Naturals - Just tell me why did you do it?

[Isis77]

For me, it was not a choice. My hair would not absorb relaxers anymore. I found out after I BC'd that it was a porosity issue. But it was like my hair was literally making the choice for me...LAY OFF THE RELAXERS LADY!!! I would say that I did it definitely for the health of my hair and my hair thanks me everyday.

ITA!!!! My hair seemed to completely ignore the last relaxer I tried to put in it so I figured "why bother" anymore. I've grown to love my curly texture and I love the thickness and shine it has now!

 

[spritex]

I became natural after a botched touch-up left me with large bald spots. At first I did not know how to style my natural (and thick!) hair so I kept it covered with weaves, braids, etc. Come to think of it - I still do but now I call it protective styling. In spite of my previous experiences, I have nothing against relaxing - it's all about trial and error, just like managing natural hair. Many ladies on here have healthy looking, beautful relaxed hair so there is a right way to do it. My natural hair demands a lot from me if it is to behave - plenty of moisture, conditioning and protective styling. So I do not really see it as easier to care for, just different. Right now I am loving my hair, that is all that matters in the end!

 

[daaiyah]

Thank you ladies for taking the time to reply. I especially enjoy seeing the different textures of some you ladies.

 

[EMJazzy]

I went natural in the 90's because I had a thin spot in my crown that just got progressively worse over time (thyroid issues). Relaxing my hair made that spot very noticeable. By going natural the curliness of my hair makes it easier to 'hide' the thinness. Another thing I've noticed is that the older I get the more thin my hair becomes on a good note MT is definitely helping with gaining some of my former thickness back.

 

[prettypuff1]

I decided that my hair just didnt look good with relaxers.. It was always very fine, and never really grew. Add to that, I can't really style my hair and it was ALWAYS damaged.

It is easy for me now because it is short, but even after it grows, style wise it will be easy, braid out/twist outs that type of deal.

I can firmly say that i have no desire to go back to relaxers. They are just too much work for soo little reward for me. My hair took FOREVER to do to get a half way decent result.

 

[Sridevi]

I was tired of scalp burns and was worried about the toll they would eventually take. I didn't want to end up with thin hair or worse. I was also tired of being on the re-touch cycle and constantly worrying about new growth. The time and money wasted at salons was also a factor.

Going natural was the best thing I've ever done. Once I got my regimen down it has been a pretty low maintenance affair. I have achieved my longest lengths ever (just above bra-strap when straightened) being a natural. I enjoy wearing differnt styles with my natural texture and when I want straight hair I can flat-iron. I will never go back to relaxing.

 

[200AndOne]

I went natural completely by accident. My hair was damaged from over-processing, and breaking badly when I was regularly getting a press and curl. I wore my hair in micro braids because it was all I could think to do, and then I discovered LHCF.

Are you natural because of the way it looks? - not really, I love it now, but it wasn't the reason

Because it is healthier? - definitely now

Because it is easier? - i think it will be once i figure out what makes it work

 

[Digital Tempest]

Are you natural because of the way it looks?
Yeah, I liked the way natural hair looked on other people, but I educated myself beforehand and tried not to have any unreal expectations of what my own hair might look like.

Because it is healthier?
Yes, it is healthier for my hair. Relaxers and my hair just had a hate/hate relationship. My fine hair DID NOT like relaxers at all, especially after I got in college and started neglecting it.

Because it is easier?
It is for me. No more waiting forever for a touch-up. I just wash, bun, and go 90% of the time now.

 

[mamauv2]

DISCLAIMER: I may get a little deep. *sigh* now that that's out the way, if I'm being honest with you (Simon Cowell), I went natural in the most extreme way that naturals do it, I shaved my head. I didn't become a member of this board until maybe two weeks after (thank GOD) so I hadn't done any research. The reason I decided to do it was because I couldn't get over the fact that it never occurred to me to NOT have a relaxer. It was SO ingrained in me and I began to realize that I was raised that everything that made me ME (my hair texture, my "big ole lips", my darker complexion) was somehow not beautiful and I couldn't roll with that anymore. Going natural, for me, was about finally accepting me, the non-altered version of me and it's been very spiritual.

 

[delray712000]

I WENT NATURAL BECAUSE WHEN I STRETCHED MY PERMS MY PERMS I HAD A LOT OF NEW GROWTH. I DID NOT LIKE THAT I WAS IN A CYCLE OF; RELAXING THE HAIR, AFTER A WEEK NEW GROWTH WAS BACK, 2ND WEEK STYLING BECAME A TASK BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF NEW GROWTH BY THEN, AND THE STRETCH BEGAN AGAIN. WHY PERM IT SINCE I REALLY GOT A WEEK OF STRAIGHT HAIR.

ONCE I STARTED STRETCHING I NOTICED HOW BEAUTIFUL MY HAIR WAS. IT IS 4A-B AND TO MOST THAT DOES NOT SOUND BEAUTIFUL BUT WHEN I STARTED KEEPING IT MOISTURIZED, DEEP CONDITIONED, AND NOT COMBING IT TO DEATH I SAW THE BEAUTY.

I ENJOY COMING HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY RINSING MY HAIR BECAUSE IT RELIEVES STRESS. NOW THAT I AM NATURAL THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR ME AND NEITHER IS THE RAIN.

WITH A PERM I HATED HOW MY HAIR FELT AND TANGLE WHEN WET. IT WAS SO WEAK I COULD BARELY TOUCH IT. I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MY HAIR WAS ALMOST DRY SO IT WOULD NOT BE SO BRITTLE.

THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS WHY BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON IS I DID IT FOR THE HEALTH OF MY HAIR. THIS IS MY THIRD AND FINAL TRANSITION. THE TWO OTHER TIMES I TRANSITIONED THERE WAS DISASTER IN MY FAMILY AND I DID NOT KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT MY NATURAL HAIR TO MAINTAIN IT THROUGH THOSE STRESSFUL TIMES. THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT.

 

[Chromia]

I'm transitioning but I'll answer. I'm transitioning because:

-I'm curious about what my natural texture looks like, or what it will eventually look like when I cut off the relaxed ends and experiment with different products and styles. I see a lot of natural styles that I like.

-I don't want to spend the rest of my life getting relaxer touch-ups. I hated preparing for relaxers, the process of getting them, the burning feeling on my scalp, and the smell of the relaxer and the neutralizing shampoo.

-If I want to wear my hair straight I'll flat iron.

 

[chocolate01]

For me I hated the whole process of relaxing/touch up every couple months. I cut my touch ups down from every 3 months to every 6 months and then decided to stop all together. That was 4 years ago (I transitioned for a year after my last relaxer before chopping) and I haven't looked back since.

 

[Nonie]

My relaxed hair was damaged and my stylist thought my hair wasn't the relaxing kind. (???) Knowing better and that my hair was just overprocessed from going to inexperienced folks before I ever found her, I transitioned so as to grow a new set of virgin healthy hair and then go to her with my hair "untouched" so she can see what I'm made off and how good my hair looks relaxed when done by a pro. But in two years, my hair had grown longer than I ever knew it could be...and as I got to understand it more, I fell in love with its versatility...and how many different looks it can have. I also like the independence it affords me, since I don't need to go for touch-ups (Something I doubt I would ever be comfortable doing myself); and I like that I don't have to worry about overlap during touch-ups that could weaken the point of demarcation. I don't have to worry about overprocessing or underprocessing or wondering what to do when the relaxer formula is changed and seems not to work the same. That constant wondering whether this touch up will be a perfect match of last one so hair is all the same is just something I don't miss. I also feel that my hair is the strongest it's ever been being natural--and we all know 4B hair isn't strong, but it's stronger than it was relaxed, IMO. And I'm happy about that.

 

[BklynHeart]

I lost my mother in 2007 and I kept my hair (little past apl) in a pinup. I had no desire to do anything to it. I put braids in and decided to grow out the relaxer to honor my mom, and to have a 'fresh start'.

It's not bad taking care of it, but I noticed that my hair still loves proteins and reconstructors the same way as relaxed. I have to be cautious with certain moisturizers because they tend to thin my hair out.

 

[Kneechay]

I went natural because of the way it looks, feels, it's healthier for me, and it's easier in some cases. I don't think I ever really needed a relaxer, I just thought it was the only way to achieve straight styles. I just realized as Black women, we have the best hair on earth. We're the only ones that can go from kinky to curly to straight and then back and no other race can really say that. I guess we're the best there is...

Besides that, I used to admire all those beautiful, natural styles by other women and now I can achieve them. My hair became discolored and damaged the worst it's ever been since I moved here from Nigeria. It feels waaay better now and I don't have to worry about getting rained on. Additionally, we don't face the same problems relaxed heads do because of the chemicals, so that's always a plus.

 

[IrisDaVirus]

I went natural in the 90's because I had a thin spot in my crown that just got progressively worse over time (thyroid issues). Relaxing my hair made that spot very noticeable. By going natural the curliness of my hair makes it easier to 'hide' the thinness. Another thing I've noticed is that the older I get the more thin my hair becomes on a good note MT is definitely helping with gaining some of my former thickness back.

I wish my mother had the sense you did. She's had thyroid issues for as long as I can remember. Her hair is thinning badly in the top and she continues to relax her hair. She's quick to tell everybody the thinning is caused by her thyroid issues. But the fact she still relaxes her hair isn't doing her any favors. She's had three doctors (her regular doctor, dermatologist and endocrinologist) tell her that multiple times over the years yet she still insists her hair needs to be relaxed.

Sadly with all her hair thinning issues she first one to tell somebody else how they need to have their hair straightened and done up in some type of fixed style that shows the straight hair off. It's a shame. A doggone shame.

 

[jennboo]

Are you natural because of the way it looks? Yes. I love the look of natural hair, always have.

Because it is healthier?: Yep. I am able to put water on it eveyday if i want to, my molecular bonds are still intact, no chemicals altering the internal structure.

Because its easier?: All you need to do is wet it and throw it in a puff if all else fails...and it'll still look fierce.

 

[TRINITY05]

Healthier, thicker, unique, I was tired of sitting in the beauty salon for 5 hours. I got tired of looking like everybody else.

 

[Likeyouneverseenme]

Are you natural because of the way it looks? Yes, My relaxed hair was so limp and pitiful. I missed my thick and curly, coily, kinky hair. Now that I have BC'd I had forgotten how ridiculously thick my hair is.

Because it is healthier? Absolutely! My relaxed hair broke off like crazy. Even when I was transitioning, my new growth flourished but my hair didn't get longer. I started off my transition with 12" of relaxed hair and snipped of about 6-7", that's how bad it was.

Because it is easier? Absolutely. It is less time consuming, because I can just wash, shake and go.

 

[natstar]

Main reason: I'm natural because of my fine/thin texture. My hair is naturally really fine/thin & kinky. I would have to fight an uphill battle to keep some fullness to my hair if I relaxed. Otherwise, if my hair were coarser & thicker, I wouldn't have any hesitation with relaxing.

Cost: My money's tight and although I'm a PJ sometimes, I still save a lot.
Ease: This is subjective and to be honest, sometimes it ain't easy, but for the most part I have very little issues w/my hair nowadays. I know what to do and it's not stressful.

 

[mymane]

At first I was on a relaxer stretch after initially joining the board, but that turned into a transition when I found out what that was all about. I always loved the look and versatility of natural hair but always thought I had to cut all my hair off and I wasn't about to do that. I never had short hair and I didn't know how I would like it. So I decided to transition. And I notice with my new growth it holds styles so much better unlike my relaxed hair where I would spend forever curling it just to have them fall and look straight. It's been 10 months for me and I will try and cut around 18-24 months. TRY, lol.

 

[TaraDyan]

Are you natural because of the way it looks?
For me, yeah. My relaxed hair was thin and see through. My natural hair is full and healthy. Plus, I've always looked better with big hair.

Because it is healthier?
Indeed. Much, much healthier.

Because it is easier?
For me ... yeppers. I know that some naturals get knots and tangles and have to deal with marathon detangling sessions, but I'm happy to say that I don't. I detangle in 45 seconds to 1 minute tops. To be honest, I had more trouble detangling when I was transitioning than I do now.

As far as styling, it takes me 5 minutes to put it in a puff, bun or banana clip. I don't really do a lot to my hair right now, but I did even less when I was relaxed because my hair was so thin. Once my hair gets longer, I think my natural styling options will go through the roof.

Please share with me. So many people are transitioning and I would like an idea of why. I am asking out of curiosity not controversy. Please, please share with me why you made this decision.
Initially, I made the decision to stop relaxing because even the mildest of relaxers rendered my scalp a dry, itchy, flakey mess. I didn't even know what I was getting myself into by going natural, but I knew I had to do it for the health of my scalp. Then, once I was deep into transition mode and remembered how much I liked big curly hair, I never looked back.

 

[CenteredGirl]

Are you natural because of the way it looks? Definitely. I have thin hair but I have learned through trial and tribulation what it takes to make it appear so much thicker

Because it is healthier? For me, absolutely. Chems just dried it out,chewed it up and broke it off. I have nightmares about the infamous "line of demarcation" and the thinness that ensued for many many years. I won't ever go back.

Because it is easier? It wasn't easy for me until about 6 years into being natural. I tried hard, but just could never do right by my hair. I never gave up, and now, taking care of it is a breeze. For me it's about knowing how to properly wash and comb my hair.

 

[CenteredGirl]

Most of you say it is easier to take care of. How is that so? A long time ago when I was natural it seemed hard especially if I had hot combed it and then took a shower. The steam would revert it and I could never keep it looking good for more then a day. But I do agree that it was healthier.

It's easier to take care of when:

1. You know how and when your hair is really moisturized.
2. You know how to comb it in and out of the shower and when to use a comb or just fingers
3. Natural hair does not revert when it is moisturized and properly sealed.

 

[jada1111]

Most of you say it is easier to take care of. How is that so? A long time ago when I was natural it seemed hard especially if I had hot combed it and then took a shower. The steam would revert it and I could never keep it looking good for more then a day. But I do agree that it was healthier.

I wear a shower cap to prevent it from getting fuzzy.

 

[edrushuk]

My hair hates any chemicals! It would start breaking within weeks of having it relaxed, so I had to go natural! Even after 10 years I am still learning how to deal with my hair!

 

[Carrie A]

I've been transitioning for over a year. My first ATTEMPT was over 10 years ago because I was trying to consciously oppose the Eurocentric beauty doctrine that had been imposed on Black women. However, I didn't last too long. I buckled at the first sign of serious tangles- so much for fight the power. Now I'm just trying to get to know my own hair. I realize through this process that I had no awareness of my hair in it's natural state. Even before the relaxer, I was pressed all the time and I never did my own hair. It's been truly an amazing journey which I am embracing with all the twists and turns.

 

[tocktick]

Are you natural because of the way it looks?
Because it is healthier?
Because it is easier?
Please share with me. So many people are transitioning and I would like an idea of why. I am asking out of curiosity not controversy. Please, please share with me why you made this decision.
TIA.

Looks - yes. I love big, textured hair.

Healthier - no scab burns, no broken hairs, no hair falling out, no bald spots etc.

Easier - yes & no. But I say that only because I didn't take good care of my relaxed hair. That could explain why all of the above happened to me but hair just never responded well to relaxers to begin with. It's easier in the sense that I do not have touch-ups any more.

I think it's quite simple to understand why so many people are going natural - beautiful examples of natural hair are being shown to us increasingly now more than ever, it seems. People are now aware that there is an alternative to chemicals that will still allow them to have a beautiful head of hair and it needn't be difficult to manage.

With that said, I think it's a bit of a stretch to presume there are plenty of people going natural. Outside of hair boards, many people aren't making that change. Also, people transition sometimes with false hope of their hair doing something it doesn't and they never make it natural anyway.

 

[justsimply]

...
Also, people transition sometimes with false hope of their hair doing something it doesn't and they never make it natural anyway.

I think this is so true. People often see what new growth looks like and they think their hair will look like that when they are 100% natural. Some think their hair will look like someone elses or that all black kinky hair has beautiful coil/curl definition. They often see the end results (healthy beautiful hair styles) and even if they can get that look, they don't consider the care, time and/or process that goes into it.

Being natural or going natural has to have some kind of meaning to you if you are going to stick with it, even if it's the vain "I'll look better in the long run" (...which it is for me). You have to have a reason that keeps you going through the not-so-easy days.

 

[redecouvert]

Are you natural because of the way it looks? no..i didn't care how it was going to look like. All i wanted was to stop relaxing and have healthy hair
Because it is healthier? yes ma'am! not only it is healthier, thicker, i have a hairline, no more scabs...i loove it!

Because it is easier? I didn't know whether it was going to be easy or not. i think natural hair also needs some sort of maintenance. I am still learning and loving every step of the way

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