This is a great topic. My friends and I were actually talking it about the other day. Well for me, I don't see anything wrong w/ relaxing one's hair. I do it and that's what works for me. BUT, if I could go natural, I would do it in a minute. It's probably a heck of a lot cheaper! And I know that the chemicals are continously breaking my hair down. So that's why I'd want to go natural.
The longest I've been w/out a perm/relaxer was about 9 months (I had braids). So my perm had grown completely out. When I would take the braids out to get them redone, my hair was like WHOA! It had grown so long, but I didn't know what to do w/ it. So once I got sick of braids, I got a perm. For me, I barely have time to take care of my hair permed! If I went natural now, I'd be bald! Since I'm in school, I just don't have time to deal with the up keep of a natural style. Plus, I just don't think I'd look that great with something like locs or twists. You know, not every style works with everybody
So the most "natural" I would go would be braids. I would love to chop all my hair off, but I'm afraid my head won't look too great like that.
So I wear a perm cuz it's just easier to deal with. And I don't think I'm falling prey to Westernization. I mean, why shouldn't we as black women be able to style our hair in a way that works for us? My question would be, if white women can perm their hair (make it curly) then what are they falling prey to? I just see it as a way of simply styling your hair. I think people tend to read into the reasons black women straighten their hair way too much. I'm not saying it doesn't have any basis, but I think for me and my friends, we do it out of convenience. Just like when I wear braids or get a ponytail, it's done b/c it's easier to deal with. That's the first thing on my mind....not "oh I'm gonna get some weave or straighten my hair so my hair can look like that white girl at school/work/ or on t.v." My hair is terrible when I don't have a perm! It's always been that way since I was little. But if I could find a natural style that would work and look good, I'd do it. But for now, it's a perming I shall go