For some of us, giving up perms and chemicals is more than just a beauty statement. It’s the long history of thenatural hair movementin the ‘60s. (Thanks, Angela Davis and Diana Ross.) It’s the increased representation ontelevision,festivalsand advertisements. It’s alsodismantling negative perceptionsthat natural hair is “bad,” “unprofessional,” or “dirty.”
And it’s a decision that’s deeply personal and variable, involving anything from a big chop, to a commitment to eliminating chemical relaxers to simply switching to usingnatural hair products. It’s been seven years since I started embracing my natural hair and it’sstilla learning process.
Read on to hear from seven women who’ve been through the journey and come out the other side.