According to google The natural hair movement is a movement which encourages women and men of African descent to embrace their natural afro-textured hair. It originated in the United States during the 1960s, with its most recent iteration occurring in the 2000s.
I absolutely love the movement, it’s refreshing to see people with my hair texture for a change. But I’ve heard some people not like it because of the misinformation and overpriced natural hair products.
I love it I’ve never had a perm or relaxer I never even wore weave until I was like 16. That being said, I have always embraced my natural hair but I enjoy wearing protective styles like braids and sew ins. They help my hair grow. My hair just a few years ago was so damaged and broken. I put down the flat iron, started getting braids , sew ins, buns... and it grew. Below is a picture after a nice cut and flat iron.
I think is a movement against the afrodescendant community itself.
To be clear, if within the black community certain hair products were to be rejected, those hair products wouldn't exist, but I can understand also the need to implement those products, could have started as part of a social preasure (from working enviorment, education system, to beauty atandard) in times, where been black was equal to been: ugly, violent, uncultured, poor, nasty; less than human.
It has a racist origin, and up to know it's still reinforced, but as a said the change needs come from the black community first, before going forward.
Please do your research on what the natural hair movement is because you don’t know what it is. And black people have no control on how other people’s racist ideologies. That’s for the racists to fix and unlearn, not on the black people? It doesn’t matter how quote on quote “good of a black person you are” a racist will still look at you as a n word.
Own your own body and the choice to do what you want with yourself is only your choice. Right now I live in the Pacific Northwest and this isn't a "movement" that I notice, but I am not one to pay. attention one way or the other what people do.
As long as you don't stink or hurt another person, there is no harm in doing anything like "a natural hair movement." Now I don't know if this is true because I'm a white guy, but can't the hair become rather knotted because it has free reign? My youngest daughter gets horribly knotted hair if we don't spray and brush it every day, that's where my experience ends.
Well, I think everyone should have their hair done the way they want it, I don't judge. I think afros are really cool though and black people look great with their natural hair 😊 There's very little POC in my country, but whenever I happen to see a black girl with natural hair or even with braids I look and think their natural hair texture looks so amazing! It's just something rare here. I try not to look too much tho because some people could think I have a problem with black people or foreigners in general while I'm just admiring lol 😅
I have curly hair. Frizzy. It's not quite afro/kinky-texture but in America, many would say it isn't European. ... Would you like to know how many times a hairdresser has asked if I want my hair straightened? Far too many. Every time I get my hair cut in fact.
And I happen to be "white". Not 100% European, wouldn't have that hair if I was & I would burn not tan in the sun, but if you consider a "white" person gets a sort of discriminatory comment - hide that I have this "non-European" hair by straightening it - imagine what blacks & minorities have to go through.
I agree with you so much, I feel like if you’re a hairstylist and can’t do all hair types than you aren’t really a hairy stylist. In most beauty schools they only teach people how to do straight or wavy hair. Nothing for curly or kinky curly hair which is weird
I personally love it. I’m mixed and grew up with thick curly hair but most people around me all had thinner, straight/wavy hair. I heard all the comments about how my hair looked wild or not brushed and even been compared to a lion so I ended up always wearing my hair straight.
I love that now, I can feel proud of my curly hair and can finally wear it with confidence!! It can be a bit expensive to maintain due to all the products I use for my curls but I love that it makes me stand out and I can be myself.
The lion comment isn't a bad thing. I've seen girls with what I would term that lion mane type hair and I think its looks good. Obviously you need to maintain the hair (which I do hear is harder with curly hair) but I don't think most people would actually care if some one's hair is curly (I personally love curly hair.).
I don't understand why this is a thing to begin with, what was the problem with their natural hair? I think that when black women keep their hair nice and kempt (like in the photo), the curls look great (though i might be biased as I do prefer curly hair). Though I have heard that curly hair is a lot harder to manage (it gets tangled more and is more sensitive to humidity and what not) so this is perhaps why they don't like to keep their natural hair (though again, I think it looks better when they do (though I don't see black guys not sticking to their natural hair, it seems mostly black women who do this with weaves and wigs and straightening their hair etc.).
These comments are really sad. It kind of hurts that people are just so unaware and so ignorant about why we need this or why it even exists. They don’t know what it’s like to be in our shoes.
Right. I can’t believe so many people are getting offended at this? And the saddest thing is that they’d probably be less offended if I posted something xenophobic
It's a good movement, I personally think hair extensions, relaxers, weaves, etc. are damaging to the scalp and hair. I've done some research on black hair and the pressure to conform to the straight, wavy hair is big. I really respect those who don't conform.
im not an indigenous or black woman myself but i can for sure say i absolutely love this movement! it teaches young poc that theyre beautiful in their own, natural skin and that they should love and celebrate their backgrounds and looks! poc and people with curlier hair use to be totally shunned for their hair and personally i actually think curly hair is so gorgeous with so much personality! love love love it ❤️
Not my style. I’m black as well but i’ve been getting perms since age 3 so im just used to that. And even if i dont get a perm, my hair waves up like this instead of an actual afro
Hers is weave/wig but an example of wavy texture i’m referring to
Well firstly I appreciate this question because it doesn’t get asked very often. However it is still my belief that “natural hair” should still require some basic care. It can appear very messy and disorderly in some instances. Like with afros in particularly. But also during moments such as those when women first wake up in bed every morning. It is still customary to look yourself in the mirror first. Instead of using “natural hair” as justification for your own lack of self care.
If I were a man and hadn’t shaved my head in twenty years. It would still be the same issue. What happens naturally isn’t always what is appropriate. Its similar to if I was to fart in a room with no courtesy for others
You’re welcome, also I’m not referring to that. Of course proper hygiene is a must and self care, I’m just referring to people with natural hair in general. For example; protective hairstyles commonly worn by black people like braids/dreads/etc have had a history of being seen as dirty, unprofessional, etc.
Black women report being 30 percent more likely to receive a formal grooming policy in the workplace. Additionally, the study found that some natural African-American hairstyles, such as locs, braids, and natural curls, are perceived as less professional.
For the study, the CROWN Coalition surveyed 2,000 United States women aged 24 to 64 who worked in office settings. When shown two images of a Black woman and White woman with the same hairstyle, respondents typically rated the White woman as 25 percent higher in “job readiness” than the Black woman. The results also found that Black women were 1.5 times more likely to have reported having been sent home or knew another Black women who was sent home because of her hair.
That’s basically what the movements working against/trying to improve.
As a white male I never really liked all the gunk some Black women put in their hair trying to make it straight or all the wigs and other things they have used. I prefer the natural look, it's prettier and sexier. I also remember the original trend in the 1960's.
@Jack9949 I would have no idea how to do that. The photo at the top of this thread is a good example. For me the more volume the better. Straightening anyone's hair reduces volume.
I've been chemical free for the last decade. I used to get perms faithfully and while it didn't really damage my hair, I've always loved curly, coily hair. So decided to leave the creamy crack alone. Today I am learning to love and embrace my naturally curly hair. I also wear lots of protective styles. Natural hair is bomb AF.
Think it's beautiful. I'm all for people loving themselves and what life gifted them with. I think afro-textured hair is so pretty and cute. I know a couple white people including my boyfriends family who also have afro-textured hair too and they also struggle to style it and spend a tone of money having it straightened in the salon and buying expensive hair products just so they can have hair what society deems as acceptable.
I dont know but black people are naturally and usally use white peoples hair in their own hair so i guess its like embraces your own hertiage and culture black people hair get premeed when on tv to please their boss so since black people hair is so embedded with white haie prem and even weave its good for them to embrace their natural hair. Think about it when you go into a black beauty store majority of the hair is white.
Oh, Um lol None of the hair in the beauty supply source is white? I’ve never seen a hair called “Caucasian bundles” all of them are labeled as Brazilian, Cuban hair etc. and straight hair isn’t just a white thing. Black people can have straight hair natural as well, my grandma had natural straight hair and she’s 100% black.
I love natural hair! I have curly thick, almost Afro hair too, I've been natural for a few montg now my curly hair makes my face rounder, I watch curly hair videos and since then I learned how to define my curls better.
I love it! I used to encourage my ex to wear hers natural but she felt uncomfortable and less attractive than with her sew ins. I love the message it sends to young woman. I just wish it was unnecessary. Though I believe it is a positive message over all, it sadly points out to this generation that there are those who think less of their hair and of who they are as people. Natural texture is beautiful.
I keep saying this - avoid the sun, skin exposure or looking at it - we are meant to be proteceted by the buildings, now out and about under the gian X-ray - it burns your skin, it burns your eyes. Apart from that, do what you can and love yourself. There's no such thing as perfect when it comes to biology (or mind, for that matter)
Well the whole lot is a result of the living conditions. In high heat/freezing nights, you get thick curly hair. It's not genetic just forms over long periods of time. Stare at the sun daily - dark eyes. Avoid it - bright (after some months or even years depending on prior exposure)
Staring at the sun doesn’t effect the color of your eyes, it harms your eyes because When you stare directly at the sun—or other types of bright light such as a welding torch—ultraviolet light floods your retina, literally burning the exposed tissue. Short-term damage can include sunburn of the cornea—known as solar keratitis. And as for hair being a result of living conditions, that’s still just a theory as not much is known about the genetics of it or how it evolved. Hopefully they will though cause it’d probably be interesting
Yes, correct. The burnt tissue is in fact accumulated melanin. If you think about it, the way your skin burns into darker under the sun - think how much quicker the super soft iris cells would turn brown. I am trying to get medical experts to validate (or disprove) all this - think about it as the general theory of relativity level change of understanding - that habbits form your colours, not at all the genes, and thus, you are not imprisoned for life but can simply avoid the 'torch' and get brighter (if you so choose) WHO hasn't come to me about it, but then they are in Switzerland and would look silly by not knowing that previously - you know how difficult it was to prove the earth is ball-shaped and spins around?
I like that people are more comfortable with it. Some girls, like the one pictured here, look stunning with their natural hair. I'm not sure I understand why it needs to be a movement and not just an aesthetic choice, like any other, but I guess I'm on board.
I think it's ridiculous that everything needs a movement Most of the women I've found attractive have been black. Some of them didn't have afro hair but some did and I loved it. It makes them unique. Not everyone likes their hair. I don't like mine. But it's my hair.
The reason why it’s a movement is because of there history of black women needing to wear weaves/wigs or constantly get their hair done to make it look “presentable” in order to get jobs because natural hair was seen as unprofessional.
The whole point of the movement is for people to embrace their natural hair and love it
I know why, but it's just something so trivial that it's ridiculous. It's just hair. Yea, but a lot of black women still wear wigs and weaves. Few I got to see with their natural hair. It's not perfect, but no one is perfect. Black women will always be beautiful in ways other women will not and vice versa. That's the amazing part about life.
I love it, it's what encouraged me to do more styles with my natural hair. I feel like people will judge me no matter if my natural hair is out or if I use braids weaves and etc. But if they don't have my hair I don't think they have a say yeah? 😁
Pointless movement. If you want natural hair just have natural hair what's the point of having a 'movement' for it who's stopping you? Nobody. In a world where blue hair is accepted and common a fro wouldn't even get people looking
Exactly. That movement is basically more of a marketing than a movement. If people are encouraging straight hair people to care for their hair with their products, that is marketing up a movement (im going by her logic of what the movement is about)
