nothing against sisters who wear hair styles that conform to Western culture standards. 

On the contrary: It's about choices.

 I am gratified that sisters have options. Once upon a time, in the not so distant past, it was taboo for black women -- with mainstream ambitions -- to wear natural hair styles (noted exception: the 1960's era).

Sisters felt compelled by family, community, black males, and corporate America to conform to Westernized hair care sensibilities.This
meant they had to relax their hair. 


Funny or ironic thing is: to so-call relax their hair sisters have to apply a heavy dose of stress to their hair and scalp via the infamous perm. 


Natural hair is not only more healthy, it is more beautiful and versatile.


In this spirit of self-acceptance/self-validation, here are some tips for making the transition from relaxed hair to natural compliments of Essence Magazine:

So you've finally decided to stop relaxing your hair and go au naturale! But first things first. Do you plan on "transitioning" (i.e., gradually growing out your perm) or going for "the big chop" (snipping off your relaxed hair and starting over from scratch)?


Of course, there are pros and cons for each. If you transition, you'll get to keep your length but you'll have to deal with styling multi-textured tresses. If you do the big chop, you'll get rid of your relaxer in one fell swoop, but you might be left with only an inch of hair. read more


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