Myths about Natural or Growing Natural Hair

[Country gal]

Hey, ladies. I am curently sporting braids and seriously considering going natural. My last perm was January 30th. I have been discussing this with various friends and family. Surprisingly alot of us are clueless about natural hair. Some people have said I would be stuck with a nappy mess. I wanted you to list some of the myths you have heard about natural hair. Or surprising information you realized once going natural.

 

[TinyT]

Myth: No guys will ever want to date you
Truth: I have had more players on the team since the chop than I ever had.

Myth: You can't wear that to jobs/interviews and be successful
Truth: I have received more interviews and 2nd interviews that most of my friends. I don't have any natural friends

Myth: You won't be able to style it.
Truth: At first I couldn't, but after practice, people think my twists are done professionally. I can do roller sets, braid outs, puffs, and I am learning to do extensions.

This is all I have for now. I have to go to lunch. I will add more later.

 

[patience]

Myth: Natural Hair is hard to manage/handle
Truth: If you make it difficult, it WILL be...like with everything else. It's what you make it. I have more freedom now than ever.

Myth: Natural hair is dry/brittle
Truth: If you take care of it and keep it moisturized, it won't be.

TracyAnnette got some others for me.

 

[Poohbear]

Hey, this is going to turn out to be a helpful thread. I need this since Im transitioning to natural.

 

[Karonica]

I used to (key words *used to*) assume that my natural hair would never be manageable without pressing it, but looking at a lot of hair journals has convinced me otherwise. I still can't believe I went 11 weeks without a touch-up and had no problems for the first time ever.

 

[ricochet]

MYTH: Natural hair is unmanageable.
FACT: Natural hair is managed DIFFERENTLY than relaxed or loosely textured hair.

MYTH: Natural hair is not versatile, you can only wear an afro.
FACT: Natural hair is the most versatile hair on this planet...It can be worn kinky, straight, curly, wavy, braided, twisted, bunned, knotted, etc, etc.

MYTH: Natural hair is unhealthy because it breaks off all the time.
FACT: Natural hair WILL BE unhealthy if constantly handled or styled(using small combs, combing while dry, etc) like straight hair.

MYTH: I don't have time to deal with natural hair.
FACT: If you are trying to grow natural hair out long, then yes, it takes time to style. However, the initial styling process(twists, braids, cornrows) is worth it because it lasts from 1-2 weeks with no constant handling. Short natural hair is probably the easiest, low-maintenance style out here. It is truly wash and go!

MYTH: Natural hair is ugly, nappy, hard, dirty, and unkempt.
FACT: Sadly, this comment will mainly come from "our" people, but I won't go into that. Too much brainwashing has been going on since the beginning to even touch that with a long handle spoon.

Natural hair is beautiful, maybe not in this european influenced culture in the U.S., but it is truly a gorgeous sight. I see so many black women and men sporting so many natural styles and it makes me smile because it is such a beautiful thing!

Okay, I am done...there are PLENTY more, but I will stop here.

 

[Melaninme]

Myth: No guys will ever want to date you
Truth: I'm happily married to a man who prefers my nappy hair over my permed hair any day!

Myth: You can't wear that on the job and be successful
Truth: Yes you can! I became a manager leading a group of software engineers. I will say this though, I have a friend who is natural and sports a twa. Whenever she comes to work it looks as if she just woke up, got dressed and came to work. She never did her hair. And you know what? She was proud of this. She loved telling people how cool it was that she now can just get up and go without having to worry about doing her hair.

That's something I guess will never sit well with me. Just because a person has given up the perm and is now totally natural doesn't mean she also gives up on styling and taking care of her hair. The technique(s) used/needed may change, but not the necessity.

Myth: It won't grow back.
Fact: It does and sometimes surpasses the length acquired with relaxed. There are many examples of this fact right here on this board.

Myth: Natural hair isn't versatile
Fact: Micarae said it all.

 

[sillygurl18]

Don't stop

 

[patience]

Micarae, LET IT FLOW!!! FOLKS NEED TO HEAR THIS!!!

And where is AFashionSlave with the Natural Hair Myth Buster Committee????

 

[Nay]

Myth: That you have a militant attitude or are trying to "prove something" by being natural.

Truth: You just are trying to wear your hair, period.

Myth: Natural hair is hard if not near impossible to manage.

Truth: I had more trials, tribulations, problems, and time-consuming energy spent on my pressed hair than I ever have with my natural hair.

Myth: It's just a phase you are going through.

Truth: Maybe those other alternatives were the phase, and now you have come home

 

[sassygirl125]

[ QUOTE ]
MYTH: Natural hair is unmanageable.
FACT: Natural hair is managed DIFFERENTLY than relaxed or loosely textured hair.

[/ QUOTE ]

So true.

[ QUOTE ]
MYTH: Natural hair is not versatile, you can only wear an afro.
FACT: Natural hair is the most versatile hair on this planet...It can be worn kinky, straight, curly, wavy, braided, twisted, bunned, knotted, etc, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was guilty of thinking this myself. I like long hair. The only naturals I saw IRL with long hair were men with cornrows, children and women with type 2/3 hair. The 4's wore twa's, medium sized afros or extensions. Thank God for the Internet!

 

[bigfrogyrl]

Myth: Natural hair won't grow
Fact: My hair is LONGER natural than it had ever been relaxed.

Myth: Natural hair is for "Black Power" sisters.
Fact: Um, no it's not. It's just not.

Myth: Men don't like it.
Fact: I get more attention from men wearing it natural than I ever did when it was relaxed. (I am not trying to offend anyone with a relaxer, it's just that with MY hair...well, it was pretty jacked up).

Myth: Natural hair is hard to manage.
Fact: So is a relaxer, braids, a weave, etc. if you aren't used to it. I mean, how many times have we heard stories of hair breakage from those wearing relaxers or hair color? It's pretty much the same issue, only different way to wear your hair.

Myth: Natural hair is dry and brittle.
Fact: No, it's not. It just needs moisture. Natural hair will break if you don't learn how to take care of your hair properly. For me, that meant I HAD to have my hair in protective styles most of the time.

Myth: Natual hair is ugly, nappy (in the derrogatory sense) and unruly.
Fact: One name for you: Stephanie Southers. www.hairobicsallnatural.com. Nothing ugly, nappy or unruly about her hair.

 

[CocoaButterflyy]

myth: you can get a job but not a well paying job with natural hair
fact: my pay stub begs to differ

myth: guys aren't feeling natural women
fact: more guys have complimented me or acknowledged my beauty while being natural then in that year and a half I was relaxed. And if the guy isn't feelingyou because of natural hair is he really worth it?

myth: natural hair is way more time consuming then relaxed hair
fact: I have doing my natural hair down to a science 1 hour 15 minutes including washing and conditioning and maybe an hour and a half at the salon compared to 2-3+ hours when I was relaxed

myth: everyone with natural hair is some tree hugging, black power, militant, I'm better then you type of person (I've heard people say this)
fact: just like anyone else there is variety in who we are and yes natural hairmakes a statement but everyones statement is not the same

 

[CarolinaAfro]

[ QUOTE ]
CocoaButterflyy said:
myth: guys aren't feeling natural women
fact: more guys have complimented me or acknowledged my beauty while being natural then in that year and a half I was relaxed. And if the guy isn't feelingyou because of natural hair is he really worth it?


[/ QUOTE ]

 

[SherryLove]

I am truly loving this thread....It is so enlightening and refreshing at the same time...

 

[Maestradiva77]

Not too much to add here, but...
One of my favorites:
Myth: Oh, so you're natural. You must be a vegetarian.
Fact: Not all naturals are vegetarians.

 

[Karonica]

Oh my goodness!

 

[Country gal]

[ QUOTE ]
Poohbear said:
Hey, this is going to turn out to be a helpful thread. I need this since Im transitioning to natural.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good! That was my intention. It is also helping to ease some fears and concerns about my transitioning.

 

[sillygurl18]

 

[patience]

[ QUOTE ]
Maestradiva77 said:
Not too much to add here, but...
One of my favorites:
Myth: Oh, so you're natural. You must be a vegetarian.
Fact: Not all naturals are vegetarians.

[/ QUOTE ]

Okay, I hate getting this one...even though is DOES apply...

 

[jainygirl]

[ QUOTE ]
Maestradiva77 said:
Not too much to add here, but...
One of my favorites:
Myth: Oh, so you're natural. You must be a vegetarian.
Fact: Not all naturals are vegetarians.

[/ QUOTE ]

no wonder some guy looked at me like i was insane when i told him i dont eat meat.-- i have a relaxer so i must be a big ole meat eating carnivore --wow, the ignorance runs rampant huh??

 

[aka]

MYTH: if you wear your hair natural you must be a lesbian.
REALITY: nope, I'm happily married to a man (last time I checked)

MYTH: no one will hire you with your hair natural
REALITY: I worked as a staff writer at a national magazine for four years with my natural hair

MYTH: I'd like to wear my natural but I don't have that "good hair" (heard that one from my sister)
REALITY: I'm type 4 all the way, baby.

MYTH: natural hair is hard to manage
REALITY: only bc we never learned how to deal with it. If we'd been taught how to wear natural hair and keep it healthy from the time we were little girls, we wouldn't be saying this.

MYTH: only radicals wear natural hair
REALITY: wrong, I'm as bourgie as they come

MYTH: natural hair is ugly
REALITY: that's just your internalization of the european beauty standard talking

aka

 

[Country gal]

[ QUOTE ]
patience said:
Micarae, LET IT FLOW!!! FOLKS NEED TO HEAR THIS!!!

And where is AFashionSlave with the Natural Hair Myth Buster Committee????

[/ QUOTE ]

Girl, don't stop I am loving it. Some really posistive words are being spoken about natural hair. I need to hear it some more.

 

[blkbeauty]

Very uplifting information ladies. I have been transitioning for 6 months now and it’s been no party. Though it seems difficult to manage my new growth, I am simply loving my 4b/4a texture.

I think the most difficult part of it is learning how to manage it and I sometimes think that doing a long transition by keep the perm is slowing down my learning process. I can’t wait until I am all natural so that I can finally embrace my natural hair completely.

Again, thanks for the encouragement ladies!!!

 

[gabrielle2]

[ QUOTE ]
Maestradiva77 said:
Not too much to add here, but...
One of my favorites:
Myth: Oh, so you're natural. You must be a vegetarian.
Fact: Not all naturals are vegetarians.

[/ QUOTE ]

ITA...adding to those MYTHS
* i am not on my way to a meeting to plan a protest
* i am NOT a vegan
* i do not know about shea butter and black soap (well at first i didnt)

 

[Country gal]

[ QUOTE ]
Maestradiva77 said:
Not too much to add here, but...
One of my favorites:
Myth: Oh, so you're natural. You must be a vegetarian.
Fact: Not all naturals are vegetarians.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's too funny.

 

[patience]

Myth: Everyone's hair isn't "good" like yours
Truth: Everyone has "GOOD" hair growing out of their scalp (minus any med. issues, etc.) What you do with it from that point on is up to you. If you don't take care of it, guess what happens

Myth: Natural hair care is time consuming...
Truth: I used to spend ~4 hours on my hair when it was relaxed from wash to deep cond to cond to style. I spend about 30 minutes, IF THAT, on my natural hair from wash to condition to style. Which one was shorter again?...

Myth: Natural hair is hard/dry
Truth: If you have "scab hair" then you may experience this for a few months. After you cut off the scab hair, welcome to soft, silky hair provided you take care of it. Also, drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily will SIGNIFICANTLY improve dry hair/skin issues...

Myth: Everyone can't wear their hair natural
Truth: Everyone can if they CHOOSE to do so!

 

[cocoa2122]

Myth: Natural hair is hard and dry.

Not so. I even admit when I first started transitioning, I thought my natural hair would be hard to deal with and dry all the time. This didn't stop me from transitioning at all, I desparately wanted my natural hair. After I learned that I can't treat my natural hair the same way that I treated my relaxed hair, I found out that my natural hair is in fact soft and very manageable. It's a matter of finding an new routine that suits my natural hair, such as "no-pooing".

 

[syoulee1]

Myth: Only naturals with type 2/3 hair can grow it to great
lengths
Fact: Any texture can grow to great lengths with proper hair
care practices

Myth: Men don't appreciate the beauty of natural hair
Fact: My husband would be heated

if I went back to
perming, he LOVES natural hair.
Men are always complimenting my hair, I have to beat
them off with a stick!

Myth: Naturals think they are better than relaxed women
Fact: Some definately do but it is insane to lump a group
of people into a category because they wear their hair
they way God intended it to grow out of their head!

Myth: Natural hair is difficult to comb
Fact: The comb glides through my hair like buttah baby!
my relaxed hair would get tangled if I didn't use the
right products.

 

[gabrielle2]

oh yeah...
Myth....
* everyone that is natural want to grow locs
* good hair is naturally straight/curly/wavy
TRUTH...good hair is healthy hair