Are you a hair minority? (Southern Tease's Black Comb/Belt spin-off)

Lovelylocs · Feb 28, 2008

A hair minority or subordinate group is a group of people whose hair does not constitute a dominant plurality of the total population of a given hair society. A hair minority is not necessarily a numerical minority — it may include any group with a hair type that is disadvantaged with respect to a dominant hair group in terms of hair products, hair education, employment, access to stylists who know how to take care of ur hair, and/or general acceptance of your hair by society. To avoid confusion, some people may prefer the terms "subordinate hair group" and "dominant hair group" rather than "hair minority" and "hair majority".

:lachen:

This is what Souther Tease's thread made me think of. :lol:

I didn't feel like I had a right to down them for wanting to play up their naturalness as part of the "hair majority", perhaps I just don't understand. :ohwell:

But, I think that regardless of your hair orientation, all hair types should be treated equally. :yep:

I mean some believe in separate but equal hair societies a la the boards for naturals only, but I like how the LHCF is like a melting pot!

Traycee · Feb 28, 2008

I would say I'm a minority....Here...(Not in the real world)...It's like you have to be natural to be respected or to be considered skilled ......To be natural or to be relaxed is a choice and should be treated the same....Give credit where credit is due.....Relaxed or Natural!!!

Lovelylocs · Feb 28, 2008

Traycee said:
I would say I'm a minority....Here...(Not in the real world)...It's like you have to be natural to be respected or to be considered skilled ......To be natural or to be relaxed is a choice and should be treated the same....Give credit where credit is due.....Relaxed or Natural!!!

Hmmm... interesting. I thought that the naturals would claim to be a minority. I never thought of a relaxed haired person considering himself/herself a minority. :scratchch I see what you mean though. I guess this board is slowly becoming more and more natural...

Perhaps we should start a relaxed pride movement...

Ramya · Feb 28, 2008

Now it seems like being relaxed is a stigma. :look:

For me it's just hair but I understand that for others it has a deeper meaning.

Traycee · Feb 28, 2008

Lovelylocs said:
Hmmm... interesting. I thought that the naturals would claim to be a minority. I never thought of a relaxed haired person considering himself/herself a minority. :scratchch I see what you mean though. I guess this board is slowly becoming more and more natural...

Perhaps we should start a relaxed pride movement...

Even texlaxing right now is more popular than relaxing....

SEMO · Feb 28, 2008

Lovelylocs said:
A hair minority or subordinate group is a group of people whose hair does not constitute a dominant plurality of the total population of a given hair society. A hair minority is not necessarily a numerical minority — it may include any group with a hair type that is disadvantaged with respect to a dominant hair group in terms of hair products, hair education, employment, access to stylists who know how to take care of ur hair, and/or general acceptance of your hair by society. To avoid confusion, some people may prefer the terms "subordinate hair group" and "dominant hair group" rather than "hair minority" and "hair majority".

This is what Souther Tease's thread made me think of. I didn't feel like I had a right to down them for wanting to play up their naturalness as part of the "hair majority", perhaps I just don't understand. But, I think that regardless of your hair orientation, all hair types should be treated equally. I mean some believe in separate but equal hair societies a la the boards for naturals only, but I like how the LHCF is like a melting pot!

Your whole post was hilarious, but the bolded part especially :lachen:

. I too like how LHCF is a melting pot and will often still look at advice posted by those with relaxed hair :yep:

. If I wanted to hear about "creamy crack" and how relaxers are the devil

I know another site that would welcome me.

ETA:
I just realized that this was created as a spin-off thread. Maybe I'll have to go see what all the fuss was about in the original thread (if it's not already locked and disappeared :look:

).

Lovelylocs · Feb 28, 2008

Yes.

Natural hair can be very beautiful! :yep:

But, I think that some naturals assume that all relaxed haired people are ignorant. :lol:

That we relax our hair b/c we hate our natural hair texture or b/c we want to look less black. Now, while I can see this in regular world, I don't think that this is as much of an issue in hair world. :nono:

After being on the LHCF for some time, I will go out on a limb and say that most of us know that natural hair is beautiful too and having relaxed hair is a choice.

Another misconception is that all relaxed hair is damaged. :ohwell:

This is simply not true.

And I don't think that naturals who straighten their hair every week w/heat and hardly ever if ever wears her hair in its natural state should judge a relaxed person for relaxing her hair. :nono:

ETA: Especially, if u are constantly wearing wigs, braided extensions, or weaves, well how come we never see ur hair? :cool:

MrsWatson · Feb 28, 2008

Traycee said:
I would say I'm a minority....Here...(Not in the real world)...It's like you have to be natural to be respected or to be considered skilled ......To be natural or to be relaxed is a choice and should be treated the same....Give credit where credit is due.....Relaxed or Natural!!!

ITA. My mom has the healthiest head of relaxed, MBL (4b) hair. She does everything herself from relaxers to trims, to rinses, to braids...everything! In my eyes, she is definitely a master (and my hair inspiration). It threw me for a loop that the only way to be considered a master was to be natural (according to that thread)....I didn't say anything because it was someone elses opinion but it was one of those things that make you go "hmmmm.."

Duchesse · Feb 28, 2008

Lovelylocs said:
A hair minority or subordinate group is a group of people whose hair does not constitute a dominant plurality of the total population of a given hair society. A hair minority is not necessarily a numerical minority — it may include any group with a hair type that is disadvantaged with respect to a dominant hair group in terms of hair products, hair education, employment, access to stylists who know how to take care of ur hair, and/or general acceptance of your hair by society. To avoid confusion, some people may prefer the terms "subordinate hair group" and "dominant hair group" rather than "hair minority" and "hair majority".

This is what Souther Tease's thread made me think of. I didn't feel like I had a right to down them for wanting to play up their naturalness as part of the "hair majority", perhaps I just don't understand. But, I think that regardless of your hair orientation, all hair types should be treated equally. I mean some believe in separate but equal hair societies a la the boards for naturals only, but I like how the LHCF is like a melting pot!

I agree with you sis.

I really liked the "Black belt" thread and understood the humor/pride of it. But I JUST relaxed my hair, less than 24 hours ago, so I guess I have to be demoted to grasshopper status :grin:

. But we should all have pride in our hair, whether 2a-7z, natural, relaxed, texlaxed, texturized, even jheri curled(....I'm reachin with that one). And thats why I love this forum, versus others that I've been on.

I'n the words of my man Obama, we can disagree without being disagreeabe, and all be majority without alienating, or putting down someone who does their hair differently than ours. I don't think hair choice means that one is at a certain point of evolution, but it's just that a choice. (Except if you have a jhericurl..then you haven't evolved since the 80's,,, :lachen:

just playin)

fluffylocks · Feb 28, 2008

uuummm i dont know.

Like i said in another thread before hair is always going through movements and styles

1950's to 1960's relaxers
Late 1960's-1970's natural
1980's jerri curls
1990's-2000's relaxed
Late 2000's-? natural

I think alot of people are still with relaxers, but alot of people are also going natural.

Hair is just style to most people

Their is some hate issues and misconceptions as to why some people are not going natural
But with most people, its not even that serious, thats why i dont care and i dont consider myself apart of some group if my hair is relaxed or natural, because even though i have my reasons or whatever, alot of people in 5-ten years will be with the next thing, hair is just style for like at least 70% of people.

ETA--im transitoning anyway if my status matters lol

Traycee · Feb 28, 2008

fluffylocks said:
uuummm i dont know.

Like i said in another thread before hair is always going through movements and styles

1950's to 1960's relaxers
Late 1960's-1970's natural
1980's jerri curls
1990's-2000's relaxed
Late 2000's-? natural

I think alot of people are still with relaxers, but alot of people are also going natural.

Hair is just style to most people

Their is some hate issues and misconceptions as to why some people are not going natural
But with most people, its not even that serious, thats why i dont care and i dont consider myself apart of some group if my hair is relaxed or natural, because even though i have my reasons or whatever, alot of people in 5-ten years will be with the next thing, hair is just style for like at least 70% of people.

ETA--im transitoning anyway if my status matters lol

You had just as many hair styles as me..Minus the curl. :lachen:

I thought that was cute...

BrockStar · Feb 28, 2008

I respect relaxed heads :grin:

I think its all a personal decision and depends on why you made the choices you made. I didn't go natural to "BE ALL NATURAL," I just wanted a certain look. To each his own! All hair is beautiful b/c it's what we were given by the man above :grin:

fluffylocks · Feb 28, 2008

Traycee said:
You had just as many hair styles as me..Minus the curl.I thought that was cute...

Oh nooo im not even 21 yet :lachen:

I havent had all of those styles Lol.

But you know what, alot of long time relaxers are going natural. Whether people know it or not, they are affected by what everyone else is doing. Its not always movements
Everyone wasnt strongly against the afro and decided to get a jerri curl LOL They changed with what everyone else was doing. Not that many people still have their afros or relaxers from the 1960's, they've changed up many times
Natural hair has been strongly all over the media for the last year or so, and the stlyes change every decade and 2010 will be here shortly......Im jus sayin :lachen:

Traycee · Feb 28, 2008

I wasn't born 1960's but I've had every hair style and color ...Too....I know I'm getting old ..I'll be 31 in a week or so

Lovelylocs · Feb 28, 2008

fluffylocks said:
uuummm i dont know.

Like i said in another thread before hair is always going through movements and styles

1950's to 1960's relaxers
Late 1960's-1970's natural
1980's jerri curls
1990's-2000's relaxed
Late 2000's-? natural

I think alot of people are still with relaxers, but alot of people are also going natural.

Hair is just style to most people

Their is some hate issues and misconceptions as to why some people are not going natural
But with most people, its not even that serious, thats why i dont care and i dont consider myself apart of some group if my hair is relaxed or natural, because even though i have my reasons or whatever, alot of people in 5-ten years will be with the next thing, hair is just style for like at least 70% of people.

ETA--im transitoning anyway if my status matters lol

OIC, a "mixed hair group" person

"I'm not relaxed. I'm not natural/texturized. I'm transitioning and I shouldn't have to choose." :wallbash:

Lovelylocs · Feb 28, 2008

Traycee said:
I wasn't born 1960's but I've had every hair style and color ...Too....I know I'm getting old ..I'll be 31 in a week or so

I'm only 24 and I've had all those styles. :eek:

How embarrassing! :lol:

Spongie Bloom · Feb 28, 2008

Lovelylocs said:
I'm only 24 and I've had all those styles. How embarrassing!

this made me LOL :lachen:

Spongie Bloom · Feb 28, 2008

im relaxed and proud of it!! :look:

i enjoy my hair very much and i like ti being relaxed...and i didnt relax my hair cause i hate my natural hair...i had natural hair most of my life and i loved it too i loved the big hair :yep:

but i decided to change and that doesnt make me a sell out in any shape of form so ima just hang out with you ladies :grin:

fluffylocks · Feb 28, 2008

Lovelylocs said:
I'm only 24 and I've had all those styles. How embarrassing!

At what age did you get your jerri curl?

Lovelylocs · Feb 28, 2008

fluffylocks said:
At what age did you get your jerri curl?

I believe I was in the 1st grade. :ohwell:

My mom put it in my hair.

I remember the curl activator and the perm smelling like eggs.

lollyoo · Feb 28, 2008

Personally,
I dont feel am a minority or majority. There was an earlier thread today about people switching up, relaxed head going natural and long time natural relaxing, thats just life people get bored having the same style sometimes.
Although am currently transitioning just because am tired and bored of relaxer and my hair never gets as straight as i'd like ( last transition was in high school and that over 10yrs ago), and if I ever get tired of natural I can relax again.
I also think if you are going natural because of been chemical free you should also think about a lot of nasties present in our daily hair care products mineral oil, parabens, PEG, propylene glycol etc.

Empress Yahudah · Feb 28, 2008

I have been relaxed and natural on and off. It just depends on how I feel.
Now Im loving my relaxed hair and love the look of it and styling it and not having to use alot of heat to get the styles I want. That's just where i am at this point in my life and I dont see me transitioning anytime soon. I loved my natural hair too.
Its about choice and one is just as good as the other.

Fine 4s · Feb 28, 2008

Traycee said:
I would say I'm a minority....Here...(Not in the real world)...It's like you have to be natural to be respected or to be considered skilled ......To be natural or to be relaxed is a choice and should be treated the same....Give credit where credit is due.....Relaxed or Natural!!!

Funny.

I guess it's a matter of perspective b/c I have the opposite feeling.
Admittedly, this perspective is a product of my own personal filters so it may be wayyyy off.

As you mentioned "Give credit where credit is due.....Relaxed or Natural!!!"

Queen V · Feb 28, 2008

Traycee said:
I would say I'm a minority....Here...(Not in the real world)...It's like you have to be natural to be respected or to be considered skilled ......To be natural or to be relaxed is a choice and should be treated the same....Give credit where credit is due.....Relaxed or Natural!!!

I feel exactly the same way. It seems almost as if there's an implication that being relaxed is a sign of not being sufficiently educated about hair care, being lazy, or being a sellout of some sort.

erplexed

macherieamour · Feb 28, 2008

I mean, should it even be about being a minority or majority? This is LHCF, where all here for the same reasons. Why are we even passing judgement on each other in the first place?

Empress Yahudah · Feb 28, 2008

macherieamour said:
I mean, should it even be about being a minority or majority? This is LHCF, where all here for the same reasons. Why are we even passing judgement on each other in the first place?

Ur right we r here for healthy beautiful hair Relaxed or Natural.
For me if ur hair is beautiful i'll be all in ur fotki or shout out thread drooling and commenting whether ur natural or relaxed.

I can't deny tho I have been seeing alot of judgement lately and I don't know why that is :ohwell:

PinkPeony · Feb 28, 2008

macherieamour said:
I mean, should it even be about being a minority or majority? This is LHCF, where all here for the same reasons. Why are we even passing judgement on each other in the first place?

I completly agree :yep:

I looked a ham as natural,texlaxed and relaxed before I found LHCF,neither of those is a holy grail if you don't know what to do with your hair.
And looking at the numbers of longhaired naturals or relaxed heads that decide to switch it up I don't buy into the hype.

macherieamour · Feb 28, 2008

MissMadaam said:
Ur right we r here for healthy beautiful hair Relaxed or Natural.
For me if ur hair is beautiful i'll be all in ur fotki or shout out thread drooling and commenting whether ur natural or relaxed.

I can't deny tho I have been seeing alot of judgement lately and I don't know why that is

I agree. I always thought this was a place where we celebrate each other's choices and appreciate our differences.

hrtbndr21 · Feb 28, 2008

Ah I see so all this is in response to another thread? I was confused because I haven't noticed a division to the degree described in some of the posts in this thread. To me I it seems like it comes in waves a new class of transitioners, another group of returning to relaxers. Some people continue to bounce back and forth others stay put. We're all here because we love hair and want to grow it.

Note: To a lot of other hair boards out there this is still considered a very relaxed/chemical treatment centered board. Perspective.

Mortons · Feb 28, 2008

hrtbndr21 said:
Ah I see so all this is in response to another thread? I was confused because I haven't noticed a division to the degree described in some of the posts in this thread. To me I it seems like it comes in waves a new class of transitioners, another group of returning to relaxers. Some people continue to bounce back and forth others stay put. We're all here because we love hair and want to grow it.

Note: To a lot of other hair boards out there this is till considered a very relaxed/chemical treatment centered board. Perspective.

Yes a VERY relaxed centered board in relation to some others. That point is not really being acknowledged here. I don't believe that anyone means to put anyone else down, however in such a mixed atmosphere please note that you will not always be included in the category. And thats ok.

Are you a hair minority? (Southern Tease's Black Comb/Belt spin-off)

Do you feel like a "hair minority"?

Yes! Absolutely.

Maybe. I never really thought about it before.

No. I'm natural.

No. I'm relaxed.

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