Detangling the Myths of Natural Hair

24 June 2011 No Comments

Stephanie Joseph

By Stephanie Joseph

1. Natural hair is strong

This is a very big misconception. Natural hair may look very strong, which is why so many females unintentionally abuse their hair with rough treatment. The truth is, black hair is fragile and needs to be handled with care so it can thrive.

Tip: Using wide tooth combs/ Ouidad Double Detangler, soft bristle brush, water, natural ingredients, like: Coconut oil, Jojoba Oil, Almond Oil, and even your own fingers are some of the best tools and products that are essential to maintaining your natural hair.

2. You can’t do anything with natural hair

Many people think that Afro, Locs, or Braids are the only hairstyles for those who wear their hair natural. The truth is, there are many amazing styles to try including: Bantu knots, Two-strand twists, Puffs, Flat twists, Locs, Natural pinup, Twist outs. Natural hair styles are endless.

Tip: Search online for natural hair styles.

3. Wearing your hair natural is unmanageable

The truth is natural hair is very manageable. Hats off to the media and relaxer manufacturers who have done a great job of making us believe that our natural hair is difficult to manage and needs a miracle to maintain. It isn’t that natural hair isn’t manageable; it’s that people refuse to learn how to manage natural hair. Once you’ve learned and mastered the basic grooming techniques and have found products that your hair likes, combing and taking care of your natural hair will come easy.

4. Natural hair is a political statement

Natural hair is for everyone. Admittedly, in the ’60s the Afro was once a symbol for political change, but today, being natural is nothing more than a hairstyle. Women are getting tired of a 4-6 week routine touch-up, damage from relaxers, and even avoiding water. They have decided to go natural. At the end of the day natural hair looks great on women wearing their dashikis as it does on women in a business suit.

5. Natural hair is unprofessional

Women with natural hair work in many professions: from teachers to lawyers, from news broadcasters to professional sports team owner. Ursula M. Burns is chairman and chief executive officer of Xerox Corporation, and she is also natural. As long as your hair is tidy, it’s professional. People need to step away from the mentality that straight hair equals neat and professional. Just because a person has given up the relaxer and is now totally natural doesn’t mean she also gives up on styling and taking care of her hair. What’s important to remember is that there is no correlation between the hair and actual performance on the job.

Stephanie Joseph is Founder and Producer of the annual Toronto Natural Hair & Beauty Show. Check out the site www.torontonaturals.ca