Not quite ready for team natural? Why these black women went back to using relaxers
Why are some women still struggling with the process of maintaining natural hairstyles -- or even going back to the "creamy crack," as some people dub the addictive nature of relaxers?
The fact that Poe lives in a city that is only one percent African-American, with few salons specializing in natural hair, doesn’t help. Today, Poe has gone back to wearing her hair relaxed, but doesn’t rule out another attempt at going natural.
Another reason some women won’t join Team Natural is for fear of reprisals at the work place. “ I’ve heard a lot of women worry that they won’t look ‘professional,’” said Prestonia. And they may have good reason. Consider the fact that Air France and Six Flags have both been in the news recently because of their treatment of employees with dreadlocks. Plus, historically black colleges like Hampton University continue to forbid their business students from wearing certain natural hair styles because they deem them to be in opposition to a corporate dress code.
RELATED: Hampton University Business School dean stands by ban on dreadlocks, cornrows
Needing to land a job in this tough economy is certainly inspiration enough to go back to relaxed.
For Juanita Bradford, 65, a retired college professor based in North Carolina, not looking professional to others wasn’t her only problem with maintaining a natural style. It went much deeper than that. She did not feel professional to herself.
“From the time I remember, for special occasions you got your hair pressed,” recalled Bradford. “Straightened hair meant being presentable.” Despite this belief and inspired by her daughter’s recent big chop, Bradford cut off her perm in 2007 and wore her hair in an afro, but never truly embraced her decision.
“I never felt well-groomed,” Bradford admitted. “ I bought bigger jewelry, brighter colored tops and an inordinate amount of scarves, all to draw attention away from my head.” Nine months after going natural, Bradford returned to relaxing her hair. “I never felt professional with my hair natural,” she said. “I felt like I had ‘weekend’ hair all the time.”
Prestonia knows that not every black woman needs to go natural. “I don’t make the claim that every woman should be chemical free,” she explained. “But I do believe natural hair is a healthier choice all around.”
For women still struggling with the decision to go natural, Prestonia offers the following advice before taking the plunge.
- Choose a style that fits your lifestyle and the level of maintenance you can handle.
- Find the right salon. Right in terms of location, cost and atmosphere that inspires comfort and confidence; and,
- Learn the ins and outs of how to take care of your hair as you transition from relaxed to natural, before you begin the process.
For those who have tried natural hair and are making the switch back — know that you are not alone.
Wearing relaxed hair or natural hair is a reflection of your personality and lifestyle. Weighing the factors above can help you decide if you are ready for Team Natural, or might be happier going back to relaxed styles.
Lori L. Tharps is an author, journalist, college professor and mom. Her book, Hair Story, “contextualizes, demystifies and explains the significance of Black hair in American popular culture,” according to her web site. Follow Lori L. Tharps on Twitter at @LoriTharps.
