Would You be Natural if not for...

[nikolite]

Yes. I went natural before I even knew anything about hair, relaxed or not. I mighta been looking jacked up (I definitely was when I first started cornrowing my own hair), but I'd still have continued.

 

[Firstborn2]

I would be natural...it's the environment I was raised. I did a 2yrs stint with relaxers in my early 20's and went back to natural.

 

[GraciousMystique]

Yes, I would still be natural. But I would not be wearing my natural hair out if were not for the hair boards.

I relaxed my hair for the first time when I was 16, the ending result was dry looking and damaged hair. I didn't like spending the money to get a less than stellar look neither did I take kindly to the irritable scalp burning. So I never relaxed again.

But I was being teased at school for not having a relaxer, so I wore weaves or wigs to cover my natural hair. Back then, I knew nothing about the variation of natural hairstyles so I figured one could accomplish more diverse looks with straight hair.

About a year ago, I stumbled upon fotki and the hair boards and it definitely helped realize the versatility and beauty of natural afro textured hair. I was inspired to wear my natural hair out in all it's glory.

 

[Nasdaq_Diva]

I've been natural since 2003. Long before it ever occured to me that a haircare forum even existed. I was KIM then, and I'm doing the same now!

Having forums, websites and other outlets for/about natural haircare are simply a compliment. It won't make/break/change my desires to no longer be natural. It is refreshing in this day and age to see other naturals from all over the world, discuss their experiences along their natural hair journey though.

 

[B3e]

In 2002 I started avoiding relaxers as much as possible and actually would go a couple of years without it before an event would come up that I would need to be relaxed for (hadn't even heard of a flat iron at this point so my alternative--hot combing was not an attractive one) I would leave it in for shorter periods of time (basically texlax more than relax but I didn't know about texlaxing) and then I would begin the avoiding game.

In 2008 I decided not to use another relaxer again and in Aug 2009 I stupidly relaxed my edges to blend with a half wig... I would otherwise have pretty much only needed to do a chop upon payin my dues in Dec 2009.

I think the only reason I say yes I would have gone natural is because I hate what relaxer does to fine hair that's not super dense...I hate that bald feeling. And I love the rain and avoiding it got on my nerves. Plus I love natural hair, I was planning on taking the dive and I suppose when I finally had the opportunity, going natural had become a fad all around me.

ETA: I was always in braids so relaxing seemed to be a waste of my time and energy when no one was experiencing my free flowing hair anyways. Basically I wanted to go natural at age 12...and finally succeeded @ 21...way cool

 

[Wildchild453]

Yes I would be.

I was natural before I found any of the hair boards but[/but] I got my hair straightened every two weeks. I didn't know that I could wear my hair in its natural texture. I've never really been a salon girl and hated going through the hassle of getting my hair relaxed so I simply stopped. I didn't even know I was transitioning and my hair was shoulder length before my stepmom but the straight ends for me.

It was finding Motown Girl's website that showed me the way and I wore my first puff. After that I started a google search and found the boards.

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

Probably. Having a community of naturals to research and see their accomplishments helped me finally get off the fence that I was on for about a year.

 

[Yoshi3329]

Yes, I was inspired to go natural when youtube first came out. I heard about LHCF from Scandalous Beauty. When I came here I didn't join at first because there were a lot of relax women. Then it became more natural and I felt comfortable to join, because I knew there would be threads and people to help and relate to me. While Youtube inspired me, LHCF has made it a lot easier for me to transition.

 

[soon2bsl]

Probably not. Going natural wasn't something I was familiar with at all. Didn't even cross my mind. I had been stretching relaxers for the past 3 years or so (was either pregnant or breastfeeding) and so I'd only get them a couple times a year. But getting a relaxer was the norm and routine, so I never thought of any other way to do my hair. So glad I found this board last year and have learned so much! Now I'm 13 months into my long term transition and it's going great!

 

[wavezncurlz]

I've been natural most of my life. I'd still be natural but I would have limited styling options. Heck, I just recently learned how to master a twistout.

 

[PistolWhip]

I entertained the idea but probably not."Thank You LHCF".

 

[BEAUTYU2U]

Yes, but it has helped a LOT.

 

[Candy828]

I was natural before coming to the boards but my reason for becoming natural was due to a bad experience with relaxers... I guess I am allergic to them... my scalp broke out in sores and the hair loss was bad. So I avoided relaxers like the plague! I had a lot of self discovery to do to learn my hair, take care of and grow it to super long lengths... Now it is at the longest it has ever been! I love the boards... the support of the women and the sharing of experiences keep me motivated. Especially when the hair police try to make me feel bad about my choice! I love natural curls and I am a information freak as many may already know..

The lhcf women are my extended family!

So to answer the question... Yes, I'd still be natural. But the journey is so much better with the boards!

 

[HeavenlySkies]

Nope if I never saw these "black" women with all these different textures I would have never been curious enough to try it myself.

 

[Curlykale]

No, I was about to go back to my texturizer after a year of transitioning. One month before texturizing again... I discovered them.

 

[Sapphire_chic]

Nope but I may have thought about it eventually.