Duke beauty: You said my hair was what?

Natural hair has seen its glory days. And young black women are talking about their curly locks, which have long been a source of insecurity and critique as opposed to pride.

From the use of straightening combs that go up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (about three times the threshold for third degree burns to the skin) to the use of relaxers, some of which contain potassium or sodium hydroxide (for the non-chemistry people out there, that causes chemical burns to the scalp).

We have seen an entire generation gravitate towards these tools since their inception. And anyone who has used any of the former has some slightly traumatic memory of the burning sensation of the chemical relaxer or the hot comb.

So what is it? Why the hair issue? Surely if your scalp is burning, your hair smells like it’s on fire, is breaking into the sink, the bathtub, and falling out, you wouldn’t do that right?

Well, the answer is never that clear. And these ladies give us insight into why they’re rocking their natural hair, and why getting there wasn’t necessarily so easy.

Elexa Walker:  Junior, Philosophy & Pre-Med, Alaska

Why and when did you decide to go natural? 

I straightened my hair daily for years until college. I thought that my perspective of my own hair was skewed, so why not try a new thing.

How is it now, still going curly and strong? 

People nowadays compliment my hair, saying its pretty or that my curls are gorgeous. The transition from straight to curly was easy for me because I received positive feedback.

What product line do you use most? 

Mixed Chicks.

Jasmin Lott: 2nd Year,  Duke Law, Texas

What do people usually think of your curly hair?  

In the North East I get more compliments than when I’m at home in the South. But I didn’t grow up in an environment where anyone wore their hair naturally.

What product line do you use most? 

OGX Organix.

When and why did you decide to go natural? 

When I came to college, it was the first time I saw other women doing it. In my high school, everyone had either a relaxer or straightened their hair.

Julia Agudogo: Junior, Ghana

How was it growing up with curly hair?  

Some people are very encouraging and like to touch my hair.  And sometimes people randomly ask me about straightening my hair.

Like, “when can I straighten your hair?”

What products work best for your hair? 

Coconut Oil and Shea Butter.

And you’ve been natural since…?

Birth

Lily: Senior, Biology & Global Health

How was growing up with curly hair?

I was always taught that my natural hair was unprofessional for school, work, and internships. I didn’t want to draw attention to my differences. So I straightened it.

How did your cultural background influence that?

I am a first generation Ethiopian American. Growing up between both culture I would always hear the word “cheberay” or “nappy” when I wore my natural hair.

When did you decide to stop straightening and start rocking the natural look?

The change was gradual from freshman to senior year. I honestly think it’s a reflection of the self awareness I obtained in many different areas of my life.

How has that transition been for you?

I started experimenting with styles, mostly wearing my hair in looser twist outs all of sophomore and junior year. I didn’t know initially how to take care of it properly when it was curly.

What products do you use to keep your curls in check?

Creme of Nature Argan Oil Shampoo (sulfate free), Hollywood Beauty Olive Deep Conditioner or Shea Moisture Conditioners

My story? 

The treatments started at a young age. By age 10, hot combs, relaxers and other “taming” techniques turned my curls into a distant memory. Growing up I loved my natural hair because I was free. Free to swim, play in the rain, and wake up without straightening or worrying about how to maintain my treated hair.

Did I like my relaxed hair at all? Of course. It was a cute look for me, but as I grew older I began to realize the overwhelming amount of time, finances, and attention that my “cute” hair required. Although I wanted a fresh start, after years of relaxing my hair, I knew I could not take care of my natural curls without my mother’s help. So my regular treatments continued until my sophomore year of highschool when I transitioned to relaxing my hair only two to three times a year.

The changes continued so that by graduation I treated my hair once a year, and by my 21st birthday I fully committed to nourishing my natural hair using coconut oil and other remedies to restore it to health.

After over 10 years of chemically conditioning my hair, my natural hair is a mix between wavy and straight hair. The straight parts are remnants of my relaxers, while the wavy and healthy roots continue to grow in.

Has it been an easy transition? Not always. I often received  hurtful jokes calling me a “nappy head child” or comments about “why no one loves me” because of my unstraightened hair.

Although our society can portray natural hair as unruly, unprofessional, and unattractive, I have learned that loving myself, and my natural hair is more important than what we see in the media. And it is by no means either a condemnation of other hair styles either, but much rather a celebration and assertion that no one can define my beauty.

That’s right, not even Beyoncé “woke up like this”. After all, no one wakes up with a lace front wig on.  But these ladies did wake up like this.

Yes, that’s what I call #flawless.

So, no more straightening or chemical treatments to “fix” my hair. Now, I wake up, wash, air-dry and I’m out the door. It is really liberating actually.

My natural curls are what make me the woman that I am. I am proud to have the confidence to be free again.

 

Thank you to all the ladies who participated. Just a brief reminder that your natural hair is ALWAYS #flawless.