Why is flat ironing natural hair such a big deal?

[Kindheart]

I ve seen a few militant natural sistas bashing or giving the side eye to other naturals for straightening their hair from time to time, they considered this as unacceptance of their natural texture,i find this to be judgemental and quite harsh ,i don't get it ,once you embrace your natural texure whats wrong with styling it in a different way ?
just venting

 

[Curlykutie]

I think everyone has a right to do their hair how they please, I only straighten my hair once a year. However if someone else wants to straighten their natural every week makes me no nevermind. This is what works for me.

 

[mzteaze]

Unfortunately for some people its either "all or none" or "black and white with no shades of grey in between".

Being militant and closed-minded is just that - an inflexible way to see things. In the end, its my hair and can do as I please with it regardless of anyone else's opinion.

 

[BraunSugar]

I only think it matters if someone has too much time on their hands.

 

[Napp]

only on the foums....

 

[adamson]

I don't consider hair 'natural' if the person in question straightens their hair the majority of the time.

Apparently this is only a forum idea, but I can't think of anyone in real life (personally) that would call themselves natural if they straightened their hair the majority of the time.

 

[Nonie]

OP, those that matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter.

Life's too short to be worrying about what anyone thinks about what you do with your own body. If you like it, I love it. @mzteaze and I are right >>here<<.

 

[Cherokee-n-Black]

I ve seen a few militant natural sistas bashing or giving the side eye to other naturals for straightening their hair from time to time, they considered this as unacceptance of their natural texture,i find this to be judgemental and quite harsh ,i don't get it ,once you embrace your natural texure whats wrong with styling it in a different way ?
just venting

Honestly I think it has to do with the whole notion that we must change the texture of our hair to fit a white standard. Like I said in another thread, the history of race, the ridiculing of African features, and the degradation of black women based on appearance is like it or not part of the American psyche, and is particularly poignant for black women.

We were constantly sent messages in the media (although less so now) and mainly in our community about what it is "acceptable" for us to look like growing up, and it rarely includes our natural texture. Many black people still do this to this day, perming toddler's hair, flat ironing, etc... I think people who have an issue with straightening are responding to the practice of straightening that was born of a sense of inferiority of natural Afro-textured hair. I'm not saying they're right, but I understand why it would bother them.

 

[Napp]

I ve seen a few militant natural sistas bashing or giving the side eye to other naturals for straightening their hair from time to time, they considered this as unacceptance of their natural texture,i find this to be judgemental and quite harsh ,i don't get it ,once you embrace your natural texure whats wrong with styling it in a different way ?
just venting

why should someone else be mad that one doesnt like their own hair texture is the real question IMO

 

[hothair]

This has been my point. I believe they feel strongly due to their own insecurities that they're projecting unto others. It's just hair, how you choose to wear it should be your business without people trying to put unnecessary labels on you

 

[Kindheart]

why should someone else be mad that one doesnt like their own hair texture is the real question IMO

good point .Its pointless..

 

[LadyRaider]

Link to said person worried about someone else flat ironing their hair.

???

 

[LadyRaider]

...and, do people who use gel, curl definers etc, also "hate their own texture?"

 

[reeko43]

Sometimes I really do wonder what is going on in the head of an extremist. Is it like that homophobe who declares hate for homosexuals but is fighting his/her own homosexual desires? Those ladies doth protest too much, methinks!

 

[yaya24]

I ve seen a few militant natural sistas bashing or giving the side eye to other naturals for straightening their hair from time to time, they considered this as unacceptance of their natural texture,i find this to be judgemental and quite harsh ,i don't get it ,once you embrace your natural texure whats wrong with styling it in a different way ?
just venting

Its okay girl, we don't care what they think

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I don't consider hair 'natural' if the person in question straightens their hair the majority of the time.

Apparently this is only a forum idea, but I can't think of anyone in real life (personally) that would call themselves natural if they straightened their hair the majority of the time.[/QUOTE

What if someone wants the strait look, but their hair cannot handle a relaxer? Not everyone goes natural for an afro. I think some naturals really need to stop being so rigid. As long as there is no chemical, the person has natural hair. I guess that is just an issue for some people. I wouldn't lose sleep over this so called big deal.

 

[luckiestdestiny]

I don't consider hair 'natural' if the person in question straightens their hair the majority of the time.

Apparently this is only a forum idea, but I can't think of anyone in real life (personally) that would call themselves natural if they straightened their hair the majority of the time.

Wow...I'm natural and I've been braided up for years BUT I veer between that and periods where I straighten my hair mostly (and I'll probably opt for that next year as I'm tired of braids currently). AND that statement above to me it's just .

IMO: If you don't have chemicals on your hair you're natural. If you have to spend five hours (and I'd have to at this length) to straighten your hair which will revert with water, or an intense gym session...then guess what...you're natural imo! Natural=no chemicals. And don't give me the whole flat irons break bonds bs...

DId you know:
You can break the bonds of hair by just combing and brushing the hair.
UV rays can break the bonds (and weaken) the bonds of hair. So we have to give ourselves a break or else we could say no one is natural but a kid who was just born who hasn't had their hair combed, or gone out in the sun lol! So unless you're chemically breaking the bonds (intentionally breaking as many bonds as possible in a specific way) then you're natural perod.


Things like this make a lot of people feel that all naturals are militant when it's not the case. I really don't care what others do with their hair. If you want to do wash and gos all the time then I say good for you! Or if you want to straighten it all the time, but still love your natural hair straightened then I say go for it. And that even goes for relaxed heads. BUT still there is no difference between my hair (if I straighten it ) and a wash n go natural because my hair will revert back to it's natural state just like hers when water touches it.

 

[mzteaze]

I don't consider hair 'natural' if the person in question straightens their hair the majority of the time.

Apparently this is only a forum idea, but I can't think of anyone in real life (personally) that would call themselves natural if they straightened their hair the majority of the time.

I'm not sure how you arrived at this conclusion. What do you think people did with their hair before relaxers? Being able to straighten hair has existed long before the invent of relaxers - via tension method, pressing combs and even hair ironing (with an actual iron), etc.

Are you seriously suggesting that they were (are) not considered natural simply because they choose a different styling method away from an afro/bush?

 

[yaya24]

I don't consider hair 'natural' if the person in question straightens their hair the majority of the time.

Apparently this is only a forum idea, but I can't think of anyone in real life (personally) that would call themselves natural if they straightened their hair the majority of the time.

What would they call themselves??

 

[LongLeggedLife]

I didnt know it was a big deal.
Then again, I dont know any 'militant natural sistas'.

 

[luckiestdestiny]

....................................

 

[MsLi@512]

OP, those that matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter.

Life's too short to be worrying about what anyone thinks about what you do with your own body. If you like it, I love it. @mzteaze and I are right >>here<<.

 

[reeko43]

Things like this make a lot of people feel that all naturals are militant when it's not the case.

I think that the majority of the people realize that the militant naturals are a minority. I have one woman at work constantly accusing me of "clinging to the White man ideal" because I am doing a long term transition and won't big chop early like she chose to do. Most naturals, strangers and not, are very supportive offering me tips and encouragement.

 

[OsnapCnapp!]

Sometimes I really do wonder what is going on in the head of an extremist. Is it like that homophobe who declares hate for homosexuals but is fighting his/her own homosexual desires? Those ladies doth protest too much, methinks!

Reaction Formation. Its an ugly defense mechanism.

 

[makeupgirl]

I don't consider hair 'natural' if the person in question straightens their hair the majority of the time.

Apparently this is only a forum idea, but I can't think of anyone in real life (personally) that would call themselves natural if they straightened their hair the majority of the time.

Ok....I always thought that the point of being natural was keeping your hair from a chemical straightener such as relaxers. My aunt's hair is 100% and she straightens her hair every week, it doesn't make her any more or less natural than I am, who doesn't straighten their hair every week.

I just don't understand or get your opinion. Enlighten us please regarding your theory.

 

[makeupgirl]

I think that the majority of the people realize that the militant naturals are a minority. I have one woman at work constantly accusing me of "clinging to the White man ideal" because I am doing a long term transition and won't big chop early like she chose to do. Most naturals, strangers and not, are very supportive offering me tips and encouragement.

Oh my, I can't stand when people get like this. Some people just don't know what to say out of their mouths and usually they don't know what they are talking about.

 

[youwillrise]

interesting. i'm actually selling my flat iron because i dont need it/want it/use it and i think my hair looks horrible straight. that being said, i dont really care what other people do with their hair. your hair, your choice. what other people do to their hair has no direct impact on me or my own hair. sooooooo...

 

[reeko43]

Oh my, I can't stand when people get like this. Some people just don't know what to say out of their mouths and usually they don't know what they are talking about.

Too bad they don't realize that their tactics are really not effective. When my coworker started talking crazy, I told her about herself and changed the channel on her existence in my world. I no longer consider anything she has to say about hair credible. However, those with tact and sense always get my attention.

 

[PinkGirlFluff]

I did not know that people like this really existed. I keep hearing people talk about them but I've never met one in person.

 

[djkforeal]

I don't get it either! I have been natural all of my life except for 1 year when I was 10 and my mother thought it was a good idea for me to get a relaxer because I was running track and my hair would sweat out the presses. I don't care what another person thinks about my natural hair and I will straighten it all I want because it's mine. My definition of natural is hair on a head without chemicals and I am not talking about the chemicals that are found in most commercial shampoos, I mean the chemicals that will eat through an aluminum soda can! Just because a natural straightens their hair does not mean that they are no longer natural, as soon as some water touches those straight strands they go right back to a curly texture. I don't even think heat damage can permantly straighten a naturals hair like a relaxer can, because for as many years as I have been natural I have straightened my hair and the couple of strands that tried to be damaged from heat and stayed straight, eventually curled right back up after a couple of months or so. If you don't have no creamy crack in your head then you are natural and can't nobody tell you anything different!