Hair can be such a complex topic for women of all ages, especially black women. In college, we often do not have the time to fuss, wrestle or stress over our precious tresses. Sometimes, it can be even more difficult to determine our true hair texture and what it needs. Ethnic hair can come in different shades, textures and lengths, and there is no limit to what we can do with our hair. Of course, it may sound crazy that we do not know the very thing on top of our heads, but how much do we really know?
Natural hair. Photo by Matt Jackson
Relaxed hair. Photo by Matt Jackson
Being Natural
Natural hair is slowly but surely making a positive comeback within the Black community. Yet, there is always constant battle between going natural or using chemicals, curly vs. straight and even facing the ridiculous and untrue stereotypes are being placed. Many naturals are declared as being “too nappy”, or just downright hateful towards relaxed women, but this is not all true. There are plenty of reasons to love being natural, and these two students could not agree more.
Trevawn Scott, freshman and pre-biology major has been natural for over a year a half. Inspired by her mother and sister to go the natural route, she is proud to sport her natural curls. However, she does encounter pros and cons. “Your hair grows a lot faster and healthier, but it is a lot of maintenance and you get grease everywhere,” she said. Her top favorite products include natural African Shea Butter and Garnier Fructis conditioners. When asked about her favorite styles, she couldn’t help but reply “bushy hair and big afros.”
Vanessa A., a sophomore majoring in chemistry, has been natural since she was born and doesn’t plan on changing anytime soon. “I wash it out every day,” she says about her morning and nightly routines. “Just use conditioner, rinse and put lotion on it…at night, I just put it in a cap.” A common mistake that she sees with those going natural is that people don’t stand firm behind it.
Transitioning
Anyone can tell you that transitioning is no walk in the park and requires a lot of decision-making. Hadassah McGill, a junior English major, has often played between being relaxed and natural throughout her adolescence. Currently, she is contemplating the use of another chemical for her hair, but right now, she is relaxed. “I have been going back and forth during middle school when I played sports, because it was a hassle trying to do anything else,” she explained. “After that, I was in high school and pretty much relaxed it for aesthetics. Then my senior year I went natural again. Until my sophomore year at Appalachian State, I had relaxed it again and now, I am relaxed, with some chemicals in my hair as well.”
As far as the good and the bad, McGill loves to create new looks herself, yet the “coming-out phase” is the worst. “You have the combination between the two and you’re wondering when this is going to be over with,” said McGill. Her favorite styles are braids, twists, curls and straight hair. Essential Oils by KeraCare and a hair gel called Edges are among her preferred products. As far as tools, she likes rollers, blow dryers, flat irons and flexi-rods. Her method for helping her transition is braiding and she would never recommend anyone using weaves to transition. “I feel as though it would do more damage than help so I braid it and make it look curly,” she said about the process. “And when it is in a comfortable length, I cut off the relaxed ends and trim here and there instead of doing the ‘big chop’ (cutting all of the relaxed hair off at one time).” Whether one wants to go natural or not, she advises to try different things and be versatile. “My speech was for the longest, ‘Go natural, yes!’ she said. “But when I am in the relaxed state, it changes. So, it depends on the situation.”
Relaxed (Or Chemically-Treated)
Relaxers can allow women to have more manageability and ease when it comes to styling their hair, but also, there comes breakage and many other precautions to take when using chemicals as well. We often hear the street term, “perm” when referring to a relaxer, but “relaxer” is the politically correct one to use.
Freshmen Tiara Jones and Lexxus Stuart shared their views on being relaxed day-in and day out. Both ladies started the use of relaxers when they were at the tender ages of 7 or 8, discussing the effect it had on them throughout the course of their lives, as well as today. “My mom started doing it for me, but my aunt is beautician and she started doing mine at that age when everyone else started,” said Stuart. “She did it and I didn’t know that I had straight hair.”
Jones expressed a similar sentiment. “It was not my choice; it was my mom’s choice,” said Jones. “She always got me the Just for Me relaxers and that was what I became accustomed to. Honestly, I’m not against perms, but I wonder how long my hair could have been without one.”
Her favorite products are hair lotions and greases that keep her hair moisturized, especially products from the hair care line, Dudley. Jones is also a “curl girl” meaning she loves to use curling irons as well as flat irons. Right now, she wears extensions, but she either uses flexi-rods to curl her hair at night (so she could unravel them in the morning), or wraps it up, putting it in a bonnet. Lexxus prefers Tresemme shampoos and conditioners, Hair Food and Pink Hair Lotion as some of her daily styling products. Her favorite tools are blow dryers and flat irons, but she wraps her hair daily and avoids the overuse of heat as much as possible. One big point that both Jones and Stuart warn is don’t leave that perm in too long!
As far as natural hair on the opposite sex, both ladies like a guy that keeps his mane maintained. “Keep your hair greased,” said Jones. “I don’t like dandruff on guys.”
The Point of It All
No matter whether you are natural, transitioning or relaxed, hair can be beautiful and healthy, no matter the texture, color or length you have. You just need to educate yourself about what you hair truly wants and needs. The true and unifying theme amongst all the women featured in this article is that being natural is God-given and it is what you are truly born with, yet other types of hair can be loved, too. Most importantly, hair is hair, and not only you should love it, but love yourself as well!