Hair History

[Talaxe]

Hair is very important to me. I feel that my hair is apart of me. I have A LOT of it. My hair's attitude determines what I will wear that day.

Yes, it is that serious.

I do relax my hair. When I was a child, my mother would press my hair. Why? Because I have a lot of it. It's thick and long. I have seen my hair in its natural state and if I let it be, there would be too much to pic/comb through. I'm not fond of the chemicals, they smell funny and I do ponder the long-term effects of what it is doing to my scalp and body. I wasn't too fond of the pressing either.

In retrospect, if I wasn't a business major, trying to break into a white, male dominated society and had longer arms, I would let my hair be natural. But I am being realistic. I wouldn't even wear cornrows or "black hair styles" to an interview. My hair is easier to manage with a relaxer than without. And I'm struggling with it now.

P.S. I could get a comb through my hair in it's natural state.

What about women who wear long braids and sling them around? Are they trying to be "white" as well?

I think you should wear your hair the way you want to. Relax it, crimp it, curl it, leave it be or add some on.

[Miss. Mocha]

Ideal08,


Touche, communication is KEY.

Miss. Mocha

[nikki25]

I would recommend that anyone interested in reading about black hair trends read Willie Barrow's 400 Years Without a Comb. It details the importance of the comb in African culture, and how the enslavement of the African American lead to hair neglect (the reason why slave women wore head scarves), the use of many types of grooming utensils, the pressing comb, and finally perms and relaxers.

Once people understand the history of Black hair, their discussion won't be so laced with ill informed comments about assimilation, and using dreadlocks to honor their African culture (where in Africa do they see folks walking around in dreadlocks--I've never seen it).

I'd love to hear the comments of others on hair history...but it's important to read and know, than to just give freestyle comments based on little knowledge, which, admittedly, most of us don't have.

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I will bless the Lord at ALL times His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalms 34:1, KJV)

[Poplife]

Originally posted by Talaxe:
In retrospect, if I wasn't a business major, trying to break into a white, male dominated society and had longer arms, I would let my hair be natural. But I am being realistic. I wouldn't even wear cornrows or "black hair styles" to an interview

I'm feeling you Talaxe. I too am a business major, but I refuse to perm/press for anyone other than myself when I go to interviews. My mom hates to see me leave the house and go to nice business looking like the black Little Orphan Annie in a suit, but like my dad says "Someone's got to do it". I can't sit around and wait for another generation of black women to make the natural look acceptable in Cooperate America. I have to be me...NOW! *lol*

Luckily people tend to see my hair as apart of my character. I guess curls just suit my personality because I am sweet, upbeat, and on the feisty side. Also when I said my hair is curly, this is not a euphemism for kinks. It means actually CURLY.

Back to the original topic: I wonder why it is so hard for some black people to accept perms and white mentality are historically intertwined. Why won't people address where their "preference" is rooted. Why the resistance. I think it’s sad that in some places so many people have relaxers that non-blacks forget that our hair is not naturally straight. I definitely don’t think people her perm want to be white, because even when I had a relaxer my friends said that I was rather afro-centric. But ladies, if scientist found that relaxers were making women across the world sick, how many of you would stop? Why or why not?

[exquizit]

Originally posted by Poplife:

I'm feeling you Talaxe. I too am a business major, but I refuse to perm/press for anyone other than myself when I go to interviews. My mom hates to see me leave the house and go to nice business looking like the black Little Orphan Annie in a suit, but like my dad says "Someone's got to do it". I can't sit around and wait for another generation of black women to make the natural look acceptable in Cooperate America. I have to be me...NOW! *lol*

Luckily people tend to see my hair as apart of my character. I guess curls just suit my personality because I am sweet, upbeat, and on the feisty side. Also when I said my hair is curly, this is not a euphemism for kinks. It means actually CURLY.

Back to the original topic: I wonder why it is so hard for some black people to accept perms and white mentality are historically intertwined. Why won't people address where their "preference" is rooted. Why the resistance. I think it’s sad that in some places so many people have relaxers that non-blacks forget that our hair is not naturally straight. I definitely don’t think people her perm want to be white, because even when I had a relaxer my friends said that I was rather afro-centric. But ladies, if scientist found that relaxers were making women across the world sick, how many of you would stop? Why or why not?

Pop,

I think you and I have had this type of discussion before. If I found it would make me sick then I guess I'd find an alternative to relaxing my hair. My hair isn't CURLY it's KINKY . Right now with the full plate that I carry, it's much easier for me to get my relaxer every 6 weeks and continue to wrap it at night. If I tried to go natural right now I'd turn up with a head of moss not hair

Why not just respect other's choices to perm as we accept your choice to go natural?

[serenity_24]

Originally posted by nikki25:

Once people understand the history of Black hair, their discussion won't be so laced with ill informed comments about assimilation, and using dreadlocks to honor their African culture


(where in Africa do they see folks walking around in dreadlocks--I've never seen it).


but it's important to read and know, than to just give freestyle comments based on little knowledge, which, admittedly, most of us don't have.

I just wanted to say that just because some of us haven't quoted pages from books doesn't mean our comments have been freestyle. Many of us, before we decided to go natural did research on the topic (at least I know I did). And YES there are tribes in AFRICA that take pride in the growth and grooming of DREADLOCKS. In the book "I Dream a World", you will find pictures of some of these women. There was also a PBS special on African tribes (sorry I cannot remember the name at this moment) and one of the tribes featured was the particular tribe who hardened their dreadlocks with the red clay of the earth in order to have red dreadlocks.

I don't think that most people are ill infromed about hair history, I think we become ill infromed when we read one book and believe we have found the answer without reading what someone else has to say about the subject.

Please don't take my comments to be abrasive or harsh, this is an open forum and I'm just giving a little rebutle.

[Poplife]

Originally posted by exquizit:
Why not just respect other's choices to perm as we accept your choice to go natural?

1. I do respect that choice, I just question it. I question EVERYTHING.

2. Not everybody respects my natural head.



[This message has been edited by Poplife (edited December 14, 2000).]

[MIDWESTDIVA]

I have thought about this topic many times myself. Essence did a big article on it over the summer. I had to ask myself:

1. Do I straighten my hair because I am ashamed of its natural texture?

2. Do I feel that I need to straighten my hair to succeed in the business world?

3. When we use the word "nappy" is it in a positive context or a negative one?

4. Why do we call straight hair "good" hair?

5. Why are the african students straightening their hair also? (Ethiopians are excluded since their hair is already fairly straight).

The basic question we should be asking ourselves is "Do you think you would be less attractive if you chose not to chemically alter you hair?"

I don't think so, but unfortunately a lot of women do. Whether we want to admit it or not, we originally started straightening our hair to emulate caucasian hair texture. Same thing goes with colored contacts. We can try to justify it today by saying straight hair gives us more styling options, but how many of us have even tried natural hairstyles?

For the record, I relax my hair. But I am thinking about doing a short natural like my friend has. It looks so beautiful on her.

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"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." ~Harry S. Truman~

[meeks]

well as a person of mixed heritage with caucasion like hair teaxture,(and ya'll know what I mean) my hair is naturally curly, and I straighten just because I want to, and I wear it natural JUST B/C I CAN!!!!

People often ask me when I get it flat-ironed "Ooh girl you don't even need perms do you"? I reply with "No". B/C in my household we were taught to believe that "Your hair is not made for that" (meaning perms). So yes I do think some beliefs about hair have been "taught" ( The only reason we got flat-irons was b/c curly hair down your back can be a pain to manage.

Will I perm my daughter's hair? I don't know. I hope I have boys that way his daddy can just take him to the barber.

Everyone should just be happy they have something on their head. Some people wish they had hair, but have lost it to disease, chemicals, etc. I think this a good topic and I applaud my girl POP for bringing it up.

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The truly educated never graduate!

[This message has been edited by meeks (edited December 14, 2000).]

[exquizit]

Originally posted by Poplife:
1. I do respect that choice, I just question it. I question EVERYTHING.

2. Not everybody respects my natural head.

[This message has been edited by Poplife (edited December 14, 2000).]

Well I've got nothing but love for YOU and yo' NATURAL HEAD! I also agree with Meeks, Let's be glad we have something up there!

[Ideal08]

Originally posted by serenity_24:
I don't think that most people are ill infromed about hair history, I think we become ill infromed when we read one book and believe we have found the answer without reading what someone else has to say about the subject.

Well said, Serenity_24!!!

[The Original Ape]

Originally posted by 1 Woman of Virtue:
Serenity_24 and Poplife, I am truly feeling what you both were trying to convey!!!

Someone mentioned what most Black women's responses would be if they found out perms cause cancer...well let's look at that: Any reputable beautician will wear gloves when they apply a perm right? Well there are a lot of reasons for that, but one of the main ones being that the chemicals used in perms are DANGEROUS. Not only do they deteriorate your skin, but (and this is only one school of thought) many believe them to be carcinogenic. Whether that last part is true or not, I don't know...but that's exactly why I would think twice before putting the chemical in my hair...

Anyways...I'd like to add to Poplife's list of questions:
1. Do you perm your hair because you think it's "prettier" straight?

2. When you say you "prefer" straight hair, where does that preference come from? And remember, a preference for something, inherently implies a rejection of something else...

3. Is it really the same to compare White women perming or altering their hair, with Black women who do the same, when WE are the ones who have historically been told that "knappy" hair is ugly, hard to manage, and not beautiful?

4. Have you ever told your self that you don't have the "face" for natural hair?

5. Why do our Black men, even the "conscience" ones, have such a hard time accepting a "natural" head?

6. Why is it that when "permed" sista's see my natural head, they automatically assume I am "Afro-centric"? Whether it's true or not, is that the same as a "natural" head assuming that a sista w/ a perm is not?

7. If you have had a perm since your mother was doing your hair as a little girl, how do you know you could not manage it? (and it doesn't count if you can't comb it when you need a touch up! Anyone who could handle 2 opposing, connected textures of hair w/o going crazy has my respect!)

8. Why is it that as little girls, most of us longed for long, straight, flowing hair? Remember playing house and putting a blanket, sheet, or slip on your head so you could flip it over your shoulder, pretending it was your hair? Where does that come from?

9. Finally (yes, I'm almost done ) Why is it that when I graduated, I was told by nearly EVERYONE of my gurl's w/ perms that my hair was not professional and I would not get a job w/ "an afro-puff"? Keep in mind this is not an isolated incident, and many "natural" heads experience the samething!!

I think this is an important issue, because in many cases, it speaks directly to a Black woman's self esteem. While many of us on this forum are secure in who we are, take a look around and see how many of us feel ugly, or unloved because we are told that by the media (both white and some black!), family members, and our Black men. Talk to any group of sista's and see how many of them place an emphasis on beauty being tied to hair...more specifically, straight/"good" hair...

Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God...

The conscious ones don't have a problem with your "natural" look-so long as it's clean.



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[Poplife]

Originally posted by The Original Ape:
The conscious ones don't have a problem with your "natural" look-so long as it's clean.

True. Good Point.

[1 Woman of Virtue]

Originally posted by The Original Ape:
The conscious ones don't have a problem with your "natural" look-so long as it's clean.

While I understand the meaning behind your comment, I couldn't let it slide all the way . From reading your comment, it would appear that you would, by default, NOT expect a natural hair style to be clean.

I was a little surprised because I don't think it would ever be said that "the conscious ones don't have a problem w/ your PERM, so long as its clean." Why does there have to be a qualifier for natural hair???

[Poplife]

Originally posted by 1 Woman of Virtue:
I was a little surprised because I don't think it would ever be said that "the conscious ones don't have a problem w/ your PERM, so long as its clean." Why does there have to be a qualifier for natural hair???

LOL, hey that's also a really good point. A few days ago, I was sitting in a lecture and I realized the girl infront of me (who has a perm) had stringy, oily, hair complete with enough snow to build a fort. Permed or Natural that is NASTY!!

[This message has been edited by Poplife (edited December 18, 2000).]