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!
