Natural Hair
Natural hair is making a comeback. The African American community has long debated the
issue of hair. Many factors have led to the majority of black women using everything from perms, 
hot combs, and weaves to change the texture or look of their hair. There was a time when a black
woman wearing her hair in any form of its natural state would garner awkward stares and
negative comments, sometimes from their own people. That is slowly becoming a thing of the
past. Although still a multimillion dollar industry the relaxer market has been on the decline since
2006 and more black women have embraced their natural hair.
“Its amazing that it’s considered revolutionary to wear my hair the way it grows out my head.”
Tracy Tom* said on the controversial documentary “Good Hair.” That comment sums up the
journey of natural black hair. For centuries black people were taught to loathe their own identity.
Kinky hair was considered a bad thing. Nappy was a derogatory word. Even in the seventies,
when blacks were becoming more conscious, many black churches turned away members who
wanted to wear the style. The black woman was especially susceptible to scrutiny* over hair. The
psychological effects carried from mother to daughter with words like “Your hair is a mess.” Or
“Your hair is nappy.”
And many black girls who can’t remember their childhood without recalling their mother
applying a hot comb or a perm.
Corporate America has played a large role in influencing the longevity of keeping natural black
hair on the margins. For many, the issue of getting a job in corporate America dictated what
hairstyle they would wear. However, in recent years one of the positive factors that have led to
the increase in black women with natural hairstyles has been the widening acceptance in
corporate America of black women wearing more natural styles. This, coupled with the fact that
more educated African American women are wearing their hair natural has led to more affluence
among those that wear their hair natural.
Although increasingly more affluent black women can be found with natural hairstyles, there is
still much progress to be made. When President Obama’s oldest daughter, Sasha* wore her hair in
braids, many people, including media personalities decried the style as “inappropriate,” claiming
that it was not becoming of a presidentís daughter to wear her hair in braids. The fact also
remains that powerful black women like Oprah and Michelle Obama will likely never be found
with their hair in any natural style.
One fact that is hardly mentioned is the health benefits of a black woman wearing natural hair.
Black women are in fact the most overweight group in the United States. Many factors lead to
this epidemic, including lack of healthier food choices and the abundance of cheap, high calorie,
fast foods but another factor is that black women who wear weaves and perms tend to augment
their lifestyle just to keep their hairdo. This means; no working out, because it could mean ruining
or sweating-out their hairstyle. It also means washing their hair less frequently and even avoiding
swimming pools. Women with natural hair tend to have a better quality of life because they are
more likely to be physically active.
Although the stigma of black women wearing their hair natural has become almost a thing of the
past, there is still more work to be done against the social psychology that keeps the majority of
black women from going natural. With enough time and conscious effort to break the cycle of
black women destroying their natural beauty, the perm and the hair weave may become a thing of
the past.