I am actually insulted by the fact that many people do not consider kinky/nappy/natural hair to be curly as if it is not good enough to be included in this category.
This is a good point. The image of curly as we know it is very Eurocentric. Historically it is viewed as a very loose coil or wave. Yet that is not the true definition. We have created our own definitions to describe our hair which is definitely distinct from European. What's wrong with expanding the definition to include the description of our hair as curly (as by definition it already does) vs. rejecting the definition altogether. Is it because no one else accepts it? Why do Europeans have to have a lock on curly?
ETA: While still embracing all if the other unique terms to describe our hair.
'cause it is a curl. just different degrees. that's what i've learned
Before anybody gets thoughts in their heads, I just wanted to add that Teri's hair was NOT merely "uncared for" in that photo. It was not natural either. It had chemical damage:
No one should assess texture based on chemically altered hair, even if it looks natural.
I didn't realize that the first picture I posted was of the jeri curl over a relaxer, so, for clarity's sake then, here is her natural hair.
It is still the same point that I made before however... This is not the kind of hair that you would readily run your fingers through. Neither is my hair. I can 'fro my hair out too:
But guess what, my texture is still the same.... My siggy pic is my wet, naked hair. It dries looking very similar to that.
Teri obviously uses a different method now, but that doesn't change her hair texture and I have no doubt in my mind that some people would consider both pictures above to fall into the kinky et. al category. My point was that it is always going to be a matter of perspective.
@ Cherokee: Yeah, you'd be surprised. My hubby is from PR, and he used to call my hair nappy/kinky before I schooled him.
Oh yeah...well, that's a whole 'nother discussion re: The perception of some Black Spanish speakers! LOL. I guess I should have said I'd be surprised if someone AA thought that was "kinky" or "nappy." It's funny though, I always thought growing up, "nappy" meant "uncombed."
Some kinky hair is curly. It's just not a loose curl. A coil is a form or type of curl. When someone says their hair is curly, it does not always mean loosely curled like a type 3 or type 2. If it's not straight, it's curled. Even a wave can be considered a curl.I've noticed a lot on various hairboards that a lot of people say they love their "curls" when their hair is really kinky. My natural hair is really kinky and coily, but I will never refer to it as curly b/c it just isn't there.
I've noticed that not a lot of people seem to say or embrace the words "kinky" or even "nappy." All I hear is curly. What do you think about this? Do you say curly, nappy, kinky...what is your word that you use to describe your natural hair and why?
Some kinky hair is curly. It's just not a loose curl. A coil is a form or type of curl. When someone says their hair is curly, it does not always mean loosely curled like a type 3 or type 2. If it's not straight, it's curled. Even a wave can be considered a curl.
You shouldn't feel weird or that it's inappropriate to say that your hair is curly if it in fact is curly. It would only be inappropriate to say, "My hair is curly" if your hair is naturally straight type 1 hair. Black people have curly hair, either very tight (kink), tight (coil), loose (loose curl), or very loose (wave).My hair is pretty curly. I always feel "weird" saying curly. Almost like I'm saying something inappropriate LOL Sounds stupid I'm sure. But there's almost something weird about being black and saying curly hair. Almost like we're not supposed to say it.
But to heck with it, I say it anyway!
You shouldn't feel weird or that it's inappropriate to say that your hair is curly if it in fact is curly. It would only be inappropriate to say, "My hair is curly" if your hair is naturally straight type 1 hair. Black people have curly hair, either very tight (kink), tight (coil), loose (loose curl), or very loose (wave).
My hair is pretty curly. I always feel "weird" saying curly. Almost like I'm saying something inappropriate LOL Sounds stupid I'm sure. But there's almost something weird about being black and saying curly hair. Almost like we're not supposed to say it.
But to heck with it, I say it anyway!
I believe that for some, the words "kinky" and "nappy" have negative connotations and the fact that these words have been used derogatorily to describe various black hair textures. Admittedly, I don't like the words "kinky" and "nappy" because I don't believe they accurately describe hair texture erplexed Also, as a child I never heard those two words used in an endearing fashion