Has your definition of self-beauty changed?
Chrisette Michele’s response:
Yes, it’s totally changed, and it’s hard for me to admit that because I’ve always wanted to be able to say, ‘being relaxed is the same… I just decided to cut my hair’. But no. I feel more beautiful than I’ve ever felt, and I feel more honest than I’ve ever felt in my life.
ITA with BreukelensFinest. As matter of fact I came to this realization while I was at home for Thanksgiving visiting my family. I always thought that my aunt and cousins were always prettier than me (we are all close). They even looked better than me on their "off" days when I was "dolled" up. But this Thanksgiving I felt just as beautiful with my natural hair…not better than, but just as. I love that feeling of belonging but being uniquely you.
More than anything I feel HONEST. I really, really love my hair. Even on bad hair days, I can sincerely say that my hair grounds me, and because my hair is natural, I feel true. I love the way my hair feels, and smells and everything!! I feel confident, positive and strong. However, I do not, honestly, feel beautiful… yet. 🙂
I feel more beautiful and confident with my natural hair. My natural hair suites me so much better than my "relaxed" hair did. My hair is healthier than ever and I'm 100% autonomous with haircare/hairstyling.
@PinkGirlFluff: My "give a crap" filter is def broken. Haha
I think that my definition of beauty has not changed but I do think that I feel more bold now that I am natural.
I have always loved tattoos, bold hair colors, and piercings and now that I'm natural I feel like I don't have to fit into a specific image to appeal to the masses. I no longer think that I have to fit a certain image because I am afraid that others will not understand why a sista might like the style of a punk rocker one day, and then rock the Breakfast at Tiffany's look the next.
Maybe my confidence has changed? Or maybe my "give a crap filter" has broken? If it is I quite like it broken and free like it is now.
I'm in the middle of transitioning and I feel completely different than when I was relaxed. Strangely, I feel like my wash and go kinky hair fits my personality SO much better. My relaxed hair could never quite communicate my uniqueness and spontaneity and unpredictability. Needless to say, spending hours every week under a volcano hot hair dryer clashed horribly with my utilitarian nature. I also found that by embracing the beauty of my genetics, I noticed how wonderfully my ethnic cheekbones and almond eyes pop under my curly kinks and it looks so…right! I feel like the outside finally matches how I feel on the inside, and that's the most beautiful feeling.
My definition hasn't changed one bit. But I always had a more open outlook on beauty. I think blue hair looks awesome I find beauty in a variety of weights and shapes, skin tones, males and females. I just find things uniquely attractive or beautiful, or cute, or fun. But specifics what I find beautiful has still with me too like I really like long hair (on me) but I find short hair awesome also.
So my answer is a big NO.
I think my definition of beauty within myself has changed as I have gotten older. I'm 35 and my skin still isn't perfect, my hair is sometimes temperamental (I've been natural over 10 years) – things which even 5 years ago I may have obsessed silently over – but for the first time in my LIFE, I do not feel like a monster. I'm sure if I looked at a photo of myself from 5 years ago, and one now, I probably look the same – but I feel different… better (finally).
I definitely agree with Chrisette once I went natural or the way God created I fell in love with my look because it really is me.
No, I wouldn't say my definition of beauty has changed, I just feel included in what I always thought was beautiful! When I was little, I always wanted curly, wild thick hair. I mostly saw it on bi-racial girls and didn't actually know that black girls could have it too. I had very thick hair growing up but I always got it pressed but I wanted to wear it curly. It wasn't until I was 18 that I experimented with not straightening my hair and doing twist-outs, braid-outs, etc (didn't actually know it was a name for it back then!). I liked it although I wasn't using very good products…just mousse and water. Not good – but not horrible since I only did it for a summer. Then last summer (2009) I wore my hair free-style again (twisting at night and letting it do its thing in the morning) thanks to the encouragement of my loving bf. I really liked it but again only doing it for the summer and early fall.
THIS time, however, I am in it for the long haul b/c I am actually researching and learning how to care for my natural hair to maintain its health and length. I do feel beautiful and I finally get to embrace the curly girl I always wanted to be! 🙂
I agree with elitebeauty13. I don't think that my definition of beauty has changed; one has to be confident/comfortable with herself and carry herself in such a way. But I do perceive myself differently; my confidence level has definitely increased since becoming natural. Overall, I take better care of myself as a whole and am happier with myself.
i have found that my beauty doesn't ultimately reside in my hair. when my hair was straight, it didn't really matter if i had a pimple or had gained a little weight, as long as a had a fresh perm, you couldn't tell me anything. i didn't need to be so confident because my hair was how "it was supposed to be". now, being natural, i realize that there is a total package. i pay attention more to my skin, my features, as well as my hair. so, overall my confidence has skyrocketed.
I think that I always felt that I was beautiful, however I am MORE excited about being natural. I was recently told by my mother and sister that I am obsessed with my natural hair. I absolutely LOVE finding products that work! I can't help but share it with them when I am truly pleased with the outcome. I've been natural following my first BC on Oct. 30th. I haven't stopped looking in the mirror since then. 🙂
I like the statement about feeling more honest. I feel that way too. I don't think I'm very good looking, but I do feel more honest when I walk out the door.
I have always felt gorgeous, even when I most likely looked crazy . No one could change my mind. I do feel more free and honest. I dig walking in the rain instead of running. Not spending my entire day in the salon. Sleeping on my curls, tossing and turning not worried if I will mess up my do. Exercising, swimming, letting my husband touch my hair however, whenever (hahaha). My baby girl looking up to me like I’m the one she wants to look like (she looks better). I like not having a scalp that’s sore from being pulled in all different directions. All in all it just fits and I like it.
Wow. I don't think my image of beauty has changed, rather, it's been rearranged. I went natural over ten yrs ago due to a desire to see my own texture and avoid the longterm hair and scalp damage that seems to plague many relaxer users. Although, my hair appeared to be healthy and was brastrap length, I feared permanent damage longterm. I never really saw beauty in reference to relaxed vs. natural, however I must admit that I saw (and still see) beauty in reference to the use of fake hair (for any reason other than having lost hair for medical/genetic reasons and needing additional hair). To me, using additional fake hair for any reasons other than that has always been unattractive.
I have re-introduced myself to myself. Im digging Asia. Im finding her to be uniquely beautiful. Theres confidence to be gained by not caring about what people think about tangible things. Concentrating more on the inner.
I love you boo!
Thank you me!
🙂
i feel more beautiful, its like i am finally seeing myself for the first time. going natural is one of the most freeing things I could have ever done for myself.
I don't think my definition of beauty has changed since becoming natural. I've always believed that beauty ultimately depended on the manner a person carries themselves no matter the choice of hairstyle.
elitebeauty13.blogspot.com
my definition of beauty definitely changed because once i became natural i was able to include myself when i thought of beauty. before i went natural my self esteem was really low, not because of my hair but because i didn't see myself as being special. now, with a head full of hair, usually pulled away from my face i could see me! i love my curls
missdeeplyrooted.blogspot.com