Naturals who ALWAYS straighten...what makes you stay natural?

BrockStar

BrockStar

New Member
Just a question I thought about today..I went natural to get "big, curly hair." Every time I think of straightening I think of the work involved and the time I'd have to block out..lol...which is why I ask, what makes you stay natural if you always straighten? Is it health? Never been relaxed before? Just curious that's all :grin:
 
I used to straighten my natural hair all the time, but thats because to me, it was easier to manage straight hair.
I didn't get knots in the end, it was easier to manipulate and moisturise.
I also found it easier to style at the in-between stage when it was straight.
 
I like not using chemicals. I also like the fact that if I want to, I can rock a natural style. For me its about options. Right now, I want straight hair. If I change my mind, I just don't apply heat. No need for a long transition!
 
BrockStar said:
Just a question I thought about today..I went natural to get "big, curly hair." ...which is why I ask, what makes you stay natural if you always straighten? Is it health? Never been relaxed before? Just curious that's all :grin:
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Very good question. I've always wondered this myself.
 
Well, I'm not fully natural yet but I'll chime in anyway.

Even when I was fully relaxed, I still would flat iron my hair after almost every wash. Having a relaxer didn't mean Wash and Go at all.

So I believe it is more problematic to use chemicals and the addition of heat.
And somewhat less problematic to use heat on hair that is not chemically processed.

I'm interested in seeing if anyone disagrees with this, I know I have read in the past that Natural hair may fight against being pressed whereas relaxed hair is already programmed to be straightened.
 
I am natural. I do use heat to straighten my hair.

IMO. Chemicals is which makes on non natural (dye not included)
 
kally said:
I am natural. I do use heat to straighten my hair.

IMO. Chemicals is which makes on non natural (dye not included)
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But isn't straightening your hair going against nature--what grows out of your head naturally? How are the use of chemicals any less unnatural than the use of a hot comb, blow out, or other heated method of straightening your hair?
 
Oops, I didn't read the title that well. I do not always straighten. But I plna to add it to my winter routine. That is if I can get it to work out for me. Press in the winter and natural styles in spring/summer/fall


I just started pressing my hair. Here are my reasons for pressing my natural hair:

  1. I needed a change from my normal everyday look. I found it with pressng. And when I am tired of straight hair, I'll go back to braids and twists and puffs.If I had not straightened it out, then I probably would have cut it off. That's how much of a change I needed.
  2. I grew my hair out to grwo some hair. I had none with relaxed hair. I have been on these boards for years looking for the secret to growing out my relaxed hair. I mean years (Does anyone rememebr dominican girl from about 10 years back?) It never grew past a certain length no matter my regimen. So grew my natural hair. I like it natural. Do not want to go back to a relaxer. At least not at this point in my life. Maybe when my girls hit the teen years and really want to do it, but even then. I'm not sure.
  3. I do not have a head of massive curls. Wash n gos are a big NO-NO for my 4b hair. Wash and can't comb is more like it. or maybe a wash and shrink to about 1 inch of hair. Yep, I have massive shrinkage that is not easy to detangle.
  4. Anytime that I wash my hair, I have to block off massive time to deep condition, CW, detangle, moisturize, dry, moisturize again and then style. Styling alone takes me a day or two depending on the style I wear. Mini braids can take 3 days to do. I start with larger braids and systematically over the course of 3 days turn them into smaller braids. Oh, and let's not forget the style takedown for my natural hair. Minibraids and twists take at least if not more time for take down than they do for styling. With pressing, I am done in 2 hours tops and I don't have to worry about takedowns.
  5. I thought that my trims were getting rid of the split ends and knots on the ends of my hair. Pressing my hair has shown me that was not the case. I now have taken off about another inch or so since pressing to help my ends. My hair looks better, feels thicker and I am sure that when I go back to the natural look, I will benefit.
  6. DH loves the new look. Don't get me wrong, he likes it no matter how I style it. I know he likes it more when I wear it loose in twist outs, etc. But straight is something he has not seen on me in about 3 years. :gorgeous: So he is enjoying it.

I have lost some hair in the process of learning how to press . I'll chalk that up to experience. I came up with my own method of pressing my hiar and it works for ME. It feels good, looks good and is healthy.

I will probably continue pressing every 2-3 weeks until the Spring when it starts to get warmer and humidity starts to kick back up. But I (and DH) will enjoy it until then.
 
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I just get sick of wearing a ponytail/bun all the time, when it's straight it's always out.

ETA: I remain natural because my hair is much more healthier this way. And I do like the option that when I get bored of straight hair I can just wng.
 
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cerchier said:
But isn't straightening your hair going against nature--what grows out of your head naturally? How are the use of chemicals any less unnatural than the use of a hot comb, blow out, or other heated method of straightening your hair?
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For me, straight hair is not natural.

I think for most people they think that using heat to straighten hair is less unnatural, because chemicals like relaxers are permanent. Whereas most heat methods only last until the next wash/time the hair gets wet. And for me, depending on the quality of my press, just until I go outside and the humidity hits it. Then it reverts back to its natural state with a quickness.
 
I am going to stay natural because I like the option of wearing my hair straight and then wearing it curly as I please. To me it is no different than coloring my hair as a natural, it is just a temporary style just like braids or twist IMO. I just like that I have different styling options that I don't feel I had when I was relaxed.
 
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Great thread. I'm having this dilmena right now. Thinking about transitioning but I know I'll want to wear my hair straight 90% of the time so I'm wondering what the point of that. I want to hear from more ladies please...
 
I like straight hair, I suffered with frizzy wild curly hair for too long:nono::nono:

I ALWAYS wear my hair straight, except in the warm months and then its wash n go's. I like to be natural because I like the versatility of being able to go from straight to curly if I choose. I feel like I have more options.
 
cerchier said:
But isn't straightening your hair going against nature--what grows out of your head naturally? How are the use of chemicals any less unnatural than the use of a hot comb, blow out, or other heated method of straightening your hair?
Click to expand...

You may be right. I still have yet to determine what natural is exactly I guess The only I do not relax is because my hair is to soft and fine to handle a relaxer. It does well with heat.

I do not like the way my hair looks on me in its pure natural state.
 
I've been keeping my hair straight lately cos I was getting too many knots at the ends of my hair. It was getting unbearable. I stay natural cos I have more versatility. I don't think I will ever relax my hair again.
 
Schizo'd! I like the flexibility and options that having non-relax hair brings. I mean, if it's raining, I go outside and walk knowing that I can always convert to a wash and curly style.

Vacations--a breeze! Don't worry about hair for a formal night even in a carribbean.

Plus, it drives white folks crazy. One day, my hair look similar to theirs and next, I'm a "militant" black woman in their opinion!
 
Being natural gives me more versatility and no required commitment to relaxing. I can go from curly collar bone to straight near waist length with one fell swoop of a good flat iron. I don't have anything against relaxers. I just don't think they're worth my time. I've transitioned at least 3 times in my life. If the feeling hits me in the future I may relax again depending on my lifestyle. But for now--I ain't thinking about a relaxer. I don't need one to wear my hair straight.:grin:
 
Natural to me is hair without the use of chemicals to alter texture. I don't consider someone who uses hair dye as not having natural hair. If you have a relaxer, texturizer, etc., then I would consider that person's hair as not natural.

I mean, my hair doesn't grow out of my scalp in twists so am I not natural because I used oil, cream, or a blowdryer to twist my hair into a style?

Relaxed heads use heat and rollers to obtain a curly look, are they no longer relaxed because they put a few rollers in and a blast of heat to their heads?

It's almost as if you have to wear your hair in a certain style to be considered natural...a style is a style is a style.
 
I'm natural and I prefer to wear my hair straight. I sometimes think about relaxing again for various reasons (including non-reversion and just easier styling) but I don't want to risk the chemicals and I don't want to be dependent on a stylist for touch-ups. I transitioned b/c of a bad relaxer after being relaxed for many years so that fear is still there. The thought of sitting in someone's chair and always wondering if it is going to be the time that my hair falls down the sink! (Irrational, I know).

Also, I just love my natural curls. Though I don't wear my hair curly very often, I love having that option. I also love learning how to care for my own hair and the versatility of it.

I just don't necessarily think that relaxing is the only option to consider when wanting straight hair all the time.
 
I also forgot to mention that wearing my hair straight keeps me from getting knots. I used to think that if I wore my hair curly all the time, I'd gain more length and that's true but only in a way b/c I'd get soooo many knots. It was no different than having split ends. So, I figured I may as well wear my hair straight which I enjoy so much more.
 
Thanks for all of your responses ladies! I too, like many of you consider natural hair to just be hair that isn't permed...I guess we'll all have different opinions. I'm looking at some of your pics and some of you WILL have PM's from me tonight! lol! I can't wait until I get good at straightening my hair...again thanks for your responses!!! I look forward to even more!!!:grin:
 
I just think that I would be super-mad if I spent all that time straightening my hair only to have it go BOING! as soon as it got wet, or it got humid, or I worked out.

With my hair texlaxed - I can flat iron once and if my roots get alittle puffy, I can tie them with a satin/silk scarf and my hair is ready to wear down again. If I wash, I can airdry pretty straight in a bun.I workout 4-6 times a week and need to be able to wash my hair every 2-3 days to keep my scalp clean and my hair sweat free. However, I prefer wearing my hair straight. With my hair natural, the difference in texture meant I'd have to re-straighten my roots everyday, and ALL of my hair every 3 days in order to get a uniform look or wear my hair down -- and that seemed like more trouble than it was worth! I plan on touching up every 4-6 months, and in my opinion, 20-25 mins every 120 - 180 days isn't bad for the ease of I get on the daily.

Deciding whether or not to use chemicals depends alot on preference, as far as style - time, as far as maintenance, and lifestyle. I think either may make more sense for people depending on which life stage they're in, and their personal preferences. I'm just glad I'm AA so I can go back and forth! :grin:
 
Ebonybee said:
Schizo'd! I like the flexibility and options that having non-relax hair brings. I mean, if it's raining, I go outside and walk knowing that I can always convert to a wash and curly style.

Vacations--a breeze! Don't worry about hair for a formal night even in a carribbean.

Plus, it drives white folks crazy. One day, my hair look similar to theirs and next, I'm a "militant" black woman in their opinion![/quote]

HEE-larious!!
Click to expand...
 
Well, I am "natural" and I press my hair ALL the time. I don't really want to deal with my wavy natural hair, and I don't want to put any chemicals in my hair either. Perming my hair will most likely cause me to go to the salon (which I have never been to), and it is just less hassle to press it.

HTH!
 
Pressing or straightening natural hair doesn't make one any less "natural" per se.... Would you call someone with straight hair "unnatural" if they curled their hair every day? I would do it daily, if it didn't damage my own hairtype, yet I went natural not necessarily for the "look", but for the health of my hair and body. I now have a choice, so that's what makes me stay natural.

Besides, my hair has never grown so fast or looked so nice straightened.
 
it's all about options and overall hair health. You can be curly one day and straight the next. Plus you don't have to worry about touch ups and chemicals.
 
Ebonybee said:
Schizo'd! I like the flexibility and options that having non-relax hair brings. I mean, if it's raining, I go outside and walk knowing that I can always convert to a wash and curly style.

Vacations--a breeze! Don't worry about hair for a formal night even in a carribbean.

Plus, it drives white folks crazy. One day, my hair look similar to theirs and next, I'm a "militant" black woman in their opinion!
Click to expand...
Sweet..
A girl after my own heart :grin:
 
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