what do you like about being natural?

[ShiShiPooPoo]

Its simplicity. Its versitility. The way it feels when I sink my fingers into it. The way it turns into tiny perfect circles on the shower walls (though I do be cussing trying to wash them off!) The density - it feels ALIVE. It makes me feel proud, oddly enough. It's unabashedly constantly beautiful, without needing to be changed, and I can't say that about any other part of me, with honesty.

*smiles* I love my hair.

This statement made me smile. Beautifully stated.

 

[inthepink]

I love having versatility with my hair. I can wear it straight or curly. There are struggles with both but it definitely makes things interesting. I like being able to wash my hair daily if I want b/c I can just put it in a ponytail.

I really like not having to spend 80 bucks every two months to get my hair relaxed and wonder if that's the time it's not going to work well. Or is it going to burn like crazy and give me scabs? Or oops, did I scratch?

I began transitioning from natural hair in 2003 and became completely natural in 2004. So, it's been 3.5 years natural for me and though I have my moments where I think I should relax again - I am enjoying being natural and getting to know my natural hair.

I must admit that I do miss some things about my relaxed hair though!

 

[UrbanHeiress]

This thread is so encouraging

 

[sunflower]

I have been natural for five years. I don't feel like I'm hiding anymore. I love that I can go out in the rain and not worry about my naps, I welcome my naps. I love that I'm showing my daughters that they have beautiful, unique hair. My daughters are so proud of their curls and when I see their pride I feel like I had something to do with that by going natural.

 

[Zsazsa6275]

I love having versatility with my hair. I can wear it straight or curly. There are struggles with both but it definitely makes things interesting. I like being able to wash my hair daily if I want b/c I can just put it in a ponytail.

I really like not having to spend 80 bucks every two months to get my hair relaxed and wonder if that's the time it's not going to work well. Or is it going to burn like crazy and give me scabs? Or oops, did I scratch?

I began transitioning from natural hair in 2003 and became completely natural in 2004. So, it's been 3.5 years natural for me and though I have my moments where I think I should relax again - I am enjoying being natural and getting to know my natural hair.

I must admit that I do miss some things about my relaxed hair though!

ITA with the bolded! When I get my hair straightened at the shop, I can walk to the bowl scratching away in my naps without worrying about the aftermath!

Today it rained and I took my sweet time walking from my car to inside my job as it drizzled. Every time I can do that really makes me feel good! With my relaxer, I was like Flo-Jo racing for cover!

Other things I like:

I can switch up wearing my hair curly or straightened.
I can work out and sweat up a storm without worrying about my edges.
I am no longer psychologically chained to thinking my worthiness it reaffirmed after every touch up.
My hair seemed thicker when I first went natural.

I've been natural for 12 years.

 

[Rumplestiltskin]

International travel is truly CAREFREE for me now

Theres no questioning protein/moisture= its always MOISTURE

When I was relaxed my hair couldnt take this much moisture..Im happy

 

[AvaSpeaks]

Even though it's still short, I love my natural hair!!

I love it when the relaxed haters look at my hair and wish that they could get their hair as straight as mine without a blow dryer or a relaxer

I love it when the natural haters look at my hair and wish that their hair could be as straight as mine and still be natural

I love it when the non-Black haters look at my hair and wish they had hair like mine and could do the styles I do with my hair but they can't wned:

 

[AvaSpeaks]

Even though it's still short, I love my natural hair!!

I love it when the relaxed haters look at my hair and wish that they could get their hair as straight as mine without a blow dryer or a relaxer

I love it when the natural haters look at my hair and wish that their hair could be as straight as mine and still be natural

I love it when the non-Black haters look at my hair and wish they had hair like mine and could do the styles I do with my hair but they can't wned:

And before anybody get offended let me explain where I'm coming from since my words ALWAYS get read twisted

The relaxed haters are all those sistas who would say to my face that they would go natural if their hair was like...but then tell other people behind my back that "she's lying, ain't no dark-skinned girl got hair like that"

The natural haters are the ones that say that my hair ain't really natural either. Because "real natural hair ain't straight like that"...but then they tell me later that they wish their natural hair was a looser texture, like mine

The non-Black haters are self-explanatory :eatme:

 

[Sunshine0801]

I love what my natural hair represents. It is unapologetically and unabashedly real. It is beautiful, as it is as God intended my hair to be. I love representing the realness of Black hair, and being an insipiration to others by being a walking demonstration of a Black woman who embraces the beauty of her kinky hair.

I love the fact that my hair is much fuller and has much more density than when I was relaxed. I love my big hair and the softness and lushness of it. I have also love its length. When I was relaxed, my hair was an inch or so past my shoulders, but never grew past that. Plus, it was thin, see through, and damaged. Now, my hair is healthy and BSL. I am excited to see what new lengths I can reach with my natural hair.

I love being able to walk with my honey in the rain without embarassing us both by running and ducking for cover at the sight of sprinkles. Similarly, I love being able to go swimming without having to devote hours to doing my hair afterwards.

I get very bored with my hairstyles, so I love the versatility of my natural hair. Twists, braids, bantu knots, twist/braid/bantu knot outs, rollerset, high/low puff, cornrows, flat twists, half twist/cornrows, half outs... the possibilities are endless. And the best part of all is that I can rock these styles with my own hair and look fly!

I love my natural hair.

 

[1god1]

I love having versatility with my hair. I can wear it straight or curly. There are struggles with both but it definitely makes things interesting. I like being able to wash my hair daily if I want b/c I can just put it in a ponytail.

I really like not having to spend 80 bucks every two months to get my hair relaxed and wonder if that's the time it's not going to work well. Or is it going to burn like crazy and give me scabs? Or oops, did I scratch?

I began transitioning from natural hair in 2003 and became completely natural in 2004. So, it's been 3.5 years natural for me and though I have my moments where I think I should relax again - I am enjoying being natural and getting to know my natural hair.

I must admit that I do miss some things about my relaxed hair though!

I agree..the bolded part was going to be my answer!! I didn't realize how thick my natural hair was before I relaxed it when I was around 12/13. If I knew then what I know now...I would've never had my hair relaxed. Like you said, I love the versatility. I no longer run when it's raining...because i wash/coWash my hair every other day. The rain is no longer the devil. LOL. I am going to wash and straighten my hair tomorrow, but this is just to check the growth. Then Tues, it will be back to twists and braids. I am around 90% natural....

 

[NewYorkgyrl]

BUMPING!!!

For inspiration for the newly naturals and transitioners!!!!

 

[Southernbella.]

Great thread!

I've been natural about 5 days, so I don't have a lot to add.Even so, I already know that I love it.

I love being natural because...

-I can get my hair wet every day. Seriously, this is a luxury for me. Getting into the shower without even thinking about whether my hair is covered, if it will frizz, if I will sweat, etc. Letting the water run over my hair and scalp is heavenly, and I get to do it every day, and I don't even have to think about what I'll do afterwards, because I do nothing!

-I haven't had to style it or mess with it in any way since my BC. I just pamper it...DC, protein treatment, finger combing, scalp massaging, etc. And every time I do something to it, my napps/kinks/coils just look better.

-I feel closer to myself. There are no pretenses. I had to confront myself head-on without the long hair to hide me or shield me.

-I am setting an example for my daughter and son. My daughter will know that she is beautiful just as she is, and my son will know that black women are beautiful whether their hair is kinky or straight.

-I have more time to devote to other things *coughnailscough* Washing, DCing, blowdry/flatiron/rollersetting or whatever took about 4-5 hours out of my day.

-I love that one day soon, my natural hair will be just as long as my relaxed hair was, and I'll have more options with it.

That's all for now, but as I continue on my journey, I'm sure I'll find more reasons to love it!

 

[santwon]

I think what I love about it the most is no new growth. I just see a bigger and bigger fro. I don't have to worry about which procedure I'ma do when or should I wait x many days/weeks/months. I just get to learn about it and style as I go on.

I've also loved the things that natural hair can do. It's been a very fun and liberating experience for me.

 

[bettytoo]

i been natural for 5 years.i like not having to worry my hair will get overprocessed. don't have to get a touch up or a burnt scalp.i hate sitting and blown my hair straight. it never goesn't as straight as the hair dresser get it. why bother. and i don't have to avoid the rain

 

[AsTheCurlzTurns]

This is such an inspiring and encouraging thread!!! To the OP, thanks so much for starting this!! I'm not natural per se, YET, but am in the transitioning stage and I just wanted to say that all of your comments about being natural makes me feel good that I've made the right choice to transition to natural. Some of your posts was so genuinely sweet, that my eyes started watering up. I can't wait until I'm completely natural and be able to give my own opinions about being natural, and as carefree as I feel now, I think the benefits of being natural will benefit me in the long run. All of you who are natural, KUDOS to you all for being brave to do it, and also a heartfelt thank you for giving us who's transitioning, a role model to look up to. THANK YOU!!!

 

[Valerie]

I realise I never really liked relaxing at all. The only chemical treatments is the highlights and it is very easy to look after. I like doing flat twists, twists, bunti knots.

 

[frankie]

I've been natural for 16 days now!!!

I thought I'd be a pressed natural, but the first day I saw my fro [I chopped as I straightened it, so I didn't get the full effect that day]...I fell in love. I kindly put the blowdryer and flatiron away, and did something else with that 1.5-2 hours.

I feel free, I don't have to style it...it's naturally stylish!!!

 

[sonce]

and how long have you been natural?

Everything. I've been natural for four years.

 

[bLackButtaFly]

I like having so many styles to choose from, and being able to get great results from styles I tried when relaxed and had bad results.

I like...getting know my hair, and the longer and stronger it gets the more fun I can have with it, and it's really a pleasure

I like...the hair's new found health and thickness and shine and body adn how soft to the touch it is. I always thought I just had brittle hard hair.

I LOVE to see my hair when I do my length checks and it's grown so much, and it looks so full... it's really awesome considering where I started.

I had my last relaxer 8/2004, and I bc'd 5/2005. May's my 3 year anniversary!!

 

[trinigul]

I love being natural because I love me. This is God's perfection and not feeling in the mood to tamper with it right now.

I'd never say I wouldn't get a perm again because I said I would never cut my locks. Plus there are some beautifully relaxed/texlaxed heads on this board that make me go hmmmmmm.

And yes I'm just still revelling in my 2 minute hairstyle switch last weekend. Had to go to a party. I took out my two french braids (which I wear practically everyday because they're so nice, neat, easy and I can leave them in for a week if I consistently hit the sack with a stockingcap) into two beautiful, cottony-soft afro puffs. Couldn't tell my 40 yo behind a THANG!

I love being natural because all you wonderful posters have given me a thread to go stalk fotkis for new hairstyles.

Wish I was as generous as you Fotkiers to document and provide photos, but just don't have the time. But I'm sure glad you do. If you spot me on the street looking fly, it's because of you and an ode to you.

 

[happycakes]

I have been natural for about one year now. I like knowing that whatever hair grows from my head from this point on is the hair that I get to keep.

No relaxer or stylist can take away my length and it is up to me to retain my length with protective styles, etc.

I am looking forward to retaining another 6 inches every year!!

 

[RainbowCurls]

- It's easier
- No more scalp burn
- My hair takes a lot more abuse before breaking
- I can colour my hair without it breaking
- It's more 'me' than straight hair
- Frizz isn't a major issue
- Water isn't the enemy any more. Which, living in England, is great

 

[lsw29]

I have been natural about a year now. I love the flexibility the most. I can go straight one day and curly the next day. I also like that I am not concerned about things like going swimming or my hair getting wet from the rain or shower. I love that I look different than most of the people around me when I do my wash and go. It has not always been a easy journey but as I grow and continue to learn about my hair it has gotten a lot easier and it is definitely fun.

 

[wonderstar]

Been natural all my life.
I like the fact that I don't have to worry about doing touch-ups.
I love the fact that I can have long hair today with a press and a curly shrunken fro tomorrow after a wash.

 

[gradygirl]

I have been natural since June 2007.
I love how thick my hair is.
My natural hair makes me different.
My hair is stronger, grows faster, and is more versatile.
I LOOVE the that I dont see loads of hair all over the bathroom floor anymore.
I love the ease in taking care of it. My natural hair does not need alot of attention. I just keep it moist and it is happy.

 

[Tenacious]

I've stopped relaxing since Feb 2005
I've been natural since June 2006

I like that my natural black hair color has returned. My color is richer and shinier than before.
I like that I don't have to deal with jagged, straight ends and I suffer from very little breakage in comparison to relaxed hair.
It doesn't require so much maintenance, whereas for me, relaxed hair meant that you had to do something to it every day.
It's so much softer and fuller; when I get my hair blown out at a salon, it has more body and fullness than I'd ever get with a relaxer.
It grows like a weed.
I like how I can just wash my hair and put it in a ponytail.
I can create more curly styles.
And since I've stopped relaxing, I haven't had any dandruff or a dry, itchy scalp. I haven't had dandruff since 2005.

 

[LadyKaypnyc]

I love being able to wet my hair whenever I want. I like being able to go from kinky, to curly (a la twistout), to straight!

 

[jevetta]

1. Hair always smells good
2. No itchy, scabbed, of flaking scalp
3. Thick ends
4. Longest hair of my life Jeve

 

[tailormade84]

i like that i can take a shower without wearing a shower cap (enhances my sexy factor lol)

i also like that I can walk through misty rain and I no longer have to wrap my hair up every night (i was horrible at wrapping my hair, but im great at twisting hair )

the best thing: big hair

its the simple pleasures

 

[MochaEyeCandy]

I everything about my natural hair!