Are you a selective naturalist?

[Lucky's Mom]

Back to picking our poison I guess.
I see a lot of beautiful heads and of those heads are people who say they don't have time to cook a meal or workout, yet they have time to sit under the dryer for an hour plus, pre-poo, post poo, etc, etc.
IMO, that's not my call to make. Doesn't mean I won't question it.
People make time (and obviously selectons) for what they feel is most important.
Reminds me of when I saw this couple at the Whole Foods store buying over 300 of food and herbs but smoking a cigarette on the way home..O.k.

I will just say this. If I see a 350lb woman, and she is asking me how to grow her hair.....
I am going to tell her to not think about her hair. Think about her health.

Please don't crucify me. I think that healthy hair is Holistic.... period,

 

[Lucky's Mom]

Makes me feel good that someone gets it.
It's kind of like people wh BKT, but consider themselves natural.
Someone please xplain to me how this process is considered natural?

I don't think anyone is going to touch this one.
Debates on this subject have raged on and have become personal...

soo..... I don't think you will get a response....

But - that is me. I have no comment.
My only comment is.............. I have coily, natural hair.... and I am quite content....

 

[Neith]

Beyond a conversational level, I don't care what y'all do to your hair and bodies. You could go run cow snot through your hair to make your curls pop and I'd be like - not trying that one, but alright, do what you gotta do. Hope it works out for you

Worrying about what strangers are eating and putting on their scalps? Can honestly say that I don't do that...

Sharing/asking for advice (when prompted) and discussing hair? Good thing.

Judging people, putting your nose up at people, name calling, etc... Boo. Bad thing. Let people do their own thing in peace.

 

[Still Sexy Stewardess]

I get your point, but my feeling is... just because someone wants to use natural hair products doesn't automatically mean that they are all green all the time and health nuts.

Not saying that it's bad to be a health nut. but many people aren't, and that's how the real world is.

I don't think anyone should be discouraged for doing something good for their body, even little things.

Even the healthiest, greenest, physical powerhouses STILL have many toxins in their bodies just from the environment.

You can't block out everything. Some people don't try to avoid everything, some do. Why does anyone have to have a problem with it? You're not responsible for anyone else but you and yours.

I wasn't making a point, per se, just asking a question. Some folks answered "Yes" some said a roundabout "no."

I'm one of the people we are talking about, btw. I have natural hair (well, unrelaxed hair) but I dye my hair with whatever I find on sale, whether it has cones, scones or bones in it (I'm MBL). I eat all kinds of crap that starving alligators probably wouldn't eat. But I'm not going to poo-poo anybody who throws a relaxer in their hair just because I don't have one in. We all make compromises and have various tolerance levels for what's natural and acceptable. Cool with me.

 

[Ramya]

Makes me feel good that someone gets it.
It's kind of like people wh BKT, but consider themselves natural.
Someone please xplain to me how this process is considered natural?

It's not but some argue that it's not a relaxer or texturizer but a temporary treatment therefore it's natural. I don't agree but eh whatever. Kind of like how silkeners were thought to be natural but now are disclaimed as chemical.

ETA: I'm a selective natural. I don't have a texturizer, silkener or BKT but I couldn't even tell you what's in my products. I just know that they work and keep my hair healthy and beautiful.

 

[sharifeh]

This is something that is starting to bother me because I do not understand it at all. I have seen some women shun alcohols, silicones, petroleum and/or mineral oil yet they are BKT'ing and perming the mess out of their heads.

I have also seen women who are BKT'd/relaxed/colored say that they will only use "natural" products on their hair because it's better. I am left to think where was that attitude when you were slapping the chemicals on your heads?

What's with this? I am relaxed (still transitioning) to natural and even though I have almost 4 inches of natural hair, I won't stop using what works for me because it is considered "bad" to some. Some people say that drinking wine (my fav) and eating McDonalds is bad for me. So if this means my Queen helene's is in normal rotation, then so be it. I just don't care about not using things because other people say they are bad for me.

one of my friends is a health nut and only eats organic and uses organic hair products,works out everyday, but she has a perm( a curly perm, her natural hair is type 1)
I don't think that makes her a hypocrite at all...so what?
if you have a perm/relaxer or bkt or color you have to use junky products and eat junky too?
I think just because you have one or two or three things that aren't natural in your life it doesn't make you a hypocrite...or not a naturalist...
and if someone is whole foods, and they are smoking...I mean what's the huge deal? If you smoke, you have to eat mcdonalds?

 

[andromeda]

I'm selective. I'm transitioning and everything in my hair arsenal is natural except for my VO5 conditioners (I just couldn't resist!).

 

[LatterGlory]

one of my friends is a health nut and only eats organic and uses organic hair products,works out everyday, but she has a perm( a curly perm, her natural hair is type 1)
I don't think that makes her a hypocrite at all...so what?
if you have a perm/relaxer or bkt or color you have to use junky products and eat junky too?
I think just because you have one or two or three things that aren't natural in your life it doesn't make you a hypocrite...or not a naturalist...
and if someone is whole foods, and they are smoking...I mean what's the huge deal? If you smoke, you have to eat mcdonalds?[/quote]

I knew there was`something I liked about you.

 

[Morenita]

Well, this should get interesting!!!

Incidentally.... I am not selective ......

Lol, just what I was going to say. You beat me to it

 

[NerdSauce]

I'm one of those whose hair doesn't really like shampoo--so I adjust my regimen so that the need for shampoo arises as scarcely as possible. I DO like products that are as natural as possible. Silicones have to be shampoo'd out (though I don't think I would ever flat iron without them) and mineral oil (and petroleum I believe) break my face out like crazy. Actually, I avoid oily products in general.... Also I find that products heavy in mineral oil.. after the fragrance fades I'm left with a gross oily smell. Not for me. I'm natural by the way.

However I WOULD bkt and I have been relaxed in the past (before I became ingredient conscious) I think its silly to expect people to be all or nothing. Also I think there's a difference between applying a relaxer or a BKT every three to six months (for those of you who freak out about formaldehyde, we all know we're exposed to formaldehyde in more ways that we can generally imagine on a day to day basis anyways) than slathering myself with mineral oil and other cheap byproducts that dont do anything for me personally, especially if it's on a daily basis. For me its not so much just making products as natural as possible, but also increasing my awareness. I want to know what purpose EVERYTHING I put in my hair has, eventually.

I do think you have a point about the people who are selective about the ingredients that they simply HATE and refuse to use because they're "bad" while at the same time exposing themselves to harmful chemicals. However.. most things, in excess are harmful--from heat to relaxers to color etc etc etc. Even too much water can mess your hair up (overmoisturizing). I think its more so a matter about being informed and just knowing what things are *for*.

 

[Kranbery]

I've decided to use natural products only because I have seen how well they work for me compared to unnatural products that always left my hair too crunchy, too wet, too dry, always too something. Natural products are just easier, that's all.

 

[BostonMaria]

Maria was here!

Oh and I wear whatever products provides slip and makes my hair look perdy.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

I have a Combination of Products. I use whatever works best for my Hair to get it Healthy and Thriving whether they be Natural, Salon, BSS etc.....

I do tend to shy away from certain product lines, moreso than ingredients.

But I am Not "Rigid" with any of it. It's Not that Serious for Me. If It works and It's not causing damage, setbacks...I'm Good.

I Made a Commitment to myself to Focus on Product Driven Results, so that's what my Focus is.

 

[bluevalentine]

I will just say this. If I see a 350lb woman, and she is asking me how to grow her hair.....
I am going to tell her to not think about her hair. Think about her health.

Please don't crucify me. I think that healthy hair is Holistic.... period,

would u really?

 

[FindingMe]

I think I get your point.

For me, I think that for the masses, becoming more natural (even incrementally) is a good thing. Even if the only green thing a LHCFer can decide to do is not use a single specific body lotion with any parabens in it bc it stays on your skin and that feels inherently wrong to them, I think that's great. (regardless of whether they eat McDonald's, smoke & have a relaxer...)

We use SO many chemicals and ingest so many harmful things in our daily lives, I think that for most, it would take an overwhlemingly significant amount time and effort to eliminate them all (or even try to). Any step in the right direction to me is a positive one.

I do agree with you wherein I don't think folks should be calling it out or wearing it like a mantra on a t-shirt if they don't use products containing certain items...no one is perfect and we are all learning and what we should be doing is sharing information and experiences and not judging people on their individual choices.

I think we're all just trying to get better and for people to post "I would never do that to my hair" or "those products looked great until I saw they contained mineral oil" to me is a step in the wrong direction and slightly hypocritical unless you are living in a greenhouse somewhere on a farm, growing your own vegan food and making your clothes and hair products...

oh, yeah...FindingMe was here...

 

[Mystic]

I would say do you, and let others do as they please. As long as things are working for you, I would keep it moving.

This is something that is starting to bother me because I do not understand it at all. I have seen some women shun alcohols, silicones, petroleum and/or mineral oil yet they are BKT'ing and perming the mess out of their heads.

I have also seen women who are BKT'd/relaxed/colored say that they will only use "natural" products on their hair because it's better. I am left to think where was that attitude when you were slapping the chemicals on your heads?

What's with this? I am relaxed (still transitioning) to natural and even though I have almost 4 inches of natural hair, I won't stop using what works for me because it is considered "bad" to some. Some people say that drinking wine (my fav) and eating McDonalds is bad for me. So if this means my Queen helene's is in normal rotation, then so be it. I just don't care about not using things because other people say they are bad for me.

 

[Lucky's Mom]

would u really?

Yes. Really. Speaking the truth - in love....

 

[music-bnatural-smile]

i have been natural my whole life and i will use whatever i want on my hair...

i love my hair, ppl love/hate my hair...

the end

 

[Lita]

Do what works for your hair..Happy Happy Hair Growing!

 

[NerdSauce]

It kind of seems like people are taking these rather...inconsequential things (in the grand scheme of things) and turning them into moral issues. You're wrong for being fat and caring about the natural hair products, you're such a hypocrite for the McDonalds and the Aubrey Organics, why deep condition? you should be exercising!

This is a hair forum, not the life police. I understand a lot of the points being made, people who hop on sensationalist ideals without fully understanding them or really consciously choosing what they want don't often make much sense. However it seems to me more and more each day that there is this sort of crazy sense of entitlement that people get from being on here (and please don't attack me for saying so.)

People have to start somewhere. If your awareness of the dangers of most of our cosmetics and eventually our cleaners and maybe even our household things starts with rejecting a bottle of little more than water and mineral oil (which a lot of the things people get all up in arms about are) then so be it, because hey, you started. Instead of the cynicism wouldn't it be better if we were just happy that they were on their way to a more holistically healthy life, and a more rounded personal philosophy for they way they want to treat their bodies and the world around them?

We don't pop up on this forum from the beginning with say, perfectly thick, healthy, waist length hair. Why should this be any different? Seems to me like the whole point of this thing is acknowledging oneself as a work in progress anyways.

Sorry for the long post.

 

[remilaku]

I agree with op. Why say I am relaxed which is a chemical but I only use natural products, isn't that an oxymoron?

 

[hothair]

I'm a selective product user

I'm not sure I understand OP's original post. I use the best products for me. I generally avoid mineral oil and sulphates cause my hair didn't seem to take to those, my hair's "natural" but I colour and BKT, I use a few organic products, cause they work. I love some homemade and traditional products, I don't consider myself a purist just a savvy beauty product buyer/user, ie I use any product I feel is safe and works for me and my lifestyle, generally speaking I've found that things closer to nature work for me so I use them...no biggie.

I think newbies need to be careful not to be sucked unto bandwagons or what's hot. Some things are great for others but may not work for you. Some things are a great taboo here but may work for you(I use direct heat weekly and my hair's thriving). Just be smart and do what you feel is best for yourself.

 

[ThickHair]

This falls right in line with the "I don't wear makeup, just a little lipgloss and mascara". Uh, hello, a little lipgloss and mascara is makeup.