Relaxers sales are on the decline Thanks to Naomi Campbell... LONG POST

[PearlyCurly]

I really dont think its because of Naomi.

I think its because of Four reasons:

1- Curiosity about our naturally given hair

2- Natural hair is generally healthier & sometimes less maintenance. And women are starting to catch onto that

3- They have so much damage from relaxing it, they NEED to go natural

4- It is just a trend: just like the BOB in 2008, the chunky highlights in 2002, Keri Hilsons blond underneath black hair, the fro in the 70s, The pixie cut that was brought back last year, AND the jherri curl in the 80's.

 

[*CherryPie*]

How? LOL

I've always had beautiful, APL-MBL hair. And if I wanted, I could have natural hair. So how is my statement due to insecurities?

Some of y'all love to call folks insecure or haters.

I ain't gotta be a hater to think some folks secretly want to relax their hair.

Are you for real? This is hardly an anti-relaxer thread. It's more a discussion about the article and the article's jankyness. Instead of being cute your little swipe at naturals spoke volumes about your own insecurities.

 

[Sapphire_chic]

Cherry have you read this thread? Most comments so far are saying relaxers are not to blame well at least in the case of Naomi

 

[*CherryPie*]

Yes, i've read it. But it's so annoying how naturals are so focused on relaxers, and relaxed hair....when most naturals think relaxers are so bad. If so, why all of the relaxer threads?

It's just so strange to me.

Cherry have you read this thread? Most comments so far are saying relaxers are not to blame

 

[BostonMaria]

I found this part disturbing. Maybe it's because I wear a fro but why is the fro always portrayed as an undesirable style. This is what my hair naturally does, what is so wrong w/that? Why is the goal still to get the hair straight? Granted I am glad that there is a shift away from chemicals in general. I am not anti-straight hair.

Off topic: Your hair is beautiful!

 

[mscocoface]

Naomi had nothing to do with dropping sales of relaxers in 2007.

Folks are finding different ways to do their hair now where there was once only one prescribed way for women of african descent.

Also these major companies are losing money on other products because we now have small home business now filling a major niche in the haircare business.

Natural products or less caustic hair care products are the way to go for many. Even worse the haircare industry cannot corner the market on olive oil, shea butter, coconut oil, etc. So they are losing probably more than they are telling.

 

[loshed]

How? LOL

I've always had beautiful, APL-MBL hair. And if I wanted, I could have natural hair. So how is my statement due to insecurities?

I don't know specifically but I do know that for you jump in and automatically throw around that kind of condescending insult at naturals in a thread that isn't even anti-relaxer you must have some kind of issues going on with being relaxed. People in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones.

 

[Xerxes]

The reason relaxer sales are down is not because black women have finally embraced their natural hair. More black women have now begun to use weaves and wigs to hide their hair which they leave un-relaxed or relax much less frequently since they rarely wear it out.

We have not finally embraced our fros. We have embraced fake hair and human hair grown by others. In fact, I think we have degressed. At least back in relaxer days, we were satisfied with our real hair. We are making Koreans and certain hair traders billions of dollars. It's sick!

It's scary now seeing so many black women with little helmets of shiny fake hair covering their mass of unkempt natural real hair underneath. Everytime I go to the salon, I'm shocked to see the condition of the real hair of some black women. They'll spend thousands on the fake hair and not a dime to support their real hair (just like Naomi).

And I'm really shocked that so many of you have no idea as to why our natural 4B afros are and were seen as revolutionary, bold and confrontational.

Please read American history. Google it if you have to. Our hair was just one tool used by Europeans and early American slave owners to shape our opinion of ourselves. We were taught by them to hate our hair and desire their straight strands. So for the last 400 years, we have sought ways to straighten our hair and look as much like our former masters as possible. So back in the 60s and 70s when blacks stood up in opposition to white oppression and wore their hair naturally, without any straightening, it was a bold political statement. An afro meant no compromise. An afro meant black power.

Even today, afros are not mainstream. Most black women wear fake hair on top of their natural hair. So even today, a short afro or big one on a black woman is still a statement against the establishment. Relaxers, weaves, lace fronts and fake hair are the standard, so kinky 4B hair (especially short, close cropped fros) is and most likely will remain a bold, nonconformist style.

Relaxers and fake hair are not the devil. Shoot, I'm getting a touch-up in 2 weeks and I wear braids and phony ponies at will. However, when women depend on weaves and other people's hair, that's a problem. Somehow, black women should be the major group profiting over our hair styling options.

 

[SND411]

The reason relaxer sales are down is not because black women have finally embraced their natural hair. More black women have now begun to use weaves and wigs to hide their hair which they leave un-relaxed or relax much less frequently since they rarely wear it out.

We have not finally embraced our fros. We have embraced fake hair and human hair grown by others. In fact, I think we have degressed. At least back in relaxer days, we were satisfied with our real hair. We are making Koreans and certain hair traders billions of dollars. It's sick!

It's scary now seeing so many black women with little helmets of shiny fake hair covering their mass of unkempt natural real hair underneath. Everytime I go to the salon, I'm shocked to see the condition of the real hair of some black women. They'll spend thousands on the fake hair and not a dime to support their real hair (just like Naomi).

And I'm really shocked that so many of you have no idea as to why our natural 4B afros are and were seen as revolutionary, bold and confrontational.

Please read American history. Google it if you have to. Our hair was just one tool used by Europeans and early American slave owners to shape our opinion of ourselves. We were taught by them to hate our hair and desire their straight strands. So for the last 400 years, we have sought ways to straighten our hair and look as much like our former masters as possible. So back in the 60s and 70s when blacks stood up in opposition to white oppression and wore their hair naturally, without any straightening, it was a bold political statement. An afro meant no compromise. An afro meant black power.

Even today, afros are not mainstream. Most black women wear fake hair on top of their natural hair. So even today, a short afro or big one on a black woman is still a statement against the establishment. Relaxers, weaves, lace fronts and fake hair are the standard, so kinky 4B hair (especially short, close cropped fros) is and most likely will remain a bold, nonconformist style.

Relaxers and fake hair are not the devil. Shoot, I'm getting a touch-up in 2 weeks and I wear braids and phony ponies at will. However, when women depend on weaves and other people's hair, that's a problem. Somehow, black women should be the major group profiting over our hair styling options.

You have a lot of valid points of many I think are true. But I also believe a component of lower relaxer sales IS due to more and more black women embracing their natural hair texture.

And how in the world have we degressed? You cannot tell me you do not notice the plethora of new blogs, forums, and youtube videos showcasing black women growing long afro-textured hair with innovative ways of taking care of it.

 

[*CherryPie*]

No. I have beautiful relaxed hair, and I love it.

I don't know specifically but I do know that for you jump in and automatically throw around that kind of condescending insult at naturals in a thread that isn't even anti-relaxer you must have some kind of issues going on with being relaxed. People in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones.

 

[preciouslove0x]

I don't know specifically but I do know that for you jump in and automatically throw around that kind of condescending insult at naturals in a thread that isn't even anti-relaxer you must have some kind of issues going on with being relaxed. People in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones.

Please... just don't respond to her anymore... Everyone in this thread is thinking the same thing. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Sugar]

I really dont think its because of Naomi.

I think its because of Four reasons:

1- Curiosity about our naturally given hair

2- Natural hair is generally healthier & sometimes less maintenance. And women are starting to catch onto that

3- They have so much damage from relaxing it, they NEED to go natural

4- It is just a trend: just like the BOB in 2008, the chunky highlights in 2002, Keri Hilsons blond underneath black hair, the fro in the 70s, The pixie cut that was brought back last year, AND the jherri curl in the 80's.

I agree with these and I'll add one...

5 - There's a trend towards greener, cleaner, organic living. The very term "natural" embodies this trend/theme/etc.

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

How? LOL

I've always had beautiful, APL-MBL hair. And if I wanted, I could have natural hair. So how is my statement due to insecurities?

Some of y'all love to call folks insecure or haters.

I ain't gotta be a hater to think some folks secretly want to relax their hair.

Actually, you believe that relaxer is the holy grail for hair. So, your implication is that others with natural hair desperately want relaxers. It's not as though relaxers are uncommon. The thread was to discuss the article. The snark was seen as a desire to see backdoor way of introducing hair drama.

 

[Mizz Diamonds]

Naomi hair is busted due to bad weave techniques and I don't think that she is the deterent for relaxer just like chris rock's good hair isn't the reason for those celebs going natural.

 

[Junebug D]

The reason relaxer sales are down is not because black women have finally embraced their natural hair. More black women have now begun to use weaves and wigs to hide their hair which they leave un-relaxed or relax much less frequently since they rarely wear it out.

We have not finally embraced our fros. We have embraced fake hair and human hair grown by others. In fact, I think we have degressed. At least back in relaxer days, we were satisfied with our real hair. We are making Koreans and certain hair traders billions of dollars. It's sick!

Thank you! I've tried making this point a million times, it just falls on deaf ears. Whether it's kinky or straight, weave & wigs are the across-the-board sellers these days.

 

[MsLizziA]

Actually, you believe that relaxer is the holy grail for hair. So, your implication is that others with natural hair desperately want relaxers. It's not as though relaxers are uncommon. The thread was to discuss the article. The snark was seen as a desire to see backdoor way of introducing hair drama.

Please just ignore her. This is nothing new and she has a tendency to come in threads and try and start mess. I have seen her do it a bunch of times. Please don't respond to her anymore because it will get my thread locked. I have not addressed her once b/c i know she does this and the comment she made was toward me. Just ignore her

 

[UrbainChic]

Actually that Naomi picture, just scares me out of trying a protective sew in. Every time I even *think* about a sew in, or braids, or any of these styles, I SWEAR that picture of bald headed Naomi crawls out to scare me into submission.

I have nightmares about retreating hairlines like that. Imagine if my hair just packed up and left like that

Don't worry hair I wont abuse you. You can stay. Really.

 

[Lucky's Mom]

I think that the decline in sales of relaxers is very much attributed to many of the things that most of you ladies have addressed.... I wore a relaxer for 20 years. I can say that in that 20 years - there may have been a good 2 years of healthy hair. the other 18 - were a disaster.... I really never want to go back to anything that might require more than a shampoo to bring back my curls and texture.....

I won't even dye my hair for fears of any altered dried out state of hair....before I was in hair hades now - I am in a better place with my napps