When the topic of hair comes up among a room of Black women, you might as well take a seat and get comfortable—we have a lot to say about it. No matter how confident a Black woman is, every friend of mine has a story to tell about her hair. That’s why I decided to start the headline of this story with the phrase “therapy time.” Even I had to take a deep breath before getting into this one.
One of the greatest cultural shifts that I’ve seen while coming of age in America is the way that Black women are embracing their natural hair textures and how the people around them are supportive of that. There was a time when wearing your hair naturally was seen as “unprofessional” and something that was avoided. There is still work to do, but the times are certainly changing. Before we dive into the natural-hair journeys of these six Black women, I’d like to share my personal experience.
The first time I went outside with my hair in its natural state was only about a year or two ago, and I still feel like I am growing into it and learning to embrace it. I attended predominately white schools for the majority of my childhood, and this led me to subconsciously retreat from my natural styles. I typically wore braids and curly buns as a baby, but once I had a say in things, I was getting relaxers on a monthly basis. Looking back now, my natural curls were a lot more fun, but at the time, I just wanted to fit in. Now, even though my preference is to give my hair a light curl or beach wave, I love wearing my hair curly or in a natural bun, especially in the summer, and have begun testing different products and finding out what works for me.
If you’re like me and want to find new products that will work for your hair texture or want to read the stories of other Black women, then you’re in the right place. As we kick off Black History Month, we are spotlighting and amplifying Black voices. Read on to see what they have to say.
What’s your curl pattern? I have a mixture of type 3a and b hair. What would you say if you could describe your hair journey in just three words? Enlightening, unpredictable, and persistent. Can you go into more detail? Growing up in the early 2000s made it difficult for a lot of us to learn how to do our own hair. YouTube tutorials came later down the road, so understanding how to control and style curly, frizzy hair was frustrating. Throughout my early education, I stuck to slick-back ponytails and messy buns just to get to the school bus stop on time. Freshman year of high school is when I began to straighten my hair every single day, so the hassle of “doing it” was gone. It also helped that having straight hair helped me fit in and resemble my classmates. It wasn’t until 2017 that I fully embraced my natural curls. It sounds so recent, but the hair journey for many is. So much education is still coming out on how to properly care for and style our textures. It takes countless trials and errors, purchasing plenty of different products from across all brands, and time. I’m glad I made it here and can only wish for the younger generations to give their natural hair a shot. What are the feel-good hair products that you purchase on repeat?
What’s your curl pattern? Over the years, I’ve never been that interested in hair types. All I know is all hair types should be able to grow with the right care. What would you say if you could describe your hair journey in just three words? Trial and error, patience, and love. Can you go into more detail? When it comes to maintaining natural hair, it comes with purchasing products to see which might work best for your hair. It’s kind of like a process of elimination—it comes with a cost. Some products may damage, and some may help your hair flourish. You just have to do a lot of research beforehand. The last two words go hand in hand. You have to be patient with your hair. I definitely try not to get frustrated with my hair. If it’s starting to break off or getting thin, it’s time to do something different. If I’m having a bad day, I know not to try to do my hair because I might be too rough. Above all, I have to just love the hair I have, and I can do any style I want that makes me feel happy—whether it’s cut, in a protective style, or just letting the curls free. Accepting and loving what I have makes the journey all the better. What are the feel-good hair products that you purchase on repeat?
What’s your curl pattern? My hair type is predominately 3c. What would you say if you could describe your hair journey in just three words? Chemical-free, liberating, affirming. Can you go into more detail? I was lucky to have a mom that never let me use chemical relaxers on my hair, so my hair journey has been less of a start from zero with the health and more of an ultimate understanding of the politics of Black hair in America. The pressure to conform and please everyone—whether it’s the relaxed community, the heat-styling community, or the naturalists—is overwhelming! When you try to please everyone, you ultimately please no one and disappoint yourself. It was liberating and affirming to realize I’m most comfortable with the routine of heat-styling my hair! What are the feel-good hair products that you purchase on repeat?
What’s your curl pattern? My natural hair is between 3c and 4a. It is currently relaxed. What would you say if you could describe your hair journey in just three words? Difficult yet rewarding! I won’t lie—it has been difficult determining what my hair likes and doesn’t like, but when I finally nailed all of that down and it started to thrive, the journey became completely rewarding! Can you go into more detail? My hair broke for years, and I could never get it past shoulder length. I discovered that my hair was protein-sensitive during the pandemic. I got rid of most of my haircare with protein in it and went back to basics. I also cut off six inches of hair and started over. Protective styles saved me along with “no heat-styling” and regular moisturizing and sealing. My hair is now past bra-strap length and so much thicker and healthier. I’m so happy! What are the feel-good hair products that you purchase on repeat?
What’s your curl pattern? It’s taken me literal years to figure out my hair type, but I think I can confidently say that it is 4b. What would you say if you could describe your hair journey in just three words? Trust the process! I never thought that I would stop getting relaxers or ever truly see my natural curl pattern, but I trusted the process, and now, I’m working on growing and maintaining my natural hair in the healthiest way possible. Can you go into more detail? I’ve had chemically straightened hair since I was 9, and I vowed to keep it that way. I would go to the hair salon every two weeks to get a roller set and blowout. But when quarantine hit and I could no longer get my hair relaxed, I decided it was the perfect time to go natural. This came as a shock to my friends and family because, even at the height of the natural-hair movement, I’ve always been so against going natural in fear of having to do a big chop or go through an “ugly phase” while transitioning. It’s been about three years since I’ve transitioned, and I’m finally getting comfortable styling my natural hair. I have yet to wear it out in public because I’m afraid of running into my biggest enemies: humidity and shrinkage. For now, I’m sticking to my signature slick-back buns while I get my hair to a length that makes me feel confident and happy. I’ve truly come a long way when it comes to embracing my natural hair. What are the feel-good hair products that you purchase on repeat?
What’s your curl pattern? My hair type is a 4a coil pattern—coily and fine with medium porosity. What would you say if you could describe your hair journey in just three words? Affirming, empowering, and freeing! Can you go into more detail? In my home growing up, natural hair was always affirmed, but there was also a learning curve to figure out how to wear it in natural ways, pre-internet. Learning how to care for my natural hair using natural, nourishing ingredients was not only hugely empowering but also exciting and fun. I spent years exploring my hair, learning about natural care, and inventing a line of products that fed and nourished it from the inside out! About 10 years ago when I launched Oyin Handmade, having two small children and hair that spanned shoulder to shoulder, I began chopping it down. I now experience a freedom that comes from a cute short cut that helps me feel pulled-together with minimal effort. What are the feel-good hair products that you purchase on repeat?
