Follow up:
As far as little girls getting a complex from wearing hair added (braids with extensions or occasional phony ponies) - I think that it can happen and I think that it can also happen if they only where their natural hair.
It depends on the life lessons you teach your children. I talk to my girls constantly about how beautiful their natural hair is and the fact that it is so versatile. They can wear it curly, straight, whatever. When I am doing their hair I make sure it is a POSITIVE experience. I never complain about their hair. Some people do not make it a habit to do this. I also give them a lot of other positive feedback, but that is another story.
My girls like to wear different hairstyles and they like cute clothes. I let them know that neither hair nor clothes make the woman. They know how to look fabulous in designer outfits and how to look fabulous in the Walmart clearance special of the day. We treat hair and clothes as a way of expressing ourselves and having fun (while still being appropriate). Those are extra. Secondary to being intelligent, being responsible, being a good person, being obedient.
I'm teaching my kids to love themselves and to be confident and know what's going on whether they are in the hood or in the white house. Anytime somebody has something crazy or negative to say to them I want it to just bounce off of them.
I have read a few posts on here where chicks have stayed home and missed work/class because they had a bad hair day. To me that is off the chain. If one of my kids came to me and said that - I would know I had more work to do.
I don't know about everybody else, but so far, my strategy is working.
I talk to my kids and I pay attention to what they say. I ask a lot of questions. I encourage them to come and talk to me or their dad about anything. When I see an issue or even a possible issue, I take steps to work it out.
I can't speak for what other people are doing. I can only speak for what I am doing. My point is that you can NEVER put everyone in the same boat. A lot of people like to make generalizations and assumptions.
You can't tell what is going on in a person's life just by looking at them. Some people can't afford to feed their kids right now. Some people are working 2 and 3 jobs to keep a roof over their heads. Some families are living in motels week to week. I know they wish all they had to worry about was doing their kids hair.
When was the last time YOU volunteered your services / shared your knowledge with someone else. I know, you don't want to say anything because the person might get mad. So what, if it bothers you that much, say it anyway (just say it in a nice way). When you offer to help someone in the right way, you will get a blessing for it, regardless of the way the person receives it.
Let me roll up on outta here.
Here are some examples of styles that I have done:
http://public.fotki.com/shenitab/kids/
She can't be any older than 3-4! I can't imagine all the stress on her poor scalp!
and my DS is barely 2 yet his hair is WL stretched! She's 3c and he's like 2c, though. But still, the main point is that doing less is doing more. 
It's ignorance, no doubt. But I don't think it comes from mean-spiritedness.
