Interesting topic. I am quite proud to say that I have had natural hair for 4 and 1/2 years. Yes, it is some work. My hair is long, not the hanging down way, but the poofing out way. When I take just a blow dryer to it (which I usually don't), it is huge. I mean, honestly, in so. cal, I haven't seen natural hair this big/long in my memory. But it is doable.
About versatility, it really can be versatile. It's not as easy when you're hair is short, but once you've got a few inches, you can do anything. People are always saying my hair is in a different style every time they see it.
And no, I don't think that being black is about how you do your hair. Being black is not a choice one can make, anyway. BUT, I do think it a shame that many black women would not even know how to take care of their own natural hair, that we know the altered version but not the natural one. I've actually had black women ask me how I do my hair because they've never even known what it was like to have their natural hair. I think that's kinda sad, but that's just my opinion. In the long run, a person is better off with hair that makes them feel comfortable and hair they like, however it is styled.
And that comment about black men not even wanting to speak to you if you have natural hair, well, that's a whole other topic. But I must say . . . Naw, wait, I'm not going to say it. But I will say that the majority of compliments on my hair come from non-black people and the majority of seminegative statements and criticism about my hair come from other black people. That may just be because they feel they can say things like that to me since they are in my own group, but I don't know. The compliments I get the best feelings from, though, come from other black people who can look at my hair and appreciate the beauty.
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