Unnatural Natural

In the last three or four years, Black women have left the relaxers on the shelves and in their beauticians’ cabinets to don their natural hair texture.  The term nappy has been replaced with coils, curl pattern, and maybe kinky.  If the word 'nappy' is spoken, it’s a term of endearment and no longer a term of a jacked up head.

Along with the movement of natural hair comes the movement of natural products on the hair.  Natural oils and juices mixed up to give the natural hair a softer texture and proper moisture.

Fewer and fewer Black women are doing less to fit into the European look world.  They have stopped using a hot comb or skin and tissue eating chemicals to get their locks straight to keep a curl or nap out of sight.  Occasionally, the flat iron is used from time to time to give that straight hair look without using a chemical on natural hair. 

Word to the wise.  If transitioning to natural hair, be careful of flat ironing.  Make sure that the flat iron is not too hot.  Also take note that the natural products mixed with the natural hair texture may produce conditions where flat iron use will permanently straighten the hair - preventing the hair strands to return to their natural curl pattern.  So when the new growth of hair comes in, the ends will be straight while the new growth is in the natural curl pattern causing for maintenance and styling challenges. 

Just because flat ironing didn’t cause permanent straightening of the hair before, doesn’t mean that it won’t happen. All it takes is one time for damage to occur. 

Once the natural curl has been permanently damaged - to be forever straightened, there are only two things that can be done.  Wear the hair in a style such as a twist out, braids or under a wig until the new growth grows out enough to clip the damaged straightened ends OR just do a big chop* as soon as possible.

Applying heat, coloring or chemicals is unnatural.  Mixing unnatural with natural hair and/or with natural products may not be a good idea.  If you want to keep your voluminous natural mane healthy and beautiful, tread carefully when considering heat or coloring.   Even when applied by the best of the best stylists, irreversible damage can occur.

Check out these pictures of damaged natural hair.

http://www.socurlysokinkysostraight.com/tips-and-resources/ - underneath the caption “Beware……..”.

http://www.naturalhairrules.com/ahhh-heat-damage/

Peace.

N

*Term used when cutting off chemically treated or damaged hair at the end of the new growth while transitioning to natural hair.