I have wanted to go natural for a long time (started talking about it in 2003), but anytime I told anyone of my plans, they laughed at me & called me crazy! I have thick hair & people thought it was ridiculous that I would want it to be natural bc it would get even "thicker". I told my hair dresser of my plans and she said if I went natural, she would NOT do my hair because I have too much already...I was really hurt. But I kept getting relaxed because I was afraid they were right! I am not very talented with hair styling, so I doubted I could really do it with even thicker hair
But over the years, I learned how to take care of my hair more, and decided I could do it after all. I waited until finishing my grad school program & went for it
But a funny thing happened during that time...the attitudes of almost everyone around me changed! Even my stylist (now ex-stylist by the way
) changed her tune when I reminded her of what she said SMH She said many of her clients had gone natural and she wouldn't MIND taking care of my natural hair (gee, thanks, but no thanks!). By that, she meant only pressing it. Anyway, attitudes (at least in my social circle) have really changed...
My family still got nervous when I said I was going natural though, asking if I was cutting all my hair off and if I was going to wear an Afro all the time
I tried to let them know there is versatility in natural hair, but I can show them better than I can tell them
But the biggest factor I think that hasn't been mentioned is the drastic improvement in black hair care products...when I was a kid, there was Grease, Pink Lotion and No More Tangles! That was it
Now there are so many healthy and effective choices for natural black hair that really showcase all the things our hair can do! I didn't know anyone who could wear a WnG as a child and I see them everyday now...I
curls, so that was a huge factor in deciding to go natural