Black Hair Care Tips

You didn’t really think we were going to answer this one. Did you? This is one of the hottest debates I’ve run across in years. Our job is to inform you and let you make the best decision for yourself. There are pros and cons to each. This is a highly personal decision. Don’t go natural to please those sisters who think all women who wear perms are selling out to the White man and have low self esteem. OTOH, Don’t wear a perm because you feel that going natural is a political statement that you don’t want to make. This really should be a personal decision. Having said that, the reality is that if you go natural, some people will assume certain things about your political and social points of view. If you wear a perm, some people will think you have low self esteem. So, you can’t please everybody.

Some considerations about Permed or Relaxed Hair

• Generally the norm in the U.S.- Most Black women have permed hair. However, it seems (we don’t have numbers to back this up) that more women are at least interested in going natural.
• Easy to style the hair- By straightening the hair, you still have the option of curling it again. Permed hair is generally easier to style and can be quickly thrown into a variety of styles.
• Hard on the hair- A relaxer works by actually breaking the hair down. Permed hair also tends to dry out easier than natural hair.
• Requires diligent care to keep the hair healthy- Permed hair, since it has been weakened can be more fragile. But, it’s straighter, so it’s not as prone to breakage due to getting tangled or being caught by combs or brushes.
• Can be more costly- Touch ups are a must and professional care is strongly recommended. This costs money.

Some considerations about Natural Hair

• Back to nature- Obviously, natural hair is more “natural”. Is that a good thing?
• Some do it for religious reasons (locks) or political reasons- you may be lumped into this category by strangers. Locks particularly seem to cause a reaction.

• Has cost some people jobs- a man was fired for wearing locks (upheld in court). A woman was fired for wearing two-strand twists. Natural hair is still fairly controversial- particularly locks (formerly known as dread locks because they were “dreaded”). There is a perception by some people that locks are “dirty”. This is totally without foundation, in terms of people of who wear locks now. But, the perception is still there.
• Social pressure- May require greater self esteem to put up with the looks and comments. These will come not only from strangers and co-workers. Friend and family also will have reactions.
• Better for the hair- Natural hair, if left natural can be better for the hair. If you try to style it like permed hair or White hair though (hitting it with a lot of heat a la “hard pressing” or blowing it out, you can do a lot of damage to “natural” hair.
• Easier to maintain- Natural hair doesn’t necessarily require professional styling or maintenance.
• Less styling options (debatable)- There are a wide variety of styling options for Natural hair. And styles like SisterLocks or very fine braids or locs give you many options availble to permed hair wearers (for example, pulling it up in a pony tail or styling with rollers).
• Can be less expensive- You can do a lot with natural hair at home. But, if you are going natural just to save money and decide to do locs, extensions or SisterLocks and go to a professional to have this done, you may be in for a rude awakening. Some styles are very tedious to put in and maintain and can literally cost hundreds of dollars per visit and all day of your and the stylists’ time.

Keep in mind that perming hair is not a quick fix. We get calls several times a week from women who have put perms in their daughters’ hair and now regret it. We do not recommend perms for prepubescent girls. Their hair and skin are still sensitive at this time. Also, perming their hair early in life can send a message that their natural hair it not acceptable. Permed hair still has to be maintained. Mothers who thought perming their daughters’ hair would be the answer to all their problems often call us asking about how to go back to natural hair. Once has has been permed, it cannot be reversed. That hair is forever permed. A perm can only be removed by growing it out (and cutting off the permed hair), cutting the hair off short or by allowing the hair to break off (unfortunately, some people choose this option). Going from a perm to natural hair will require a transition process which is usually not short or without its own difficulties.