Wednesday, September 30, 2009

You're not really natural because you color your hair...

You know what?

People get on my nerves. Seriously. A few days ago an associate from mine told me that to some I may not be considered natural because I do not wear my natural hair color.

I've heard of these claims before on natural hair care forums. My opinion?

It's ridiculous.

You cannot compare altering hair texture to altering hair color.

Many years ago Black women altered their hair texture to make it "more manageable" or "more attractive" or "more European-like". We can argue all day WHY Black women damaged their beautiful natural kinks and traded them for straight hair. But that isn't the issue.

How can dying my hair light brown or red or orange or black or purple make my hair unnatural? My hair color is unnatural but I STILL rock my natural texture. Therefore I'm natural.

See, this is the problem with labels. They confine you to a tight little box with very little room to move. For the past 4 years I have considered my hair to be "natural"....yet there are others who say that because I dye my hair I am not natural.

Ain't that something?

I say "Screw 'em". I define myself and I proudly adopt my natural-ism. I could care less who thinks less of me and my hair because I choose to color it.

I urge other naturals to define themselves as well. Don't let people put you in a box. Whether you color your natural hair or straighten your natural hair or even cover your natural hair with wigs and weaves---if you still love, accept and take care of your unaltered hair, then, baby....

You're natural.

Rock on!

11 comments:

KiKiB said...

I KNOW THATS RIGHT BOO! LUV IT!people always got something to say something negative. get on my nerves too.

PhePhi said...

my sister-in-law told me the same thing. she wears weaves occasionally but usually sports her natural hair, though she presses it straight. she told me that "technically" i'm not natural because i dyed my hair & that she is more natural than i am. all i could say is "WHATEVA."

max said...

oh lord, i've heard this too. i've also heard that i am not natural because i wear my hair straight sometimes...you know what i say to people who think like that? pick up a book because you clearly have too much time on your hands.

Unknown said...

Natural hair nazis drive me nuts. I love hair boards but they full of people who think their rules are the end all of rules. Their are no rules to how YOU do your natural. J

msfullroller said...

Hun, aint THAT the truth!! If we could get past this surface "labeling" that serves to divide and waste precious energy that is desperately needed elsewhere, we MAY start to move forward.

Anonymous said...

the fact of the matter is, i am NOT afraid of rain. i am NOT afraid to scratch my scalp for fear of it burning when i get a perm in the next few days. i dyed my locs 9 months in because i love the look of locs with lighter tips. i am natural.

i hate when my hair bothers people so much that they feel that they have to make negative comments to make themselves feel better. to each his own. at the end of the day, its just a whole bunch of dead skin cells anyway.

Lady Kinnks said...

yeah i don't agree either... i'm natural even tho I apply color. I am natural because I choose to embrace my natural texture :o)

B said...

I'm lovin' yall's inputs!

Bsquared86 said...

i'm natural and have always been natural because i said i am lmao!

Tiffany B said...

Britt, love this post b/c I am struggling with what to do with my hair. I don't want to do the perms but prefer wearing my hair straight (ie via press or weave). However my mom, who is loc-ed, frowns up everytime I even mention a press and tells me why I should loc. I understand her reasoning, but I don't see why I should wear my hair a certain way that she prefers for herself if I don't prefer that for myself! Sorry for the venting but thanks for reassuring me that I am still a natural woman no matter how I choose to wear my natural hair :)

B said...

Tiffany, darlin'....it's your crown. Wear it how you want it. :)