Why did you choose to be natural?

[EccentricRed]

1. I was tired of losing my edges & nape, and my hair breaking off no matter how long I stretched.
2. I disliked the feeling of getting the relaxer put on my head. I dreaded my scalp getting burnt.
3. With my usual relaxer/wrapped hair routine, I looked just like a lot of other girl I saw. Even if I'm sitting with 3 other naturals, we all look different from each other. I love the diversity of it!

 

[Anew]

Hair boards. It seemed everyone was going natural and I wanted to as well. Start looking at all the textures and start wondering what mine looks like. Can I grow it long while natural. After a while I started liking the relaxed look on me even less and liking the idea of being natural even more.

So you ladies, the transitioners and the BCers and the lifers, you all inspired me to go natural.

 

[ScarletPhoenix]

For me it was no decision to get closer to my 'roots' or anything like that but I was tired of paying $60+ on perms that as soon as I got home I could create a wash n go. My roots were always wavy and my perms never really took anymore, so I decided to just stop getting them. My hair grew alot more and it seemed alot healthier so my hair dresser stopped putting them in and I was a roller set queen until the summer time. I went back and forth from that for years until I BC'ed in July 2007 and here I am now with SL unstretched hair...we've had some short comings and I just chopped off about 1 1/2 to 2" of ends but we are at a good place, my hair and I lol

 

[azuquita_morena]

I went natural after 2 years of relaxing. My hair was falling out and thinning (especially in the front), and I was shedding like crazy. Plus, I hated the relaxing process in general. When I decided to go natural, I decided (after I cut the relaxed ends) that I will not place any heat on my hair until I reached my hair goal of WL.

 

[JaszyFaye]

I went natural because my hair started to fall out despite me taking care of it. I was going to the salon every 2 weeks but that didn't matter because she still took my hair out and left me with a bald spot (which is the last thing a freshman in high school needs). I couldn't get perms until that hair grew back and once the hair did grow back my hair was still damaged and I had to get a Halle Berry cut. It was shaved off in the back, fade on the sides, and maybe and 1 1/2 inch on top. After that, I never got a perm again. I stayed natural because I love the versitality. One day I can wear my hair in a fro and the next day I can wear it bone straight.

 

[Nasdaq_Diva]

it's nothing compared to my natural texture

The reason why I am so torn is because my family keeps telling me that I don't have "good hair" and that having natural hair is unprofessional. erplexed I start my new job on June 28th, and they keep reminding me that I can't do anything "adult" with short natural hair that looks decent and professional.

Please, do what's best for you. I know I may get some flack for this but you really have to have a 'natural hair' mentality into order to go and STAY natural.

If you havne't reached the point of thinkin, "**** what everyone else is talking about! I'm going this for me" Then you're just going to remain stagnant in your decision to start your natural hair journey.

People are going to have rude, disresctful things to say to you about going natural. They are going to remind you, "you dont have that good hair", "you ain't gonna get no man looking like that" "no one is going to hire you with your hair like that" and so on and so forth. But, it's up to you to find the PRIDE in yourself to push through with your journey. HHJ

 

[VidaStarr]

Well I stopped relaxing my hair in HS. It costs a lot to maintain it and go to the shop every two weeks so they could condition and flat iron it. My hair was actually growing pretty quickly when i was doing it tho. But then I stopped and switched to just getting my hair braided with extensions. It was so much easier that way. But then a few years later my friend who had BC'd and went natural was talking to another friend of mine about her naturally curly hair and about being natural and it inspired me to let go of the extensions.

Going natural wasn't political or anything for me... initially. But then when I realized that I knew NOTHING about my natural hair and it started to have me question why I and so many black women I knew didn't even know how to do our hair without straightening it or adding fake hair. So now I'm natural because I really want to learn about my hair and care for it naturally. And learn to love and accept myself despite what I was raised to believe was beautiful or not beautiful.

 

[ZnZ's mom]

For my daughter. I wanted her to know that we are beautiful just the way we are.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

Maybe you should consider heat trained hair. There is no right way or wrong way to be natural. Just because you heat train doesn't mean that you didn't reach your goal of being natural. My aunt had heat trained waist length hair. She wore a bun most of the time and I believe that protective styling helped her hair retain moisture and length.

Thank you for this. I was thinking about this choice.

 

[dynamic1]

I had long, healthy looking, relaxed hair. I wasn't "going natural", I just decided to "stop relaxing". I had a 3+ year transition which I started before I found hair forums. I wanted a change and didn't think relaxing was mandatory simply because I had kinky hair. I was also curious to find out if it would alleviate the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis. I was never discouraged by stylists or family. I did have some overly concerned friends and colleagues. Surprinsingly, I haven't even heat straightened in almost 2.5 years (not against it). However, I have no intentions of going back to relaxers.

 

[ceebee3]

I was tired of my relaxed hair looking like everyone else's.

I wanted to get back to my true texture and I wanted my sons to see me in my natural glory.

 

[Trini_Chutney]

I was bored with my relaxed hair and just tired of the process. I decided to just stop relaxing and let my hair do what it do.

 

[kiesha8185]

Please, do what's best for you. I know I may get some flack for this but you really have to have a 'natural hair' mentality into order to go and STAY natural.

If you havne't reached the point of thinkin, "**** what everyone else is talking about! I'm going this for me" Then you're just going to remain stagnant in your decision to start your natural hair journey.

People are going to have rude, disresctful things to say to you about going natural. They are going to remind you, "you dont have that good hair", "you ain't gonna get no man looking like that" "no one is going to hire you with your hair like that" and so on and so forth. But, it's up to you to find the PRIDE in yourself to push through with your journey. HHJ

You're 100% right. I'm going to cancel my touch-up appointment once again Thank you so much for the encouragement!

 

[Jewell]

Got fed up with the chemicals and having to get an act of Congress for my mother to do my touch-ups (didn't trust stylists). When she didn't want to do it, I taught myself to TU, but the longer my hair got while relaxed, the thinner it got no matter how much I PS or kept the ends trimmed, or kept the manipulation low. So, I decided my hair would be much healthier in it's natural state, and thought if I chose to wear the straight look while natural, I'd just press it. Simple. I transitioned the 1st time for 9 months, then BC'd and I was very pleased with my choice. I have also ALWAYS adored beautiful, full, big, free, natural hair, no matter the texture, and I wanted that for myself. Freedom from constraint and chemicals.

I later texlaxed for convenience, but instantly regretted going back to the chemicals. So, less than a year later, I started another transition, this time without the BC. I get many compliments on how pretty my natural texture is, so that just gives me confidence. I had a lot of negativity from family, but outside of fam, I've had no probs with ppl. I'm glad I decided to go natural before, and proud of my choice again. I want to show my daughter you don't have to conform to White mainstream society's mantra that only "straight hair" is beautiful and can grow long. I will keep her natural for as long as possible. No chemicals will touch her hair unless she decides to as an adult.

 

[KnottyGurl]

Your hair is Why do you have big chop, cut it short? Have you thought about doing a long transition and slowly trimming it over time? You could keep the long hair while becoming natural at the same time. Plus, I think it's easier to transition with long hair. Check out the Transitioning without Big Chopping thread.

To answer OP's question:
As for me, I'm transitioning b/c I got tired of getting relaxers, whether paying a stylist or doing it myself. My hair stayed thin and shoulder length. But now, since texlaxing after a 16 month transition and big chop, I've learned how to take better care of my hair and am almost APL. I look forward to transitioning this time b/c it's longer and thicker (texlaxed) and closer to my natural state. I've also found products that make managing my hair easier. Even though I'm starting over (6 weeks), this time I'm looking forward to the journey and not just the destination.

Thank you so much for this thread. I am on the fence and I JUST don't know what to do. I want to go natural. I got my last touch up on February 5th and I have about 2-3 inches of new growth. I LOVE IT. I love how moisturized it feels, I love my texture, and how much healthier it feels than my relaxed hair. I thought I knew what moisturized hair felt like...it's nothing compared to my natural texture

The reason why I am so torn is because my family keeps telling me that I don't have "good hair" and that having natural hair is unprofessional. erplexed I start my new job on June 28th, and they keep reminding me that I can't do anything "adult" with short natural hair that looks decent and professional.

At this point, I know my stylist is getting frustrated because I keep re-scheduling my touch-up appointment I just don't know what to do. I don't care about what my family says...I don't care that I might not have "good hair"...I like my texture. But I am concerned about how to look presentable on my new job since I have never had to style natural hair in my adult life WHAT SHOULD I DO?!

 

[lovely_locks]

I decided to go natural because my hair stopped growing. Not only did it stop growing but it broke off. And my ends were paper thin and see through. And I have VERY thick hair. My mother has alot of very curley hair. I'm trying so hard not to relax my hair. I myself love my hair, but my mother (half black an half white) does not get it. And does nt care to get it, and does not think I can do it. My husban (white) supports me, but does not understand. Hair is hair to him but like I said he does support me. I'm just so glad that he supports me. Plus, he told me that he loves puffy hair! And after I showed him how long and thick some of you ladies have your hair he went out and bought me a bunch of hair oils, and sprays! lol! Grated some of those things (grease) I wont be using but the thought is there!

 

[naturalmanenyc]

I was on a long relaxer stretch, around 18 weeks into it I decided to transition to natural. I wanted to see my natural hair after being relxed since age 10.

Also, my long time stylist moved out of state and I never did find a stylist that I trusted to relax my hair regularly. A friend did my last texlax. She did end up becoming a licensed stylist this year but she also married & moved out of state.

I never did a BC though. I kept my hair at least SL the whole time. It took me 2 years to transition to fully natural.

 

[Vashti]

I went natural because I had a very bad experience with a relaxer. My hair doesn't like relaxers. I like my natural hair. A lot.

Sounds like your ends need a lot of moisture. Deep conditioning and hot oil treatments on a regular basis might help.

 

[Ijanei]

Im choosing to become natural because I want thick hair. My hair is soooo thin. Also I want my curls back...I was natural at one time and didn't even know it (I had transitioned for more than a 2yrs and was trimming. Then I relaxed. SMH)

 

[LovinLocks]

I went natural because fighting nature is an exercise in futility!

 

[ashessehsa]

At first, being natural wasn't a choice for me. I was spending weeks at a time in the hospital, and the medicine that was given to me, along with all of the stress I was under caused my hair to fall out. I wanted to keep the hair I had, so I decided to go natural. So far, I've been having good luck with it. My hair feels healthier, and it's more versatile.

 

[hasabe]

for the freedom

 

[innerbeautyy]

My hair was never really healthy; I got tired of fighting an uphill battle with my relaxed hair! I always had a certain spot in my head that would break off and be much shorter than the rest of my hair. I also really wanted to know if my hair would grow longer if I went natural.

 

[preciouslove0x]

I went natural because i felt like I was missing apart of ME. When I realized "normal" people were natural too (yea BIG misconception that the only people who went natural were the ones that STROVE to be different from everyone else) I started to think about what would "going natural" do for me. I couldn't quite answer the question until I did it... I BCed. It was truly liberating (plus a billion more synonyms for 'amazing') Now that I'm natural, I LOVEEEE it. I can't even imagine how someone can grow old and not have seen their natural hair in all of its glory since childhood. It's sad to think about. But now that I am equipped with the knowledge I need to maintain my hair in its natural state, I try to pass it on to AS MANY people as I possibly can.
Supposedly going natural is the new fad. So I plan to do my part in making this "fad" into a way of life amongst my peers. I truly feel like they don't know what they're missing out on. Words can't describe how happy I am with the hair that I was born with (go figure!)

 

[loshed]

It was a mixture of hate and cheapness. I bc the summer I graduated from high school. I think the only reason I kept getting relaxers for so long was because my mom was paying for them so it was like whatever. Hated the burning but I kept going because my mom kept making appointments. Once it was on me to make my own appointments and pay I had to stop and think, "wait! why am I paying my sweet, sweet cash money for something I dread?" Couldn't think of a reason so I stopped.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

Glad I found this thread. I'm looking into natural roller setting. I'm grateful for insomnia. It helped me today to think of ways to stay natural in the future. I have to learn how to care for my hair in different ways. My negative was turned into a positive. Now to look for this on You Tube.

 

[hma128]

I chose to become natural because I realized that I've never seen my natural texture. My mom relaxed my hair since I was really young and never really knew how to properly take care of it. I joined a hair board and started learning how to take care of relaxed hair but I always had setbacks.

At one point, I was stretching my relaxer and I was observing my new growth. I saw all these little coils and curls hiding in my hair and I was intrigued. This was the most of my natural hair that I'd ever seen!

My last relaxer was on January of this year so right now I'm transitioning. I love the way natural hair looks and I hope to grow long natural hair that I can call mine!

 

[KurlyNinja]

There are a lot of factors as to why I want to be natural. I'm currently in college and I only ever got a touch up about once or twice a year anyway because my beautician would always tell me that I don't need one. And she was right. I always heard her, but I never actually listened.

I was in my dorm one day, waking up early to flat iron my hair like I did every morning (stupid, I know). I had just washed my hair too and my hair was doing this spirally curl thing. (I didn't realize at that time that my beautician was underprocessing my hair, I just thought that was suppose to happen with relaxers, I thank her everyday for that now because I see how much its saved my hair) Just as I was about to blow dry my hair, I thought, "What is the point?" I never actually thought that before. I just did it because straight hair is what was acceptable and the only thing I knew how to manage after all these years. Its at the point when I said enough is enough, no more perms, flat irons or blow driers. They take up TOO much of my time anyway. That was back in april. I'm now knowingly transitioning even though I don't think it will be too hard. I did it all the time without even knowingly doing it, but this time I won't be getting a touch up. I'll be rocking all natural!

 

[kiesha8185]

Your hair is Why do you have big chop, cut it short? Have you thought about doing a long transition and slowly trimming it over time? You could keep the long hair while becoming natural at the same time. Plus, I think it's easier to transition with long hair. Check out the Transitioning without Big Chopping thread.

Thank you

I was thinking about transitioning without doing the big chop. I washed my hair this morning and for the first time I didn't have an issue detangling; I found out what works for my hair. I airdried it and it looks okay. I think I will continue doing this until my natural hair gets long enough and cut off the relaxed ends.

 

[vainღ♥♡jane]

because i think my natural hair is pretty, and easier for me to manage. although i will say, thats because i had not a clue how to take care of my relaxed hair. i know if i ever do relax again, i'll know how to wash it the right way. ♥