“Wild,” “exotic” and “full of life” are words that describe the new trend among African-American women and their hair today. When black women decide to go natural, it is often one of the most exciting, terrifying and life-changing experiences for them.
For generations, the natural state of African-American hair has been stigmatized as nappy, unkempt and unprofessional. However, black women are owning their curly kinky locs— and it’s trending.
“I really love my natural hair. I finally feel like I have an identity,” said Ayana White, a junior studio art major at Georgia State. “It’s like when you see me, that’s who I am.”
Becoming a natural entails learning a new hair vocabulary. Terms like “the big chop” refer to completely chopping off all chemically proced hair and generally sporting a low hair cut or mini afro, known to most naturals as a TWA (teenie weenie afro).
Biology major Yasmin Delfor explained how she transitioned from permed, or chemically relaxed hair, to eventually doing the big chop.
“I did [the transition and the big chop]. I kind of transitioned with sew-ins and then cut the perm off,” Delfer said.
The story behind why black women “go natural” differs from person to person, but many of them agreed that the main reason was for the health of their hair. Black women are taught to “relax” their hair from a young age, by using a cream-based chemical that breaks down the natural curl pattern of the hair to make it straight.
However, this chemical can be very damaging, which is why some women decide to trade in their straight tresses for a kinkier, curly hairdo.
“I heard that without chemical relaxers, your hair grows healthier and it grows faster,” junior Jessica Mitchell said.
She made the decision to go natural two years ago.
There is debate about using a relaxer versus going natural in the black community, but some students felt like there should not be so much disagreement.
“I feel like to each his own. However, I feel like a lot of people are knocking naturals because they are embracing themselves…as if we have something against them,” White said.
According to Knight, “Just like the color of our skin, our hair comes in different variations. Our hair textures are not just one mold. [All] black is beautiful.”
Business major Jessica Johnson choose to wear her nature coif in a curly half wig that closely resembles her natural curl pattern.
“I chose to be natural for the health of my hair,” Johnson said. “I chose this style to limit damage to my hair.”
The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies recently held a panel discussion on how African-American women are being perceived in the workplace. Natural hair implies wearing your hair in an un chemically altered state. It does not mean showing up to class or a job without proper care and grooming.
In exploring their new, natural hair textures African-American women have had to learn how to maintenance their new dos. As women began exploring age old hair care tips from family or re-visiting natural pommades learned from childhood, a bond was built on the relearning of how to care for natural hair.
Although other women choose to wear their natural hair, it does not mean that people who wear chemical relaxers are wrong or should quit. Every women views beauty in a different way, and going natural may not be the best fit for every woman’s lifestyle.
“I don’t really have a point of view [on getting relaxers],” Knight said. “But I will say that going natural is not for everyone. You have to be committed to going natural and be willing to do the work to keep it healthy.”
