Let's show them just how DOPE natural hair is!!

The more I involve myself in this beautiful on-line black natural hair community, the more I wish to see natural hair in the physical. In the small southern town of Beaufort, South Carolina where I reside, most of the time I am in the only natural in the vicinity. I see way more wigs, weaves , perms and damaged hair than I see healthy, curly, kinky afro’s. I see an overwhelming majority of black women who have shame and negative emotions associated with their natural textures. I see women who have no idea how to care for their hair in its natural state. Women who find natural hair taboo.

I believe those women would benefit greatly from an introduction to Curly-Kinky Land.

Blogs like Black Girl with Long Hair, A GRL CAN MAC, Natural Chica, Leave in the Kinks, and Le coil remind us how dope natural hair is. It reminds us that we are not alone in this journey. They help us make it through the obstacles that come along with learning our natural texture. WE love watching natural hair videos on YOUTUBE because we get to see other women taking care of and rocking their natural hair. We get to see black women with hair that is beaituful, healthy and strong. It’s a community that motivates and educates us.

Good for us… that we found it right?! So now what about them?^^ Remember the ones who see their kinks and curls as negative? I want them to see them how beautiful natural hair can be. I want to share with them the wonderful resources we natural’s have.

I e-mailed women in my address book links to some of my favorite natural hair sites. In the e-mail I told them about my decision to go natural and how I wanted to share with them a peek into the growing natural hair community on the internet.

At the very least they’ll click on a link and see some beautiful natural hair-styles, learn a little and then…. still choose to relax their hair. The whole point is showing them their options. I don’t think ALL black women HAVE to wear their natural hair. It really should be a choice. But a choice where all options are given consideration. For many women, natural hair isn’t even a contender when making the decision about hair. Straight hair is generally the starting point for most of their ‘options’. My hope is for black women to find natural hair beautiful, and more important, acceptable. I want them to know that natural hair isn’t all the bad things we’ve been socialized and taught to believe THEN they can make a CHOICE to wear their hair however they choose.

In sending them the links they’ll get a chance to see their other options. They’ll see that natural hair is within their reach, they just have to take the first step.

So what do you think? Do you know women who have NEVER considered natural hair? DO you have people in your life who still mock you for being natural? Are you considering going natural and have people in your like trying to dissuade you? Send them a link to your favorite natural hair site. Show them what natural hair is really like!

You know I sent one to the sister who said, “I know you hope the baby has good hair!” I’ll let you know how that turns out.

You game?

Peace

~Sunshine