Why Do Women Of African Descent Relax/perm Their Beautiful Hair

@ topic

the reason why i perm my hair is not because i want to be white or whatever but because its easy to get a comb through it. i'll go natural if u buy me a new comb everyday.

weaves are disgusting. Better to go bald than attach dead hair to your scalp. Uggh

To keep it manageable. The afro hair in its natural state is kinky and therefore difficult and painful to comb.

 

i am really sure d person who asked the question is a guy. for a girl, it is not easy to keep natural hair. it tangles, not easy to comb and it is not always attractive. my hair is d full, hard and spongy type. if it was natural, i would have to tie a scarf on it just for it to go down. our weather does not support our hair.so,   

I LOVE YOU 
@feyi_apata, in addition to reading the last 6 pages, you can also check out this other thread:


[url]http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-45142.0.html[/url]

so once u put hair cream in ur hair is it considered natural ?

as long as this "hair cream" doesn't contain chemicals that permanently alters the texture of your hair.

it requires being brave is all i can tell you. esp. if you don't have support from anyone.

@sisimose, it is  easy to keep natural hair if all the women around you have natural hair. but if all of them including your friends etc have relaxed hair, then it will be difficult. 
most of my friends are non-black so it was easier for me. and three of few black friends i have have natural hair. it was really easy for me 'cause it made me proud to have my hair. that God didn't make a mistake creating my hair.
the only difficult part was finding hair products made for natural hair. but i found nappturality.com so i got even a larger support system for my hair( like most women with natural hair). lol

it's also easier if you yourself like the idea of natural hair. I've loved to have my hair natural since i was little. i got a perm and my cousin didn't. at first i was happy but when my hair started to fall out and hers was still growing, healthy and full, i made up my mind from a young age that i'll never relax my hair again when i was old enough. but i did 'cause i wasn't brave enough until i turned almost 16. i used extension braids to transition though. i was growing my natural hair underneath and relaxed hair on top until the natural hair was long enough for me to cut off  all the relaxed hair. i wore braids though out that period.

from what i heard though, the first year is the hardest. once you get past the first year of going natural, it's usually easier to keep the journey going.

sorry for the long post. lol (i feel like a natural hair representative now. j/k)


 

i won't advice you to try to convince your friends just yet. they'll think you're crazy or something. just say you like a change if they ask you or give weird looks.
maybe after a year or two when they themselves start complimenting your lenght, fullness, then hint it at them. lol

yeah, rock the braids till your natural hair is long enough for you too cut off all your perms (about 6 months or so. more or less depending on what you're comfortable with). or you can try twists with extensions. etc


anyways, for starters, get a moisturizer (in form of hair lotion or oil). it should have no grease.
some people recommend castor oil and shea butter. either one or both is fine.

also, don't wash your hair everyday (it'll leave your hair dry but you need moisture). once a week or less is fine. Conditioning your hair should be the priority. use conditioner A LOT.

never attempt to comb out your afro unless it's quite damp or moisturized.
combing is also easier after a twist out or braid out.

more importantly visit nappturality.com
for transitioners.

[url]http://www.nappturality.com/forum/index.php?s=0cb9c269202a3ae77e2b7dfcaff60b72&showforum=4[/url]

just overall, take a look at the site.



(i'm not a fan of locks on women either lol)
i'll post a pic of my hair soon. it's not that long yet because it's only been a year and a couple of months and i made mistakes when i first started 'cause i didn't get any help.  but i've learned (and still learning)and it's fuller and healthier than when i was relaxed.

I love you so much for your bravery sisimose.   
i feel supported.

trust me, you won't regret it even though you'll have some moments when you're frustrated (but when you think about it, you'll find out that you probably were more frustrated with a relaxer)

i wore my hair in an afro today and made my bro take a pic. i would have posted it if you were online.

no i just combed it out and used an headband in front.  (or sometimes i braid the front and the rest is an afro.)
i just used my hand to make it go into place. good thing natural hair is elastic/ shrinks and stretches. I just push it down wherever it's pointing out and stretch it out wherever it's shrunk up.
I don't know how to explain. lol

no i'm not in naija. but i wish i was in naija though.
yeah. I'll be 18 next year.    lol

I braid my hair most of the time and don't use much products
but i always make sure that i moisturize my hair w/ hair lotion (no grease)

i currently use sulfur8 moisturizing hair lotion and Organic leave-in spray.

i condition my hair after i take out braids with Organic replenishing pak conditioner.

Conditioner is really good for dry hair. It just makes everything soft and healthy.

I'm not in naija so i don't really know what products there are over there.

wow. Nigerian stores have it too? i didn't know that but that's good.

yeah. organic is awesome. i love the brand.

  na wah oh 

@ omoge i hope u mean 95 naira 
those cornrows better last 4 months -- looking brand new to pay $95

when i use to do corn rows my friend would do it for me for $10 and some chinese food
and i had crazy designs