When you think of peer pressure, you typically think of sex, drugs, and rock–n- roll! I’m speaking of a different type of peer pressure- – the pressure to relax! I started relaxing my daughter’s hair at a very young age because it was “unmanageable”. Truth is – I wanted her hair to be “long” and “straight” because that’s what I thought it should be. Her hair eventually broke off and we had to start trying to repair it, all the while, I was feeling a huge amount of guilt over my decision to relax in the first place! As a practicing licensed stylist at the time – I felt even more guilt because I wasn’t able to protect my daughter’s hair.
Needless to say, after my decision to go natural in 2004, I made the decision (in ’05) to do the same with my daughter, who was only 12 at the time. For months and months she would beg me to relax her hair – it was an ongoing battle! We did micros for the first few years (she’s an athlete so it made sense at the time) but in time realized that wasn’t the healthiest option for her either.
I’m proud to say that she is now 17 years old and still natural and her hair is thriving! It has really grown in the last 2 years due to a new hair regimen. She loves loves loves her hair and really takes care of it. Her peers are all asking her what she does, how she gets it so soft and how healthy it looks. This is the reaction from young African American teenage girls! I think it’s awesome. It takes a lot for a young girl to be confident period, yet alone enough to wear her naturally beautiful hair and not cave to the peer pressure. My teenage daughter and I have been natural for 5 and 6 years respectively….my son has been natural for all of his 22 months. Thanks for letting me share!
Current Products We Use:
Tools: Microfiber Hair Towel, Ouidad Detangler Comb
Shampoos: Trader Joe’s Nourishing Shampoo, Jason’s Natural Biotin Shampoo
Clarifying: Neutrogena, Bentonite Clay Treatment
Conditioners: Hello Hydration/ None of Your Frizzness (Herbal Essence), Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose
Leave In/Detanglers: Kinky Curly Knot Today, Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave In
Deep Treatments: Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque (me), Henna (my daughter) Styling/Sealants: Aloe Vera Gel, Eco Styler (Olive Oil), Shea Butter
Oils: Jojoba, Olive, Vatika
Things I hope to try:
Honey & Hot Oil Treatment
Karen’s Body Beautiful Product Line
I've been following you blog for some time now and I LOVE the new design 🙂
This post is very inspirational. It's a great message to send to young women that you CAN have healthy, beautiful hair without a relaxer.
What a beautiful family!!
Tammy G, you and your family are beautiful and all of your heads are lovely!
YOu and your family are gorgeous!! YOur baby boy is so adorable!! YOur daughters hair looks great. This is how my family will be when i get older!! I love this and I hope all is well with yall!
Thank you to everyone for such kind words! It is really appreciated. I will be sure to share your comments with my family and my stylist, Karen Gary of Synergi Salon in Ohio. She is who my initial inspiration came from!
Tammy G
Your family is beautiful. So glad you are teaching them its ok to love their hair
First Sesame Street, now this! Very nice and inspring. Hope your daughter's friends will be inspired as well, seems as if they just might be!
Just beautiful!
What a stunning family! Great article..so inspiring, thank you for sharing
Goodness everyone is so pretty in this family photo. I really do love all of the variations of natural hair on this photo. Also if you hadn't stated that the youngest was a boy because I thought it was all girls listed on here. So this shows that little boys can have well taken care of hair at this age and any throughout their life. Congratulations on doing such a wonderful thing for having in your family all natural.
Great article, you all look beautiful. My 12 year old daughter is the reason I went natural. I kept telling her not to get a perm, while I was still perming. I decided I could not tell my daughter not to do something I was still doing. She loves how her hair is growing, and most of all I don't make it a chore to shampoo/condition and style. This way she sees that it takes work, but I always tell her beauty takes time and care.
is it wrong that im jealous of a 2yr old boy's hair? just gorgeous…
Beautiful!
Great looking natural hair is the best advertisement for natural hair. I think your daughter having natural hair will show other girls her age that natural hair is sexy, pretty, and beautiful.
WOW! you guys look beautiful!!!
Great inspiration! My daughter is 5 and she loves her natural hair. She loves her fro with a cute headband or her puff with ribbons and twists. Its great for their self esteem.
This was a great story, thanks for sharing. Your daughter is a very strong young lady because peer pressure is not easy when you're a teenager. I did my big cut in February and my two daughters 3 and 1 years old were the inspiration behind it. I love having them see that mommy's hair is just like their's.
Go head y'all! Everyone looks great! And special kudos to your brave and confident daughter. ~KF519
all of you are beautiful. thanks for sharing your story!
Gorgeous family!! This is very inspiring!
wonderful story! congrats to you and your daughter for standing up to that pressure. i know transitioning as a middle schooler had to be hard for her (at least it would have been hard for me). congrats!
Gorgeous is RIGHT! When I see pictures like this, I can't help but smile :-). Thanks for making my day!
All of their hair is gorgeoussss!
This is so inspiring!!! I have a 7 year old daughter and I hope that I can convince her to stay natural. What a beautiful photo. Thank you so much for posting this! 🙂