Why Natural?

[Aviah]

To the transitioners, naturals and those who want to be natural-
What are your reasons? I'll start:
1)I got bored of straight hair
2) I damaged it, it was thin and when it got below SL it would ALWAYS need to be hacked off due to dry ends (after I started dying it).
You guys?

 

[rsmith]

I went natural because because my hair was super straight with a relaxer and it was just long and boring. I could not do anything else with it. It started getting really thin when my stylist convinced me to get highlights. Also, I begin to see a lot of other women on this board with natural hair and something inside of me begin to get so excited. I transitioned for 13 months and I am glad that I did. I love it. I will never go back to a relaxer.

 

[Pooks]

Natural hair is beautiful! I have been natural since birth and have never wanted to chemically alter my hair. My hair was never even blowdried until I was about 13 (against my mother's wishes).

This is the way God intended my hair to be, and I have so many options! Our hair is so versatile, why should I want to treat it with harsh chemicals it to the point of serious damage/breakage or (worst case scenario) baldness? I still struggle with my hair sometimes, but relaxed or natural who doesn't??? God willing I will raise my children in this same way.

ETA: Also the knowledge I've gleaned from this site and other naturals since I started my HHJ is amazing, my hair is reborn from the 'furry beast' into a joy that I take pleasure in nurturing! I can see why so many people have caught the BC bug lately, the question is why NOT natural?!!

 

[nichole21]

Relaxers were killing my scalp and my hair had begun to thin. I had also been saying for years I wanted to be more myself and that my relaxed hair didn't match my personality. Lastly, I have been relaxed most of my life and I wanted to see myself with my natural hair.

 

[bluediamond0829]

I went natural because all during the years that i had a relaxer i never could do my own hair. The best shape my hair was in was when i went to a stylist and when it was short. Well i wanted different styles besided short styles and to be able to grow my hair. I loved how my hair would feel in the natural state and i love how when its wet it curls up very easily. Also even when I was relaxed my hair always was so limp, fine and thin. I dont think i would have the body and shine that my hair has now compared to if i was relaxed.

Its hard staying natural at times because im more so of a straight natural but its hard when im working out and i sweat out my press or blowouts ugh thats the only part i dread.....

 

[bellecheveux]

I just don't see the point of relaxing anymore. I love the thickness and fluffiness (?) of my hair!

 

[pmichael52172]

Because:

Got tired of stunted growth, scraggly, weak strands with no fullness and volume and thinning temples.
Was unable to retain length because of the weakness due to chemicals
Wanted to see what my natural hair looked like
Didn't see the logic in going through treatments to put the good things back into my hair that the chemicals broke down (ie. protein, moisture, strength, etc.)

 

[bludaydreamr]

I wanted longer hair, and after 3 or more years of going to stylist to maintain my hair I was still a little longer then SL. I was paying way too much money, so I decided to stop the madness and I vowed not to go to another stylist unless he/she was concerned with the health of my hair.

It never occurred to me that I didn't have to relax, and I have always liked natural hair on others, but was lead to believe that I would not like my hair in its natural state. I did find a good stylist, and she started my transition( I didn't know what it was when I began). At first I was uncomfortable because I didn't even take care of my relaxed hair, and I had no idea where to start. I went online and was overwhelmed with all the info I found. I stumbled upon this site, and started to read and look at fotki's of all the hair types especially the naturals and became excited. It has been 2.5 years since my last relaxer and right now I have no desire to relax. I liked my hair relaxed, but compared to my natural hair it's no contest! I see how well my hair has grown and continues to grow I just want to let it do what it do!

 

[Long-n-Strong_Naturally]

I've been natural since '93. It fits my lifestyle: yoga;meditation;mostly veg;work with children under 3yrs. old; love to travel...love coming home. I think being natural allows more of "me" to come through. It's my way of saying this is me, this is who I am if you like it that's fine...if you don't like it that's fine too. It's all good 'cause I'm comfortable in my own skin.

CG

 

[MummysGirl]

I'm transitioning because:

1. I got tired of the hair on my edges breaking a week after getting a touch up
2. I got a little bored with my relaxed hair, I reached my goal (APL), passed it then had a huge setback (cut at least 4 inches off).
3. I've been really curious about how my natural hair will look now that I have learned a lot about hair care. I was natural for a year (2002-2003) but I hardly deep conditioned, NEVER cowashed, ALWAYS combed dry. It was hardly ever in it's natural coily state, so I have no idea how my natural hair will look this time around.
4. I was always saying I'd go natural "in the future", I guess the future is now.
5. I love my natural texture

 

[Ronnieaj]

I wore straight hair for as long as I could remember, and I was just fine with it. I started getting lazy and wearing my hair in braid-outs when I was trying to stretch relaxers and I was tired of trying to straighten it, and everyone LOVED braidouts. People kept commenting on how fully my hair looked and how they loved it curly. I had never even considered going natural before then. But I decided to do it, and my mom was most excited because she said I had such pretty hair natural. It is the best thing I've done for myself and my hair.

 

[jennboo]

I "went" natural because:

-Straight hair really wasn't me.
-I love full, voluminous styles like puffs and twists.
-Straight hair (imo) is typical and boring
- I am proud of my god-given texture and wanted to embrace the real me
- I wanted to forego the toxic chemicals and lead a healthier, more natural lifestlye
-I look so much better with my natural hair

 

[GraceV2]

I'm currently transitioning to natural b/c
*I love my NG.
*The chemicals in relaxers make me nervous. I am too through depending on incompetent stylists to properly manage those chemicals on my scalp and hair. Everytime I got a touch-up, my paranoid self expected my hair to fall out from overprocessing and not enough neutralizing. I was miserable at self-relaxing; I always underprocessed my hair and ended up having to pay to have it corrected anyways.
*At this point in my life, I find textured hair much more interesting than straight hair.
*I'm tired of blending in with the crowd.
*I'm transitioning not only in regards to my hair, but in my whole life...letting go of what society, my friends, and family say I "should" look like is my way of taking one more step towards fully embracing myself.
*I think my hair has much more potential to grow in its natural state.

 

[DayStar]

after 3.5 years of this fire cream i have regrets of even relaxing in the first place. I will never do it again,plus i miss my natural long hair.

 

[TCatt86]

The damage it did to my scalp was unbearable and I also wanted to color my hair. I actually transistioned with the idea of being a straight haired natural, you know just pressing it, but I grew to love my coilies.

 

[vainღ♥♡jane]

i've always admired natural hair; i think it fits women so much better than something chemically altered. i'm transitioning because i like my natural hair better than relaxed hair; its prettier, and it fits my lifestyle more. i exercise most days of the week, and when i'm natural i can wash my hair when i want to and still be cute. i don't like the maintenance relaxed hair requires, and its boring too.​

 

[donewit-it]

I decided to go natural to embrace who I am as well. How God made me.

I've been relaxed, natural, loced, bald..... And I just wanted to see what my hair could do. I really do love it.

It was healthy as a relaxed head too, so health wasn't an issue.

It really is just hair, so I may decided to relax my hair one day. I'm not holding myself to any standards now.

 

[Whimsy]

I loved reading all the responses.

I was texlaxed, never permed bone straight. I love curly hair and was wearing my hair curly 75% of the time anyway. I was getting my touchups like 3x a year... I kinda figured, what's the point!?

I love my natural hair, and can still wear it straight when I want to change it up. Also, I just feel more like ME with my hair natural.

 

[Neith]

I couldn't see myself using chemicals for the rest of my life.

My hair is healthier and stronger as a natural and I most likely will be able to grow my hair out longer because of it.

​

 

[silvergirl]

fuller hair
healthier
curious
curls rock
less maintenance
easy
to be different
i dont have to think about growing my hair, it just does (no breakage issues at all)
just cause

 

[NaturallyBlonde]

I was ready for a change. I haven't been natural since I was about 8, so it was time. I had been thinking about going natural for years and then I just did it! I was tired of spending countless hours in the salon. I also always ending up with a burn. So much so that I expected it. Not good.

I don't regret it one bit.

 

[Nonie]

I transitioned so I could grow a fresh head of healthy hair that would give awesome relaxed results. So my plan for transitioning was to relax anew on fresh virgin hair. But as my natural hair grew, and I saw it get to lengths I never had all my life, I fell in love with it. I had also learned so much about caring for it that it was such a joy to work with. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE its versatility. Relaxed straight hair could not do the things my natural 4B hair can do so I cannot imagine having permanently straight hair again. I love the control I have over my hair: that I can wear straight hair if I want to and switch back to my lovely coils at will.

 

[Lei*Lei]

I went natural because i was bored with my relaxed hair. Plus, i started slacking off with my hairdresser appts, so i decided to transition and then bc.

 

[nurseN98]

My hair started falling out when I moved to a new area. While trying to figure out what the problem was I stopped relaxing incase that was the issue. Turns out that it wasn't the issue but by the time I figured it out I had a good 3 or 4 inches of new growth. On top of that I was beginning a new phase in my life so I figured what the hay, just let it grow naturally. I figured if I needed to I can just relax again but as much as i've threatened to do that I just can't bring myself to relax my hair again. I like it bushy and I want my daughter to see that there is an option to relaxing.

 

[Computer Blue]

1.When I relaxed 5yrs ago I had no intention of staying relaxed forever. I prefer my hair long, so I figure why not start moving back towards that since my relaxed hair was already healthy.

2. The stick straight hair that I wanted then is not "all that" to me anymore. I miss the versatility of being natural-the cure for any bad hair day was water and conditioner.I am now loving(vs. annoyed with) the volume I have at nearly 6 months post.

3. I know how to get lasting results with straightening now. Before I only used a pressing comb. The flat iron is my friend!

 

[msa]

I've always been natural, there's no other way for me to be.

 

[mscocoface]

I don't mean to be glib but for me it was the question Why Not Natural?

I had been relaxed for soooooo long, short hair, long hair, 90% of the time damaged hair so I started researching and wanted to know why not be natural?

It was a stop and start situation at the very beginning, then I had to get over the mental issues of not having straight hair, then what would I do with my natural hair, but I finally got it together and stayed than way.

 

[TheQueenBeeMaya]

I'm natural because, well, I don't know anything else! Relaxers were forbidden in my home and all of my friends were also natural as well, so there was never any pressure to get one. I have an amazing stylist who can flat iron my hair silky straight (though i'm trying to become a DIYer) when I want that look.

 

[AdoreMsK67]

I have been transitioning since March and decided to go for it 100%. My hair would grow with relaxers, but there would be so much breakage along the way it never looked full and all one length no matter what I'd do.

Also, I like my texture and can't wait to see it in it's all natural state again. Most importantly, my little girls who are 1 and 2, I want them to have the best natural hair care experience. So to have that it will have to start with me.

 

[Miss*Tress]

I love natural hair. Black hair is beautiful.