Happy Friday Natural beauties! I believe our weeks have been very productive and good to us. Today's post isn't answering a question. Instead, I want to ask a question.
Are you an undercover natural hair 'nazi'?
Let me try and explain what I mean. We all know some natural hair ladies who are always making it seem like everyone should have natural hair, putting down other ladies because they have processed hair and generally making everyone else feel like they are terrible for not being natural. I'm sure we have either met or seen one in a video somewhere or on some social media website. And I am also sure we all said that was extreme and we would never treat other people that way.On the flip side are what I personally call 'beauty nazis'. These people usually criticize you for wearing natural hair and say it looks unkempt or ugly. Either way, both these groups of people are 'nazis'.
However, I just realized that a lot of us could be that way without knowing it.
Recently, one of the well-known natural hair vloggers in the US decided to relax her hair for both personal and medical reasons, and the outcry was serious. People who condemned natural hair nazis before suddenly began telling off this vlogger, calling her a fraud and saying they were disappointed in her. They were highly unsupportive of her and generally made her feel like a failure. Here is a video of an interview with her talking about the response.
Now, that makes me think. What if one of African Naturalista's bloggers, say me, decided to relax or heat treat their hair? Would all you great readers treat us the same way? Would you all suddenly reveal that you've been undercover natural hair nazis all along? I think its something worth thinking about.
Please comment below with your thoughts on this issue. The first person to comment and leave their email address wins N500 of airtime. Thanks for stopping by and do enjoy your weekend.
The Ghana Hair Chick
Are you an undercover natural hair 'nazi'?
Let me try and explain what I mean. We all know some natural hair ladies who are always making it seem like everyone should have natural hair, putting down other ladies because they have processed hair and generally making everyone else feel like they are terrible for not being natural. I'm sure we have either met or seen one in a video somewhere or on some social media website. And I am also sure we all said that was extreme and we would never treat other people that way.On the flip side are what I personally call 'beauty nazis'. These people usually criticize you for wearing natural hair and say it looks unkempt or ugly. Either way, both these groups of people are 'nazis'.
However, I just realized that a lot of us could be that way without knowing it.
Recently, one of the well-known natural hair vloggers in the US decided to relax her hair for both personal and medical reasons, and the outcry was serious. People who condemned natural hair nazis before suddenly began telling off this vlogger, calling her a fraud and saying they were disappointed in her. They were highly unsupportive of her and generally made her feel like a failure. Here is a video of an interview with her talking about the response.
Now, that makes me think. What if one of African Naturalista's bloggers, say me, decided to relax or heat treat their hair? Would all you great readers treat us the same way? Would you all suddenly reveal that you've been undercover natural hair nazis all along? I think its something worth thinking about.
Please comment below with your thoughts on this issue. The first person to comment and leave their email address wins N500 of airtime. Thanks for stopping by and do enjoy your weekend.
The Ghana Hair Chick
I can't see the video so I don't know who it is, but I was guilty of this until I told myself to chill out. It's really not that serious, it's just hair! I've 'turned' 5 people natural but only because I had in depth talks about their lifestyle and hair. Most people don't realise that they're being aggressive or judgemental until someone points it out to them.
ReplyDeletemiss_lolu@hotmail.com
This is very true. I hope if we talk about this then we can check ourselves and try not to be too harsh on other people.
DeleteWell,as a matter of fact it would be kind of weird if you were to relax,to people like me you're an inspiration to keep our natural hair so yes,I would feel disappointed. Veronica.t.davies@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading and commenting I understand that you'll be disappointed, but would you be judgmental about it?
DeleteEither been relaxed or natural, the goal is healthy hair. afolabibasirat21@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThat's very true. I think everyone has their own definition of this though, because some people believe only natural hair is fully healthy.
DeleteOkay, lemme not even lie... one or two people I know relaxed their hair, and I went "Oh no, you went to the dark side!" It shames me to admit it, but sometimes after being on the natural side for sooooooooooo long, it seems like going to relaxing or texlaxing means you're a sell-out. And that is really a bad attitude. I have thought about relaxing my hair, but the permanence of it is something that I just can't deal with right now.
ReplyDeleteBottom line is everyone has the right to make their own choices about their hair - relax or be natural or wear weaves or whatever.
Precisely! I personally believe the same. To each his/her own.
DeleteMy colleague and I did a bc at about same time for the natural hair journey and when I found out she had relaxed her hair I went...'oh no you diiint' :d
ReplyDeleteNazi me.
Obyadelana@gmail.com
Lol.. I can see why you would do that! It must have been disappointing to you because you felt you had someone on this journey with you!
DeleteLol...I think any natural hair blogger or vocal 'sister' who decides to relax her hair should be prepared for such 'attacks'. Quite a lot of people listen to them and go on to believe the 'evils' of the 'creamy crack'....how it is so unhealthy! For such a person to then say for 'medical' reasons...oh boy!!!!! serenataphy@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThumbs up.
DeleteHaha! You're very right.. but in this particular case it really was medical reasons. She was diagnosed with some condition. She still plans to transition after treating the medical ailment, but for now she had to relax.
DeleteYou cannot preach on the many evils of the creamy crack and then go back to it without having your followers screaming 'fraud'! serenataphy@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLol..I think people will react that way even if you didn't preach the evils of relaxing.This particular vlogger for example never said relaxers were evil. She was always emphasising that being natural was more like a personal thing. The big issue though was that she has 4C hair and so people felt she gave up because it was difficult to manage.
DeleteThe truth is that it is her hair, and she has the right to do whatever she likes to it. Why some people might have been disappointed is that maybe she represented something they looked up to, maybe she was their idol, and they learn a lot from her, and all of a sudden, their source of inspiration disappears, and they lash out. They see it just like a pastor smoking weed, and saying its his life, so he's free to smoke.
ReplyDeleteMy advice is that people should stop having natural hair idols on youtube, so when the idols 'backslide', people don't get too disappointed, and start condemning their souls to hell.
To be honest, if any AN blogger relaxes their hair, I will be extremely surprised and disappointed, but I will try not to lose sleep over it. No one forced anyone to be natural, so no one should force anyone to stay natural.
Love your own hair, be true to yourselves.
Thank you..you're absolutely right! I would be disappointed if one of us relaxed too, but I think it would be their decision and I would support them no matter what.
DeleteOmg! I filmed a video yesterday addressing this same topic hoping to put it here on Sunday LOL
ReplyDeleteYou can imagine how dazed I am to one here and see this
I will think of something to put up or I'll just post my vid anyways, it'll be my answer then :)
Lol.. we must have been thinking alike! You should still post the video.. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to see it!
DeleteI think itz a general thing, no matter wat u do people would always have an opinion and would forever tell you. I can't count how many times I have had to defend my hair to people who keep trying to save me from my self imposed beauty death *rolling eyes* my hair is 8mnths 2day nd in loving it. Wish I could post a pic
ReplyDeleteLol..people will always talk! You should totally post a picture on the African Naturalistas Facebook page or the Ghana Hair Chick Facebook page. Would love to share it!
DeleteI think calling the relaxer creamy 'crack' is on it's own being a 'natural hair nazi'. 'Crack' is a very addictive drug that destroys the lives of people who use it. So I think people should really stop using that term because it's not really the best. I am transitioning to natural hair by the way ^_^
ReplyDelete