I gotta reach these hair goals/The naturals r catching up!

[ImFree27]

I think I'm as confused as everyone else...are you saying that for some women, natural hair is becoming a fashion accessory as opposed to a personal decision like it is for most of the women on this site? And you feel the need to have healthy relaxed hair because there's pressure to go natural if you have unhealthy relaxed hair?

This is what I think she is saying, but who knows what she means, it really doesnt make any sense, just grow your hair, natural or relax

 

[HappyHairDreams]

i still dont get how she got from A to B then...and i dont think i will.

it must depend then...i am in a city but not a large one so this miiiiight be it. and if natural hair is a fashion statement, is that bad? she seems like she's panicking or something.

Well I also have no clue how she got from A to B either. That's why I gave her the benefit of the doubt and asked questions. I think she was just having a hard time expressing herself.

I'm not sure she's saying natural hair as a fad is a bad thing. It seems like she was saying that woman doing it just for the look and not for the health of their hair was a bad thing? "Doing the right thing for all the wrong reasons" type thing? (OP feel free to further expain yourself).
And the think the panicking part was supposed to be a joke? She explained that part earlier.

I do think that location is determinative in how "popular" or common natural hair is. North or South, big city, small city, large or small black population does make a difference. For example, I'm 23 and live in NY, most of my friends are natural. Yet I mention the idea of it to my 35 year old cousin living in ATL and she acts like i was talking about dying my hair army green...

 

[Nightingale]

Umm, I'm going to try to interpret as well...

It seems as if everyone is going natural because it is the popular thing to do. Natural hair is healthier (?, can't think of a better word) and even those who cannot take care of their hair can get to shoulder length. As an informed relaxed head the OP would like to get her tresses past SL and prove that relaxed hair can grow just as quickly.

OP, this was my best guess. I have taken no offense to your post, just want to see if I'm understanding you.

 

[Prettyeyes]

I have no comment on the fad part.But OP meant that people who just BC'd are going to be SL soon and she wants to retain more length so they don't outgrow her. This is her fear. Let's be nice and reassure her it's not a race.

 

[lilsparkle825]

---- --- ----?

i know i'm a potty mouth, i got that one RIGHT away.

 

[lilsparkle825]

I have no comment on the fad part.But OP meant that people who just BC'd are going to be SL soon and she wants to retain more length so they don't outgrow her. This is her fear. Let's be nice and reassure her it's not a race.

i can do that...it's definitely not a race. if i see someone who BC'd around the same time as me, or conversely someone who transitioned about the same length of time as me, i'm gonna see whats up and encourage them and more than likely they will do the same for me. we-are-fam-uh-lee, ya know.

 

[PinkSkates]

I really don't undertand most of this post, but the one part of the OP that I do get is all good with me!
So even if your friends are going natural for superficial reasons (to keep up with the fads)...
at least they ARE going Natural and in time may genuinely come to love and find the beauty in their natural textured hair. At least they are willing to give it a shot and show the world their real natural hair. So let them do them and you do you...like others have said it's not a contest!

 

[vestaluv1]

Here's my on this...

 

[glamazon386]

Man, I hope this doens't offend anyone, but I think this whole natural hair thing is a fad for the "real world". Everyone is doing it, and HALF of them don't know diddly swat about hair care! They just thought it would look cool!

It's the new hottest do, and I feel the need to catch up. Either you ahve beautiful natural hair, or beautiful long relaxed hair! Natural hair is a beauty once it is cared for, and I feel like since I'm not rushing off to get a BC I need to AT LEAST get to my goal of APL soon and VERY VERY SOON lool! Soon the naturals are going to be SL and I'ma be STUCK with them! I'm not havin it!

Anyone else feel like this

Most relaxed heads don't know diddly squat about hair care either so what are you trying to say? That's the reason we're all here in the first place.

I do think some people are going natural because it's a fad but trust me it isn't the majority. Most people go natural so that they can have healthier hair without chemicals. I know that's why I did it.

It is a very big lifestyle change to cut off relaxed hair for short nappy hair. Nappy hair contains such a negative stigma in our society and on top of that being short? It is a big deal and that is why we need support. That is why it is a process and there are whole boards related to the topic. Maybe you do not understand because you are not natural or have not gone natural but please don't downgrade the experience.

 

[glamazon386]

This is what I'm sayin. I don't care who opposes, this natural thing for most is a fad. Maybe not on this site, because many do it for health reasons, but in teh real world it's the new thing. Susie and Kim just made the BIG chop so I will too. It's kute. .Just like it was in the 70s with our BAA and 80s with our Jheri Curls, everything makes a turn around. I feel like the going completely natural thing is a fad for 2009.

No pressure with being relaxed or unrelaxed. It's a preference just like natural heads. But I think after natural fad leaves, we will be on to another chic style.

I disagree! Why would somebody chop all their hair off because their friend did it? I'm sorry but that doesn't fly with me. I would not have chopped all my hair off and been bald headed and ridiculed because my best friend did it and thought it looked cute. NO. Natural hair is still unacceptable to the majority of the people in the US. And the majority of black women in the US are still RELAXED. Period. This board may make it seem like it's more half natural half relaxed but it's not.

And on top of that natural hair is not a style and it's been around for quite some time. Shoot the beginning of time. I have noticed an increasing number of naturals the past few years not just 2008. Before that Rihanna bob came back but the majority of the people I have spoken to (many people have asked me questions about my own hair and being natural even strangers on the street) for health reasons. Their hair is not growing or is damaged (because we already know that most black women think they cannot grow long hair period) so they would like to give the chemicals up and would like to know how to go about doing it. Many of us have been relaxed so long that we don't even know what our natural textures look like or how to care for it. It is a learning process. I have yet to meet anybody who wanted to go natural just because it is cute or the new "in" thing to do.

 

[DayStar]

i knew it

 

[hothair]

Ditto on all the above...
and I beg to differ with you that going natural is a trend...
I think it's very progressive...
I think more and more people are going green
in all areas of their lives and going natural is just
one of the many steps millions of women have decided
to take to be less dependent on chemical cosmetics.
Anyway... I find that having a positive attitude helps
me reach my goals... so just emit positive energy...
if you see someone's hair you admire, don't think
of it as competition... be inspired by it...
that's my two cents.

What she said although OP I have to say I see my sister's growth as "competition" which means I need to not slack on my hair care

 

[anon123]

I think i see what she's saying.

ALOT of people are learning about haircare these days. I think a few people IRL going natural dont know anything about haircare, but the beautifull thing is that once alot of these ladies are going natural, their learning about their hair, products, why or why not to relax...and whatever they decide in the future they now know more about their hair than they did before than just the same relax, wrap and products.


But anyway, i think what she's saying is that if her relaxed hair is going to be in the minority to beautfiull long natural hair that she's thinking is going to be comming up (ETA, that IS around), she atleast wants to get it her hair up to parr.

Im sure if there was a room full of 100 relaxed heads and anyone were natural, they would want their hair up and looking good (or vice versa)...if they cared anyway.

okay, okay, i think i got it. so, she's saying that going natural is a trend. in the sense that lots of people have done it more recently than in the past 20 or 30 years, i think that is true (though I hope it's not true in the sense that everyone will leave natural hair in a year or two). compare how many people on this board are newly natural (in the last 3 years or so) to how many people have only been newly relaxed. okay. so i think then she is also thinking of the bc as the primary way to go natural, so that most new naturals are starting off with shorter hair than what she has right now. okay. here's where i may be wrong, but i see a couple of ways she could be saying she feels about this.

the first is, she's thinking that since the new naturals started off with shorter hair than what she has and she sees it all growing around her, she's feeling like they are making faster progress than her and so she singled them out as a group because she thinks it is reliably a group that had short hair not too long ago. but they are passing her which means she's not doing as good a job of retention and so she feels like she's behind in the hair growing game. i'm not sure how the trendy women not knowing how to take care of their hair comes into play, but maybe she is saying that they don't know how to take care of their hair, so it grows but only to around shoulder length. and she, who knows how to take care of her hair, should easily pass them up for that length.

the second possibility, since she singled out naturals with a certain length instead of relaxed women with a certain length, is that somehow natural hair is more intimidating to her, like her relaxed hair has to be longer than a head of natural hair in order to compete in the pretty/stylish/impressive hair game.

did i get either of these right?

 

[Bint Yusef]

I really don't undertand most of this post, but the one part of the OP that I do get is all good with me!
So even if your friends are going natural for superficial reasons (to keep up with the fads)...
at least they ARE going Natural and in time may genuinely come to love and find the beauty in their natural textured hair. At least they are willing to give it a shot and show the world their real natural hair. So let them do them and you do you...like others have said it's not a contest!

Thank you! Even if a woman goes natural for a year and back to relaxed at least she gave her natural hair a shot, many arent that brave.

 

[talata]

Regardless, I hope you reach your hair goals, OP!



I still don't understand why it matters if natural hair is a fad or not. Is that a bad thing? Is one only supposed to go natural if they "mean" it?

You took the words right out of my mouth. I don't see why it's such a bad thing if she says its a fad especially when she's explained what she means by "fad". It's not that serious.

Anyways, I am going natural from July for a couple of months even though I don't "mean" it. Who knows, maybe I'll be inspired to transition.

Because,

Well, I don't blame her entirety. Natural hair is cool and hip, and beautiful!

Exactly!!!!

I'm in hot pursuit of a Fro Wig that i'll be rocking that looks like the photo below... I've gots to have it!!!! I can only dream of my real texture ever looking like this.

PLUS check out this thread and tell me being natural is not CHIC/HIP/STYLISH/FAD/TRENDY - whatever u want to call it :

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=226209

 

[discodumpling]

You see me? Hi Hater, hi hater

It's not that serious. Do you and be inspired by your sisters progress. Ultimately we're all here for the same reason.

 

[BeautifullySo]

okay, okay, i think i got it. so, she's saying that going natural is a trend. in the sense that lots of people have done it more recently than in the past 20 or 30 years, i think that is true (though I hope it's not true in the sense that everyone will leave natural hair in a year or two). compare how many people on this board are newly natural (in the last 3 years or so) to how many people have only been newly relaxed. okay. so i think then she is also thinking of the bc as the primary way to go natural, so that most new naturals are starting off with shorter hair than what she has right now. okay. here's where i may be wrong, but i see a couple of ways she could be saying she feels about this.

the first is, she's thinking that since the new naturals started off with shorter hair than what she has and she sees it all growing around her, she's feeling like they are making faster progress than her and so she singled them out as a group because she thinks it is reliably a group that had short hair not too long ago. but they are passing her which means she's not doing as good a job of retention and so she feels like she's behind in the hair growing game. i'm not sure how the trendy women not knowing how to take care of their hair comes into play, but maybe she is saying that they don't know how to take care of their hair, so it grows but only to around shoulder length. and she, who knows how to take care of her hair, should easily pass them up for that length.

the second possibility, since she singled out naturals with a certain length instead of relaxed women with a certain length, is that somehow natural hair is more intimidating to her, like her relaxed hair has to be longer than a head of natural hair in order to compete in the pretty/stylish/impressive hair game.

did i get either of these right?

I think this is it . I think using new naturals is just a way for the op to say "people who have recently cut their hair fairly short."

 

[TLC1020]

It seems many people are going natural and doing the big chop .. More power to them

 

[Mook's hair]

*ETA: alright i got my thoughts together now OP. let's put your post in reverse...

i think this whole relaxed thing is an outdated hairstyle for the "real world." everyone is doing it, and HALF of them don't know diddly swat about hair care! they just thought it would look cool!

it's the most popular do, and i feel the need to catch up. either you have beautiful long natural hair, or beautiful relaxed hair! relaxed hair is a beauty once it is cared for, and i feel like since i'm not rushing off to get a perm i need to AT LEAST get to my goal of BSL soon and VERY VERY SOON lol! soon the relaxed-heads are going to be APL and i'mma be STUCK with them! i'm not havin it!

it works both ways. do you see how condescending that can sound though? why begrudge others for having progress?

Ah-Ha!!!! The infamous reverse quote...One of my new favorite ways to expose the sillyness of some statements.

Hi Libra & Hi DG.


No but really...I'll ignore the weirdness of the Original post and I'm going to jump on with the getting past shoulder length part of it.

OP - Are you following the practices that will help get you past SL?
Keeping your hair up and off of your clothes? Bunning? Protective Styling? RollerSets?
How often do you use direct heat? Have you tried avoiding Direct Heat for a while?

You can do it! but it will take work and it may take some serious changes in your routine.

Do you protect the relaxed length when you do your touch-ups?
How often do you do touchups?


You got some splay-nin to do LUCY.

 

[divya]

@OP...

That's nonsense, imo. Guess maybe you are feeling this way because of your length. Reality is, however, that plenty naturals on here and in the real world have been that way for years and have long passed APL! Neither do you know the reasons why each person has become natural. But if they didn't know anything about hair care, then they would not have passed you. Just focus on your own hair and making it grow long and healthy!

 

[bludaydreamr]

I think i see what she's saying.

ALOT of people are learning about haircare these days. I think a few people IRL going natural dont know anything about haircare, but the beautifull thing is that once alot of these ladies are going natural, their learning about their hair, products, why or why not to relax...and whatever they decide in the future they now know more about their hair than they did before than just the same relax, wrap and products.


But anyway, i think what she's saying is that if her relaxed hair is going to be in the minority to beautfiull long natural hair that she's thinking is going to be comming up (ETA, that IS around), she atleast wants to get it her hair up to parr.

Im sure if there was a room full of 100 relaxed heads and anyone were natural, they would want their hair up and looking good (or vice versa)...if they cared anyway.

I agree. I went natural simply because I had tried other methods of taking care of my hair that did not work, so when my stylist recommended going natural by transitioning it seemed like a good sugguestion. I barely took care of my relaxed hair, and didn't even know what my natural hair looked like. Finding this site; going through the journey, all made me realize, if I had saw more well taken care of natural hair it would have never taken my this long to make the decision. So in part I do think that the more people see natural hair it may make them more curious to find out about their own hair. This maybe the reason we see more and more nautrals or twa.

 

[1QTPie]

You see me? Hi Hater, hi hater

It's not that serious. Do you and be inspired by your sisters progress. Ultimately we're all here for the same reason.

OMG! I can't stand you; half way through this thread I started singing that song because that's all it sounds like to me. This is so funny. I'm almost scared that you're in my head.


And to OP... check out the nappy boards and pardon my English but, this ain't no fad.

 

[Kurly K]

What the...

yea........

 

[bludaydreamr]

Ah-Ha!!!! The infamous reverse quote...One of my new favorite ways to expose the sillyness of some statements.

Hi Libra & Hi DG.


No but really...I'll ignore the weirdness of the Original post and I'm going to jump on with the getting past shoulder length part of it.

OP - Are you following the practices that will help get you past SL?
Keeping your hair up and off of your clothes? Bunning? Protective Styling? RollerSets?
How often do you use direct heat? Have you tried avoiding Direct Heat for a while?

You can do it! but it will take work and it may take some serious changes in your routine.

Do you protect the relaxed length when you do your touch-ups?
How often do you do touchups?


You got some splay-nin to do LUCY.

LMAO!

 

[divya]

You see me? Hi Hater, hi hater

It's not that serious. Do you and be inspired by your sisters progress. Ultimately we're all here for the same reason.

How did I miss this?

 

[DreadlockedLady0171]

Most relaxed heads don't know diddly squat about hair care either so what are you trying to say? That's the reason we're all here in the first place.

I do think some people are going natural because it's a fad but trust me it isn't the majority. Most people go natural so that they can have healthier hair without chemicals. I know that's why I did it.

It is a very big lifestyle change to cut off relaxed hair for short nappy hair. Nappy hair contains such a negative stigma in our society and on top of that being short? It is a big deal and that is why we need support. That is why it is a process and there are whole boards related to the topic. Maybe you do not understand because you are not natural or have not gone natural but please don't downgrade the experience.

 

[DivaD04]

I don't know about anyone else but all I kow is...........the title of this thread is "I gotta reach these hair goals/The naturals r catching up"! What the he// does that have to do with your actual post OP? I mean, the title alone has me lost for words. But when i read your post, you sound diasappointed at the fact that whether or not some people choose to keep their natural hair or not. if you ask me that's totally up to their discretion. And honestly who gives a flying feather whether or not it's a fad, if one doesn't know how to take care of their head, that's their head, imho. Unless your on lhcf asking for help... i can give to cents what the next woman got going on. like LadyL said, i got bills to pay. Btw: I'm opting not to keep my newly natural hair of 6mths b/c it's my hair and in the great words of Robin Harris, "ima do what i wanna"...with it. stop worrying about the next woman's head, and keep focus on your own...just stress'n over nuttin!

 

[SimpleKomplexity]

OMG you can seriously tell this is a majority natural board.

Everytime someone makes something (that is NOT even dergatory towards naturals) oh then here comes everyone with the uneeded snappy remarks towards me. If it is not a competition (which I never stated it was) why are you guys quick to jump the gun to defend your precious natural head. In this post no one is winning. This is just a statement of my opinions. Just let me state my opinion and you state yours and be done.

Hater...Downgrading the experience...WTF! I just made a post stating

1. There are more naturals around here lately
2. I think it is a fad, and in a year or two the majority will move to other styles (This is my opinion, not yours. )
3. With the growing numbers of beautiful natural heads and relaxed heads, don't you feel the need (inspired for better terms) to grow yoru hair strong healthy and long? (If YOU don't, oh well. I personally do)
4. Just because YOU went natural does not mean YOU did it because of a fad. I was talking about "real life America." and not LHCF.com. On this board you know the cons and pros on going natural, most others do not. They just think it's kute right now. Which is why I call it a fad.

 

[Seven7]

I don't think there is a happy ending to this. LOL

 

[LongiLox]

Man, I hope this doens't offend anyone, but I think this whole natural hair thing is a fad for the "real world". Everyone is doing it, and HALF of them don't know diddly swat about hair care! They just thought it would look cool!

It's the new hottest do, and I feel the need to catch up. Either you ahve beautiful natural hair, or beautiful long relaxed hair! Natural hair is a beauty once it is cared for, and I feel like since I'm not rushing off to get a BC I need to AT LEAST get to my goal of APL soon and VERY VERY SOON lool! Soon the naturals are going to be SL and I'ma be STUCK with them! I'm not havin it!

Anyone else feel like this

***Never mind****