[Amy-H31565]

I had heard that hair is as important to African American women as body image is to white women. Is this true?
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User Detail :  

Name : Amy-H31565, Gender : F, Age : 22, City : N/A, State : KS, Country : United States, 

[Siobhan]

I believe that in this culture of the commercials for shiny, swinging, witchcraft, ‘Breck Girl’ hair, the struggle most black women have gone through/are going through with hair ‘problems’ remains a subject both touchy and personal – our ‘dirty little secret.’

On the professional front, natural, African-textured hair has traditionally not been acceptable (over the years, people have become a bit more enlightened about it). The sad thing is that on more personal levels, many black people do not accept African-textured hair. Sneers of ‘nappy head,’ ‘bald-headed,’ ‘you need a perm’ or worse have been directed toward black women who dared not wear other peoples’ hair or dared not to perm or otherwise straighten their hair. Those are blatant examples of the lessons of self-hatred that have been reinforced in us for so long.

It’s heartbreaking to see baby girls with piles of hair attached to their heads because their natural hair is not accepted. I am glad more and more black women are realizing their natural beauty and accepting and treating their ‘unmanageable’ hair as the crowing glory it is. We don’t have to mimic the white look to be beautiful. For the black women with naturally straighter or looser-curled hair, it is indeed beautiful, and so is my tighter-curled, thick and course hair. I am happy in my decision to ‘go natural.’

User Detail :  

Name : Siobhan, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, City : Baltimore, State : MD, Country : United States, 

[Vadell H.]

I also believe white women spend a lot of time on their hair. Whether they cut it, color it, straighten or curl it, they are spending extra time to keep their hair attractive. I don’t know why people are so absorbed in the dead cells that push through our scalps. Hair is such a petty issue.

User Detail :  

Name : Vadell H., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Humanist, Age : 23, City : Winter Park, State : FL, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[RhondaOutlaw]

I am one of many African-American women who have decided to ‘go natural.’ I have been wearing braids and have not relaxed my hair in eight months. I will continue to wear braids for another 14 months, and I will wear twists. If I really like them, I will let them ‘lock.’ I encourage other sisters to get on the ‘natural bandwagon’ – it’s wonderful not to have to worry about rain, wind, humidity and fast-moving buses and trucks ruining relaxed hairdos. What a feeling of freedom I have now. I will never relax my hair again!

User Detail :  

Name : RhondaOutlaw, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Lutheran, Age : 41, City : New York, State : NY, Country : United States, Occupation : Account Representative, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Jennifer30903]

First, Let me say thank you. About a year ago, I’d decided to stop relaxing my hair, because I loved how the new growth felt. After letting my hair grow out, On Nov 26(the day after Thanksgiving or my second birthday), I started to sport a ‘fro and I felt liberated. But what shocked me was the response that I received from my fellow sistas. I received dirty looks, snickering and fingerpointing. At first, I was like that kid back in the 3rd grade, but consider the source, if our people are that hung up on good hair/bad hair that’s their problem. I’m proud of my ‘nappy’ hair, my broad nose and lips and my ‘ample’ posterior and no one will tell me otherwise. Since then, I began sporting locks and I feel in touch with my blackness after years of relaxing.

User Detail :  

Name : Jennifer30903, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 34, City : Syracuse, State : NY, Country : United States, Occupation : Customer Service Professional, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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