When You Should Consider Going Natural

On the fifth season premiere of the Tyra Banks show, Tyra Banks unveiled her natural hair. There were no extensions, there were no weaves, only Tyra's hair. Even so, the hair itself was still processed, i.e. permed. Many black women find it a chore to maintain permed hair. It becomes extremely susceptible to dryness, ends must be constantly snipped, and it may become a great hassle to keep moisturizing it with oils and greasy products. Some women have given up the perm fight and have chosen to return to their roots. But should you do the same? When is enough enough? What can you expect when you go natural once again? This article will touch on that.

When you should consider going back natural:

1) You find that your scalp is sensitive to just about every perming cream you have used. In too many sessions in the past, you have ended up with burns and scalds that further make hair growth and maintenance a hard task in the long run.

2) Since you began perming your hair, you have lost more hair than you have grown.

3) Your hair is always brittle and dry at the ends, no matter how much you moisturize it.

4) Your hair is thinning out

5) Your hair below the neck is stiff, dry, and to give it any sort of movement or flow seems next to impossible.

6) Your split ends are so many and so bad that much of your hair has split all the way up to the root.

7) You've been thinking about going natural for a long time because of personal, spiritual, or identity reasons.

Whatever the case, if you have experienced such great discomfort with your permed hair, it may make sense to return to your roots. If women of colour spent even a fraction of the time learning about how to care for their specific hair texture as opposed to learning how to restore and maintain permed hair, many black women would find themselves with longer, healthier hair. The hair texture belonging to a woman of African descent is actually quite strong in its own right. The act of perming it most certainly damages it, even if you are able to restore your hair later and maintain it very effectively. You may want to give your hair a break from all the perming and the straightening each week.

How to go about becoming natural again:

1) Some people go as far as to cut off all of their damaged straight hair and start over again. You may have to mentally prepare yourself for a different reaction for your family and peers. At times, people feel they look quite boyish, but once all the dead hair is cut off, your natural, stronger hair is free to grow. For those who want to keep it short and absolutely natural, maintenance requires finding a good black hair product that will keep the hair moisturized and even healthier.

2) Some people want to keep what length they have but grow their black hair in gradually. Some people will choose to braid their hair as the transition takes place. It is important to moisturize your hair even when it is in braids. Many people find their hair to be dry and brittle after taking them out. Use a daily spray-in moisturizer that will get to every area of your hair. Do not be afraid to undo your braids and do them over again moisturized.

3) Some people decide to loc their hair. Whether the straight hair is cut off or not, people will twist and loc their hair and let it grow out. Some take the Rastafarian route and allow the hair to grow without constant combing.

Whichever you choose, choose the best option for your hair. Many people find returning to their roots to be a freeing experience. It may take time for you and your loved ones, and even your acquaintances to get used to the change, but in the long run, the change is healthier for your hair.