Southernbella.
Well-Known Member
Me too...there is something about it. I've seen relaxed hair look like that, but I just had a feeling Michelle was natural. Maybe it's her personality.
Michelle Obama's Hair Is Chemical Free!!!!
- Thread starter mscocoface
- Start date
- Status
Me too...there is something about it. I've seen relaxed hair look like that, but I just had a feeling Michelle was natural. Maybe it's her personality.
imstush
New Member
I agree, that confused me as well. But as far as the bolded there are lots of naturals that wear their hair straightened all of the time and are chemical free. I don't think one has anything to do with the other.
Sly
New Member
Country gal
Well-Known Member
I was surprised to find out that Jlove was natural because she always wore her straight. It seemed to never revert. I know other naturals that only wear their hair straight. After a while, your hair becomes kinda trained to wear it more straight and less wavy.
Lucky's Mom
New Member
This is FANTASTIC NEWS.....
TrendySocialite
Well-Known Member
I think they are trying to reformulate their products, hence his consulting role....still doesn't mean he has to use their products. I've heard him on Steve Harvey....he knows his stuff. Soft Sheen is putting more natural oils in their products, so I'd like to think he had something to do with that.
I'd like to know what type of weave gives that kind of movement with barely moving your head.......cuz I need it.
Honestly, it sounds like a "white girl" (sorry for being politically incorrect) blowout. I really need to learn how to do these for my silk wraps.
envybeauty
New Member
didn't realize that there would be so much cause for celebration that she does not have a relaxer.
..............................
..............................
Puddles
On Cloud 9
Me too.
When I was natural....my former beautician used to get my hair silky straight.
He moved........I relaxed.
DreadlockedLady0171
New Member
Because it is not the norm, there would be no story if she was relaxed. It wouldn't be a big deal because being relaxed is expected on some level. The fact that she is natural and is going to the white house, well that speaks volumes to me
Puddles
On Cloud 9
She was probably referring to NOT having a relaxer(lye) in her hair. Most people feel ALL relaxers are lye.
But about being natural and always wearing your hair straight.
I did.
I "Never" wore it in it's natural state. Just because you're natural doesn't mean you have to wear it that way.
You'd be surprised how many naturals are out there wearing their hair straight 24/7. And it's silky and flowing...chemical free.
Plus......I can't picture Michelle with a fro.
dontspeakdefeat
Hair Coach
It's called round brushing. It puts a lot of tension on the hair especially the roots and the heat is applied directly to the hair within the brush.
Puddles
On Cloud 9
Probably.......she will get better stylists from this day forward. It's part of the territory.
Before....she was just Michelle..........Now she's Michelle Obama.......our future(probably) first lady
envybeauty
New Member
Because it is not the norm, there would be no story if she was relaxed. It wouldn't be a big deal because being relaxed is expected on some level. The fact that she is natural and is going to the white house, well that speaks volumes to me
i guess .
She was probably referring to NOT having a relaxer(lye) in her hair. Most people feel ALL relaxers are lye.
But about being natural and always wearing your hair straight.
I did.
I "Never" wore it in it's natural state. Just because you're natural doesn't mean you have to wear it that way.
You'd be surprised how many naturals are out there wearing their hair straight 24/7. And it's silky and flowing...chemical free.
Plus......I can't picture Michelle with a fro.
I too am surprised at the surprise (and frankly celebration), after all how any women got their hair pressed/hot combed, etc for decades before relaxers existed? The modern equivalent of the hot comb is blow dryer+ flat iron= same result...straight hair.
Southernbella.
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I will save my celebration for the day she wears twists or a braidout or something. 
But I do think it's good that black women can see that they don't HAVE to have to use chemicals to have straight hair, since so many of us are walking around with chewed up hair behind relaxers.
But I do think it's good that black women can see that they don't HAVE to have to use chemicals to have straight hair, since so many of us are walking around with chewed up hair behind relaxers.
JustKiya
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I will save my celebration for the day she wears twists or a braidout or something.
But I do think it's good that black women can see that they don't HAVE to have to use chemicals to have straight hair, since so many of us are walking around with chewed up hair behind relaxers.
Exactly - true, she's not in an afro, but at least she still has the option to rock one, if she so decides. It would be politically unwise to come out there with anything BUT straight hair (though, would her being in an afro make Obama be viewed 'less elitist' or more?
) - we on the forreal, forreal haven't gotten THAT far - but the fact that she doesn't relax - well, it's a start.Hot combing (just to sum it up, not dealing w/ precise method) is simply the option almost all Black women used before the invention of the relaxer because that's all they had...they switched over to relaxers because it was easier, more versatile, and less expensive and time consuming when that option appeared. The Obamas are wealthy enough to where this is a practical option, but it isn't for most people.
Let's not pretend it's not the same camel, but w/ one hump instead of two...it's still a camel. The fact that people are so happy about this shows us just how far we haven't come. She's not even running for office, so what does her hair have to do w/ anything?
Let's not pretend it's not the same camel, but w/ one hump instead of two...it's still a camel. The fact that people are so happy about this shows us just how far we haven't come. She's not even running for office, so what does her hair have to do w/ anything?
"Almost all" is a stretch, IMHO, to describe the number/amount of Black women who might've straightened their hair prior to the invention of the hot comb.... It would be very interesting to know, however.... I'd be curious to know how this would break down by geography (north versus south), educational attainment, marital status, for example.
You ask what her hair has to do with anything? Her hair is part of her overall image. A woman's (any woman's) hair is part of her overall look. The existence of this board is evidence of that. Political wives, esp. in these contemporary times, have a role in the electability of their husbands. Just ask John Kerry and his wife, the ketchup lady Teresa Heinz....
She was probably referring to NOT having a relaxer(lye) in her hair. Most people feel ALL relaxers are lye.
But about being natural and always wearing your hair straight.
I did.
I "Never" wore it in it's natural state. Just because you're natural doesn't mean you have to wear it that way.
You'd be surprised how many naturals are out there wearing their hair straight 24/7. And it's silky and flowing...chemical free.
Plus......I can't picture Michelle with a fro.
Definitely are plenty. I've had really bouncy swinging hair from a press. I even caught it in a photo once which is in my fotki from pre2007. Most of my family is press 'n' curl and I've seen many good presses give full bouncy blowing hair.
Personally her hair seemed just a teeeny bit too limp/thin for my taste that night, but it pretty much has always looked good. Maybe I need to go back and rewatch the video to get a closer look.
"Almost all" is by no means a stretch....if they didn't straighten it, they covered it. If this weren't the case, why was the Afro such a big deal in the 1960s? Black hair in it's natural UNSTRAIGHTENED state was hardly seen until the 1970s, the proper combs didn't even exist before then that were available to most people. Considering that most people started straightening the hair of children, I say it crossed almost all social and economic strata.
Yes to point #2....and her hair is STRAIGHT, doesn't matter the means. This story is about HOW it's straightened, the means....but it's straight no matter. It conforms to the social norms. She simply used an different means to achieve it. The HOW here is the only unusual thing.
IMHO, this site and others exists because many people of African descent don't know how to care for African textured hair (esp. those US and Europe based) to it's optimum whatever it's state ("relaxed", "hot combed" or "natural")...and the reason for that is people spent 100s of years covering it up and/or disguising it's true texture. In short, we're out of practice and just getting the proper tools.
Yes to point #2....and her hair is STRAIGHT, doesn't matter the means. This story is about HOW it's straightened, the means....but it's straight no matter. It conforms to the social norms. She simply used an different means to achieve it. The HOW here is the only unusual thing.
IMHO, this site and others exists because many people of African descent don't know how to care for African textured hair (esp. those US and Europe based) to it's optimum whatever it's state ("relaxed", "hot combed" or "natural")...and the reason for that is people spent 100s of years covering it up and/or disguising it's true texture. In short, we're out of practice and just getting the proper tools.
Last edited:
Country gal
Well-Known Member
It is cause for celebration because it proves again that she is breaking down stereotypes for black women. We don't all have to have weaves or have chemicals for folks to accept us. It is good for me to know since I had some issues with other blacks giving me a hard time about being natural in the workplace.
lovenharmony
ET / OT Bonafide Member
All these beatiful natural ladies making me want to transition! Gorgeous hair...she is an inspiration!
Southernbella.
Well-Known Member
I agree with this. The article gushed over straight hair, as if it's the holy grail of black women (which it is, I guess). If anyone decides to go chemical free based on Michelle, good for them, but they'd probably be doing it to get hair like hers, not wear puffs and twists and whatnot. All that said, it would still be a positive.
envybeauty
New Member
did they give you a hard time about wearing your hair unstraightened or straightened with a flatiron/hot comb?
I think it's great that people are looking at alternatives to caring for their hair. There's nothing wrong w/ straightening your hair IMHO, by whatever means. I'm just saying it's not like she has dreads or anything...it still conforms to Anglo-American beauty standards, only by the traditional means.
Southernbella.
Well-Known Member
- Status
Similar threads
