Alyssa writes:
For the NaturallyCurly bunch, going natural is something many have worked for and many have achieved. For the rest of the population, it’s an up and coming trend to look for. But should going natural really be something that we consider a trend?
Going natural can be a long process that takes many months to get adjusted to. It’s a big decision for many people, especially for the women who are worried about what the men in their life will think of their new ‘do.
So what’s the rave about going natural? “Glamour” magazine did a recent article about the benefits of going natural and it has generated a lot of natural buzz.
Read more HERE!
While trend can mean, style. It also means
"To veer or turn off in a specific direction. "
I would like to think that my going natural is the
Veering off in the direction of no more perms. Not
Giving hundreds of dollars to a person who claim
To promote heathy hair, but not once in over
15 years ever encouraged no perm. So it's
Not a fad, style etc. For me it's a new direction, if
That makes it a trend, So be it.
Let the so-call fashion/beauty industry call the wearing our natural hair a trend, who cares! Each one of you know why you went natural and that's all that matters. We have time on our side. Remember, they (and I) thought rap would be a trend–hahahahahhaa. My son was a tween when it started and now he's 29 and it's still here and getting worse—arrrgh!
I agree with the post above for some who want a change it could be a trend for others it is a lifestyle choice. I think the real question is why is mainstream (white) america concerned? I will answer my own question, the answer is MONEY, DINERO, SCRILLA. I remember when Hip Hop was taboo until main stream america started making money off of it and now it is all the rave.
….and I agree with someone else said in another post, "Everyone will not stick with it," due to different reasons of course, but for some it would be just a trend.
Putting in my two cents…I think it's a trend for some and a lifestyle for others. I personally made the change because I just couldn't achieve long-term healthy hair when it was relaxed, a friend introduced me to "going natural,"…..that led me to Motown Girls website, then I found the beautiful Curly Nikki's site and the rest is history.
Are we not allowed to share other natural pictures or sites of naturals on here? We all love to comment on a naturals wherever they maybe on here etx…
Aww great. Now we're gonna have white women sportin fros… =/
Nah, but seriously, sometimes I still feel like even though natural hair is getting it's own "trend" now, they're still only magnifying specific types of hair textures. Sure women may be going natural but then people are gonna start throwing in texturizing products now more than ever to try to get those "silky curls". I see lots of women in commercials and shows with the beautiful loose curls, but for everyday there's one or two women in the media sportin type 4 curls as opposed to 10 of em with 3a curls….. Hmmm. I say if you're gonna go natural, embrace it all. So in that case I do get offended when people say natural hair is a "trend". So being black is a "trend"? And having a wide nose is a "trend"? Let's just say living on earth is a "trend"… just because everyone's doing it. Okay?
i went natural in june 1999 so it definitely wasn't a trend for me. i'm happy so many girls are going natural. the more the merrier!! i would love to see the day where most are natural and a relaxer is an anomaly instead of the other way around.
Check out the story here instead http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3710971&page=1
I don't think natural hair is atrend at all. I think people are becoming more informed and making better choices for their hair and themselves. When you know better you do better.
It's interesting that this article was in Glamour magazine. Just a few years back there was an editor at Glamour who publicly expressed that Afros (natural hair) is a hair don't. Check out the story here http://www.allaboutrace.com/2007/08/15/afros-a-glamour-dont/. That's a good sign that something really great is going on here now that the media and haircare industry are taking notice and adjusting accordingly about views/products for natural hair.
Often times culture altering events start out as trends and are eventually absorbed into mainstream society (hip-hop, digital music, UGGS) so what might be a way of life to many naturals for years is finally in its first phase of mainstream absorption. But on another note, one thing that peeves me is when an article is written using a celebrity who is wearing a weave to describe natural hair. Nothing against weaves or Vanessa but apples and oranges. As well curly in not the only natural state hair can be in. Generally women of african descent will have a spiral or coiling pattern to the their strands but there are some women to whom natural simple means chemical free but their hair may be straight, (yes people born with straight hair do procedures to get it even straighter or bleach it etc.) To be honest, this 'trend' makes it easier for me to be accepted because it exposes and educates others about me and its the fear of the unknown that drives ignorant behavior, so the more they know the better. Im just glad Im no longer relegated to the half isle in drug store that sells 'black' products.
I would consider the "natural look" a trend if you had a natural or curly looking sew-in but your hair was still permed underneath.
However if you take the plunge & stop perming your hair altogether, you are not participating in a trend because you have made a lifestyle change.
Whether a trend or not I am glad to see it getting so much coverage because of all the resources and support that is now available. I appreciate it since I am only about four months into a long term transition.
I am in agreement with the prior posts of going natural being a trend. Seven years ago when I presented my transitional hair to my family I was "nappy headed" and all those other painful names. Today, those same people are converting and I believe it to be more accepted these days. However, I believe only the strongest will survive. Everyone cannot and will not stick with it..
Don't forget there is a difference between a trend and a fad. Fads occur in short bursts and don't last long, while trends happen more gradually and tend to ebb and flow.
I think that going natural has grown in popularity. I did it before I even thought anyone else was doing it, but I am benefiting from all of the resources available.
Isn't Glamour the same magazine that had the writer say something about how unprofessional locs looked?
Does anybody have the link to the Glamour article that this post is referencing? I went to the site and didn't find anything.
We should be happy natural hair is getting soo much coverage as that will change people'es mndset about what natural hair is.Fads come and go but natural hair is here to stay!
as a college kid, going natural is definitely a trend. i personally went natural because i was being cheap and then seeing my natural curls fell in love. But i know a whole bunch of people who have either gone natural because they have seen my hair (not event being conceited, i really have converted them)or seen other people. I have no doubt that people can be inspired by others, but every time i see some one going natural i think "in 5 years, we'll see". The college kid going against the grain is in love with natural hair. its very hipster hippie chic. but again, lets see in 5 years…
missdeeplyrooted.blogspot.com
there are too many great products, too much of a supportive community and too much pride in the discovery of our hair for this to be a trend overalll. It might be for SOME right now but I suspect that for most, it will eventually become another OPTION to wear your hair. I bet either naturals will stay natural for the rest of their lives or might go back and forth between being relaxed and natural. Either way, people need to realize they have OPTIONS with their hair and need to actually KNOW their real hair.
if you dont think the natural hair buzz is a trend you're fooling yourself…everyone's jumping on the natural boat…there even songs dedicated to it…if thats not a trend i dont know what is…only a few will actually stay natural once the buzz goes away..i plan on being one of those few that's stays natural…i didn't become a natural because everyone else did it…i became natural because i was losing my hair…of course if a i relaxed now i would know what i was doing but i like my hair voluminous and thick..it wasn't like that when i was relaxed
Well, it depends on how someone feel individually about their hair and their journey. For some women going natural has a deeper meaning/connotation to them and for others it might have started by chance, trend, curiosity or just a different option for hairstyles. Different strokes for different folks. Personally, I am happy seeing more black women rock their hair naturally and getting to know it regardless of how they came about rocking it. And like Anon 9:20 hinted on a trend doesn't necessary has to be negative or bad because a trend can turn into a staple in a heartbeat
i think it all is a bunch of crap ! going natural "trend" wise is very dumb but i've read about it online ! most women went natural because relaxers aren't the way to go . i seriously think people should stop calling it a trend because the women who actually did it for a purpose will feel offended [which i do] . I think all black women should go natural.
I think people need a definition of the word "trend." It seems to some people to have a connotation of being superficial or fleeting. But it does not necessarily have that meaning. natural hair as of right now is a trend, but one that is (hopefully) here to stay, For good.
This sounds like the 60s all over again. To me as well, it isn't a trend. I transitioned for two years for healthier, greener lifestyle. Since you, @7:24, mentioned the that the article was telling straight haired girls how to get texture it reminded me of an old article I saw on bglh. It was from the late 60s and mentioned how afro wigs were sold in stores. I hope I'm not sounding extreme but it seems like every time the mainstream magazines get wind of something they call it a trend. It seems to me that they love to misappropriate a natural part of our bodies whether it be hair, eyes, body shape, etc. It's an 'if I don't have I can go to the store and get it' mentality. No one can spontaneously generate textured hair. You're either born with it or not. To reiterate, this is not a trend it is a way of life and you can opt in or opt out. Your choice.
I read the article. It definitely made me think they were counting it as a trend. a few years ago all of their hairstyles started with straight hair. now theyre mentioning that we should learn how to care for our natural hair and showing techniques for straight-haired girls to get more texture. total 180.
MD
No, going natural should not be considered a trend. It should be considered a hairstyling option. Unfortuantely, until it becomes nothing more than a hairstyling OPTION, it will be a way of life, a political statement, a rejection of beauty norms and all the other nonsense we have been forced to have attached to our hair.