Love it!!! My daughter has virgin hair, never touched by chemicals. She has hopes of growing out a big afro. Recently, she asked me to flat-iron her hair so that she can prove to her classmates that she has long hair. I am not against flat-ironing her hair, but I am against her doing something just to prove something to someone else. She is a beautiful girl and there is not a week that has gone by that the weave/relaxed mob has not said something about her hair. The sad part is that she is only in 7th grade. Little girls need to know that your hair is an accessory and that it does not define your beauty. Nor do relaxers and weaves make you more beautiful. There are little girls with damaged and broken hair due to chemicals and yet the parents still put chemicals and weaves in their hair. She is my only daughter, I went natural for her initially. I have always thought that her curls were beautiful and she taught me to love my own.
This video really came right on time. I just recently did my big chop, and I started a new job shortly after. My hair is about 5-6 inches, so I can only really do twist-outs and puffs right now. That's how I wore my hair to work for the last 2 weeks. This past weekend my boss called me into a meeting on what I thought was going to be about my job performance. He told me that he was hoping to make his business into a franchise, and because I was going to be the face of the business, I needed to "fix" my hair. I was extremely offended, and I quit immediately. There's nothing wrong with how my hair looks, and I'm not going to change it in order to keep a job. My dignity is worth more the couple of dollars he was paying me.
I had just now had a talk with mom about using that word "Bad Hair" I think its starting to get threw. However my sister is another story. I remember a time when I was at a place and we had to go into are own gender groups. I had someone whom was taking my information ask me if I was female. I had a twa no makeup and I was pregnant (not obv. pregnant but none the less). I was not happy. When I told him I was a woman I think he had a look of oops and I think he chuckled a little. Needless to say I was not happy. I should have complained and yes this person was a black male (sometimes I think they can be just as bad if not worse then women) I remind my oldest daughter everyday that all are hair is "good hair". I make sure to reinforce this in front of her brother and sister. The struggle is real!
Oh my that's terrible!!!! The day I big chopped on the way home, a neighbour's kid came up to me and when I turned she was like "oh, I thought you were a boy", it's the worst feeling ever!
Hopefully i dont sound too ignorant or arrogant when i say this, but our hair type(African American/Mixed hair types) has to be the most unique hair type on this planet! Because its so unique, most people just dont know how to react in its presence, around true beauty!!
you're so true. It is so different and unique that I've had people of other races tell me that hey didnt know that what we have is hair! They thought it was 'afro' ... dont ask me why lol
The Masked Man And that's all the more reason that we should embrace our own hair more. Like you said we have the most unique type of hair but it's like WE don't respect it.
Absolutely loving the family vlogs. India made a great point about the phrase "everybody can't go natural." That saying has to stop. Loving car men's hair style as well. Yes to the vlogs ladies!
I finally wore my natural hair to school (Im 75 percent Ghanian, 25 percent European) and mind you im a senior in highschool, and majoirty of the race here are hispanic asians and biracial people. I walked in to school and got positive feed back. "your hair is cute" "omggg its soo different , i like it" think like that, BUT the other African American Females and Biracial females kept on wispering "omg why would you wear your hair like that to school" "someone needs a hot comb", like really, really it was unbelieveable but i love my natural hair its different,my mom also supports me but my dad was taken back,im glad i havent touched it with a relaxer in 2 1/2 years :3
I like this, its very motivational. Because I've even been in a hair salon & listen to the stylists try to convince ladies to NOT go natural because of how its such a struggle & its "more expensive" to maintain. Then they even went into horror stories about customers they've had with natural hair & how it was a nightmare because the hair was so nappy. It was such a negative experience.
The beauty of people of color, the diversity in the skin tones, the wonderful different textures of the hair. Embrace the beauty and diversity. It's wonderful!
Awww this reminds me of my mom's side down in Georgia. We're all so different too, there's even a little Asian in there lol. But I loved the convo you guys had, really insightful!
So glad you ladies posted this video. I was actually doing my mom's hair today and had a short discussion with her about the idea of "good hair;" I was slightly taken aback because of her use of "good hair" rather than the terms "loosely-textured curly hair," as though hair of a kinkier texture (like mine) wasn't "good." I told her that ANY hair, regardless of texture, that is growing healthily is "good hair." It's crazy how that idea of hair that is as close to that of someone of a Caucasian background being the superior texture is still so ingrained in the minds of so many people of African descent. On the flip side, I've found it interesting over the course of my own natural hair journey (I BC about a month ago after transitioning for about 8 months) is that I'm complimented most by people who aren't particularly close to me on my hair when it's in an unaltered state, like a 'fro. :)
Thank you mynaturalsistas! Keep sharing, inspiring, motivating & encouraging! India, I'm also a teacher & there are 7 natural staff members. Two wear their hair straight & the rest of us wear twists, fros, low cut, ect. I have seen a few students go natural & I always encourage & compliment them I do this b/c my school is pre- 5th grade. And for a 4th grade to have that type of courage to make a decision at that age I applaud them. One girl in particular hugs me daily & I say "good morning my natural sista, you're hair is beautiful!" I want her to know on a daily basis to stand proud of who she is! :)
It just got REAL!!! I love Chillin with fam and other naturals to discuss things like this. One of my reasons for going natural was not for me but for my nieces, little cousins, girls is my church, girls in my community, etc. Most of all in the category of those most influenced by me are my sons. I want them to learn to love people naturally for who they are...including themselves.
I got into a discussion at work with a patient of mine who said that I have "good hair". I know she meant it as a compliment but I still inwardly cringed. My response to her was "No, I do not have good hair. I have good hair care." I then explained to her that my texture was not what was making my hair look nice. It was my upkeep. If I was to just let it go, it would be a mess! In the end she said "you're right, texture is not important". BTW, she was natural.
So many people just don't understand how damaging that train of thought is. And it's not their fault. We have been taught as a people to perm, flat iron and hide our hair like a dead body. It's time we left that mentality in the past where it belongs.
Love this...my nieces are growing up surrounded by women who are natural and proud. Families are the most important role models! Thanks for sharing. Also, Mia's story had me cracking up!
My mom will see someone with long natural hair and still say they have good hair. But whats sad is though I've been natural since I was 18 and now I'm 30 I still find myself thinking it when I see a black woman with long type 3 hair even after all this time. I hate that and give myself a good chewing out but it just shows how deep what we say to little girls goes. But the irony is my friend who is white with blonde STRAIGHT HAIR loves the updos I can do with my 4c twistout hair and said with 3 other white straight to wavy hair friends standing there "I wish I had hair like YOURS" And then the 3 standing there blew my mind by nodding in agreement with her!! My hair! The hair that deep down I still have to tell myself is good she wants??? And maybe if we keep having conversations like this-Thanks so much for making the video-the next generations can feel that way to.
I love u guys and ur channel. I am so thrilled by the discussions you have because among many black families, this simply isn't discussed openly. This is what ALL young black girls need to see. You all have inspired me to go natural a year and a half ago and I haven't looked back. I'm 25 and have been relaxed since I was 8. I have also been complimented yet insulted by "good hair" comments. Now, because I'm happily natural, my younger cousins and others around me have been inspired to do the same. It's contagious, almost. And you are absolutely correct: young brown girls won't aspire to what they don't see. Which is why channels like this breathe life back into our community. Keep shining, ladies. You never know who is inspired by your example.
Beautiful multiracial family! I don't believe in the term "good hair" it's makes people think they are superior to others because of their texture however "healthy hair" is always greatly welcomed!
Almost had this discussion again today! Basically, girl complemented me on my hair and said that she couldnt do hers because she didnt have good hair. I sent her this video along with Genesis 1:31 :) I think I will make a video on my naked hair because people dont see that my hair is beautifully nappy because it is easier for me to take care of my hair in stretched states. I think people will be highly surprised! lol
I absolutely LOVE this video!! I have 2 daughters with 2 different textures and people comment on one having "good hair" and the other one not!! SMH!! This is definitely TRUTH you ladies are speaking!! I tell my daughters everyday that they AND their hair are BEAUTIFUL despite what they hear or see!!!
Thanks so much for this. Its sad that more people don't feel thankful for the hair texture they have. I have been on this journey since 2009 and loving it. Stay natural stay real stay true and God Bless you.
Aww, I just love y'all bunches!! The mindset y'all sistas have concerning hair and overall wellness, encapsulates much of my own beliefs! Continue to spread truth and knowledge and lessen the ignorance. God bless.
I think we need to have more conversations like these. It makes me happy to see that there are people who support all textures and all types of natural hair. I have 4a, 4b hair and although I've never had a perm, it's taken a long time for me to enjoy and love my hair.
so glad you were able to reel the guy into a positive way of viewing our hair and i'm sure he left you thinking man i gotta change my way of thinking on that. THIS is why i love discussions because i can listen to you and vice versa but after a while the positive point of view/thinking will sink in. you guys have a beautiful family! i especially liked your moms msg to your dad! cute puff/pony mom!
I am 15 and transitioning. I told my mom and she didn't believe me at first but she supports me. I had a conversation with my friends (they were all Caucasian) they love my natural hair. Most of my school is Caucasian and they love my hair because of the different styles I wear that portrays my personality. I've learned not to let people say "good hair is straight hair". "Good hair" is healthy hair just like my stylist told me. I want to inspire people in my family to embrace their hair and not let it define them.
I love the message you're sending. I was a little ashamed of my hair when I did my big chop back in September. After doing a little youtube research, I've learned to love and take care of my bush! I feel a lot more confident than before. :)
This is such a great video!!! I believe most women who have decided to wear their natural hair have had to deal with folks not accepting the decision. However, it is very encouraging to see that we choose to stand and know that we are who we are and our hair is what God blessed us with. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful family....!! And is so true what you all was talking about, wend you don't know to take care of your hair, you tend to just follow the crowd, and be afraid to show the real you...just for lock of information, and easily you forget to love your self for what you really are, given the power to other's to say what's good for you or not...
Such a great video. I hear some of those comments on a regular basis and for our youth and some adults those statements can be damaging. I have a 18 y/o who returned to natural about a year ago and has struggled with acceptance from her peers as well as herself. At this point she needs to bc again because of heat damage caused by constant straightening. My hope is that videos like this will help her understand that all hair is good hair and what she has naturally is beautiful. Thank you ladies for allowing us all into your lives. Please keep up the great and inspiring work.
Ugh, I've gotten that comment before, "Not everyone can go natural". I was like really dafuq?? How can I not look ok with what my hair does on it's own? That's stupid as hell to say. Of course I try not to get into it with people and stayed quiet but it irked me too.
I've heard the "oh, it's not for everyone" or "some girls just can't pull that off" comment so many times. I've honestly never knew how to respond to it, other than saying thank you with an awkward look on my face. But this video was much needed; I wish there was a "LOVE" button!
There was a time I had the same problem, I'm in middle school and a lot of girls in my school wear relaxers. I was raised with natural hair and I never put a relaxer or weave in my hair. I felt different. I look beautiful in natural hair. Natural hair all my life has made me feel beautiful. My hair is 3c and I take care of it. I love to do styles with my hair. I haven't flat ironed my hair in a long time. I can't really have fun with my hair when it's flat ironed. We need to be nice to each other and stop saying the word nappy that word is just unnecessary.
Nice video and subject, but I still can't understand why would anyone thumbs down this video. I think this was and is a good discussion on family, natural hair, young children/teens and confident, educating a stranger, etc. This was really nice.
You have such a wonderful family! I am thankful/greatful to all the compliments I got after my BC and even if people didn't like it I wouldnt care because my hair ia beautiful because its mine!
Thank you so much Natural Sistas for your vidoes. I recently made the big chop to going natural and I can relate to the stories. I have been watching all of your hair videos and subscribe. But it has been your messages lately regarding "good hair" that really has pushed me to comment. For the 1st time in my life my self worth does not depend on my hair. I feel my confident and empowered more than ever, which makes me want to share my story with young women and girls. Thank you for sharing!
Great video. Beautiful Family. The struggle is real, if you let it get to you. I personally don't give a flying flip about what anybody says about my hair, not now or ever.
This vid was so great! Your cousin Mia is hilarioussss! Haha! Great storyteller! I agree so much with you India... it's through healthy discussion that this ignoramus thinking is broken. I mean, there are all these natural hair events, and youtube discussions about good and natural hair, but how often is it that people who have a good hair mentality choose to engage in these discussions or attend these events? We have to bring the conversation to them! Maybe Toni you'll have a future opportunity to talk to that girl!
You have a beautiful family! My family is similar in that we are different shades and have different textures. My sister and I look different in every way! This video was great in that you all had a discussion amongst yourselves and commented on others apart from the group. Each one, teach one.
Love the family video please if u can make more I just went natural an im loving it , an I look back over the yrs how we just got caught up with straight hair an weaves, wigs wend under neath we always had beautiful hair an we are just going back to the 60 70 an 80 hopefully for good
Omg such an excellent discussion I can certainly relate on all levels. I can't stress enough to my daughter about the importance of taking care of her Puerto Rican naturally curly beautiful waist long hair. I love mines & I'm so proud of my thick mane & she sees that we need to set an example so they will follow. I enjoy your channel & all your sisters & family it's really informative & so refreshing to know we all have the struggle no matter what background we come from. Thanks so much for all that you beautiful ladies put out LOVE IT!!!
I am with you guys on "the struggle" is real... I have been trying to learn how to treat my hair and it has been a struggle at times. But its all worth it when my little sister says to me I wish my hair curled up like yours but I have bad and I can respond; it CAN you just need to learn your hair, take care of it and stop using so much heat on it. I always end our hair convos with "your hair is beautiful" Thanks for the video, it was awesome!!!
Out of hundreds of cousins I am one of very few naturals. I am so proud though. I have went from going to the salon every 2 weeks like clockwork to learning to care for my own hair and my daughters. You are so right your hair is good hair because God blessed you with it. ♡♥ the vlog. You have a beautiful family.
Great way to start the conversation. Everything should begin with family as they are the ones who love and accept you first, allowing you to express your true self outside. I'm glad you discussed sensibly with that man and got him to see that hair care is NOT about natural vs relaxed or weaved. It's about knowing what to do with your hair on your head. God bless you for sharing, ladies!
Bravo ladies!! As always yall come on UA-cam with positivity, wisdom and encouragement. Yall make me and so many other natural women of every race proud!! It's icing on the cake that yall are from Houston, Texas!! Keep up the awesome work!!
Wow!!! That reminds me of the time when i was at work. And i had my hair out (twist out) Love my hair when it's in a twist out. The majority of my customers were giving me compliments but then one customer told me this: " what's going on with your hair? you need to cut it all off" I'm not sure what's going on with people these days that they feel like they have to right to say things like that. I was annoyed at his comments for a little bit, but i still like my hair no matter. Natural since 2006 and will remain that way. Loved this video!
so much can be said, but all I will say is I truly love hair in any texture. I have tight coily hair and I love it. I see people especially older blk women staring at my hair in fright...lol. it makes me laugh though. I don't care but if you hate or have negative things to say about afro textured hair you don't know much about yourself. honestly I feel you don't like yourself. if you did you would love the hair that grows out of your hair or see the beauty in a black woman's natural hair. your family is beautiful and this is a great video.
I've been there... My mom is half native and half black. She has beautiful loose, long curly hair. My sister has a similar texture (just a bit more coiled curls) whereas my hair is around 4b-4c. Growing up I always had a perm or extensions because my mom didn't know how to deal with my hair. And trust me, from a very young age I knew this. My family though they had the same texture as me did not hesitate to tell me that I had bad hair. I pitted me against my sister for a long time until I realized I didn't care about how they saw me, its all about what I saw. Since then I've gone natural and I love my hair. P.S. (at least I have hair😉) this one goes out to my family
What a beautiful family! xx I'm not shocked about it. I remember being told I have 'shit locks' when I wore my hair in threaded twists as a child. There is still a shock and awe I get, from some relatives, about my curls. That I maintain them on my own. These were the same people who told me my hair was 'messy' when I first went natural in 2010. It's a huge issue in our community. It's so unfortunate that people think there is such a thing as 'good' hair and bad hair. Hair is hair. All curls are beautiful. Great video.
This video made me feel so good, just the conversation and topics in general. last week one of my teachers (an older black woman) asked a few of my male class mates about #nappynation and gave them an assignment to create a commercial or advertisement for it. being interested in the assignment I asked if girls could be in nappy nation, the boys shrugged it off, but one girl said "they shouldn't, it looks unmanageable, and doesn't look good". -note: I have been natural my entire life, but ive had protective styling since I started this school about 1 month ago- i plan on showing this video to my classmates next week.
I've always said that "good" hair is healthy hair, and say the same to whoever tries to make it just a certain texture all the time. So thank you for this video. It was beautiful and so are you and your family. :)
HI Natural sisters, Im from East Africa and i loved this video. Ive seen a lot of people go on about what good or bad hair is. The most recent encounter was on a forum which im part of on fb. Although the forum is not about hair, one of the administrators posted a lady with long and for me what i saw as beautiful 4c hair but you wouldnt believe the negativity this beautiful woman with beautiful hair got. When i saw all the negativity, it broke my heart. Im also natural and just celebrated my 2 yr anniversary. There was this comment which kept comming up and which east africans use a lot to call people who are termed as having 'bad hair'. They call their hair 'steel wire'. I dont know if you have the same term for what is used to scrub saucepans but that word is hurtful as hell. Most of the women on this forum where the type who wouldnt even look at naturals twice. Majority said it was ugly. I cried because i realised that these women where what would be the future of their children where kinky is totally unacceptable. Its not only them but a lot of our women refuse to go natural because as they say their hair is not good. I myself have tried to convince some of my sisters and like in a family we all have different types of hair. And they all say well you have good hair thats why you are natural. They will give excuses like mine's too thick or too thin. Well you can counter with well if its too thin then is it not worse if you chemically treat it but they will counter with more ridiculous excuses. The truth is they are afraid of change. Anyway ive never been a fun of chemicals and my head always got burned. First relaxer was at 16 in 1990 and it burned like hell but i loved it until it was time to redo it again. Eventually in 2004 i coudnt stand it and decided to cut my hair off. I didnt know then that what i did was a big chop. It took another 2 years before i relaxed my hair again, not because it was what i wanted but i didnt know how to deal with the natural. I must say here that my scalp is also very painful when i get my hair plaited and ony 2 hair dressers are now allowed to plait my hair. Anyway i went back to the lye. In 2011 i moved to Europe and then i got bigger challenges. I moved to a small town with no afrcan salon. And any african i met and asked about how they got their hair done said they did it themselves. I didnt know how to do this although id seen it done countless times on my hair so i travelled twice to the city to have it done which was very costly, finally in december of 2011 i bought a relaxer kit olive oil, and tried to relax my hair my self. I followed all the steps to the letter but during the combing my scalp started to burn and i decided to quickly comb and got relaxer in my eyes to say the least, it was a mess and that is when i deceided enough was enough. I washed my hair and some parts were done others not., but that was the last time i had a relaxer. 3 months later the growth was back and my hair was getting to be unmanageable, a friend visited me and convinced me to buy relaxer again. I did buy it but couldnt muster the courage to do it again. I spent 2 wks thinking and re thinking whether i should relax again, in the end i decided to chop my hair off. For me that was the easiest option. In april 2012 i did what i would 2 days later come to know as the big chop. All this time i was going nuts with trying to find a solution for my hair i never once thought to look on youtube. Anyway i went online to google products i would need for my natural hair and was shocked at what i came up with. A whole new world was at my finger tips. There was soo much information and i tried to share with friends and family but noone was interested and are still not. It all boils down to good and bad hair issues and also to the fact that people feel more secure or beautiful with either a relaxer on or a weave. Im still trying to get them to understand the it is not a relaxer or weave that makes one look beautiful but to accept yourself as you were born then you start to see yourself as beautiful. Im4a, b and love my hair and since i accepted my myself as i am ive never looked back. Even with soo much information people are still stumbling in the dark out there and chose to remain ignorant. I dont hate relaxed hair coz at one point i was relaxed but i know the potential of learning to love me as i was born. I walk out the door eachday and have people look at you like there goes a nut case and i think please this is me, love me or leave me and just keep walking. Many people want to touch my hair and i never say no because it doesnt hurt when they touch. Im sorry to say this and mean no offense to anyone but but the most negative looks i get are from my fellow Africans or blacks. This is my hair story!!
I have be natural nearly 2 years and I've been starting notice in my high school many many more girls are starting to rock the natural! It makes me sooooo happy to see that.
I'm so glade that you ladies did this video, this is definitely a topic that needs to be bought up consistently. I would like to share an incident that happened to me I didn't know rather to take it as a compliment or not. I had a co-worker that was Hispanic came up to me and say your hair is good, how come it's so good. My respond to her was Number 1 black people have good hair as well as other culture. Number 2 there is no such thing as bad hair in my opinion everyone hair is good and beautiful. Number 3 black people hair is so diverse and we can do anything to our hair one day we can rock a weave and on the other hand we can rock braids, wigs, ponytails and our natural hair. Last but not least everybody hair is different and is beautiful no matter what textured it is. Again thank you ladies for making this video I can go on and on incident that happened when I first did a big chop to now.
love love love the dynamics of your entire family. This is an on going conversation we are having around the world. Never stop talking to the youth, they MUST know their truth
So true! I'm a transitioner and some of my family say that natural won't be my thing and stay relaxed, but I was more comfortable with my natural hair. To me it depends on how u take care of it rather than if it doesn't "fit you". Anyone who wants to go natural... GO FOR IT! Be you and embrace it despite what people say.
I love this vlog. I actually had a similar story to Mia. It was crazy lol my co workers didn't know what to do, they were in shocked and seemed to be upset with me because I went to work with long relaxed hair one day and then hair literally a mm long or so the next. They guys at my job shunned me for months. I still held my head up high and was on UA-cam daily for support through my transition. Now, almost 6 years later, I'm still natural :) and I love it.
Hi, I'm from the Caribbean and about 3 yrs ago, after watching tons of youtube videos along with a deep desire to show my natural beauty, I did the BIG CHOP....and boy did my life change. I was currently in my 1st year of university when I took this step and my family and friends gave me no support. One of my family members told me it was "UGLY", my friends and just random people at school made jokes about my hair and said some of the meanest things, even on the job, people started treating me differently. Guys who once bombarded me for my attention, now didn't pay me any mind. It was a horrible experience and eventually I caved and went back to the relaxer. But what I found to be most disheartening was that like a year after, the naturalistas phenomena hit my island and many of those same friends cut their relaxed hair and are now natural...Hopefully I will be able to rock my natural hair again someday soon.
Great video and good point on salons turning us away..when I first did my big chop I had a salon turn me away when I asked for some twists. That's ok I went home and did them myself thanks to one of Carmen's videos. I'm going on 1 year natural and I love my hair. I don't care what anyone has to say about it especially somebody who's not even wearing their own hair(no discrimination against weave I'm just saying). Thank you ladies for being a positive and inspirational resource for us all. God bless you and your beautiful family!
Miss Mia, you are AWESOME and so is your hair! You have a great personality and a beautiful spirit that shines through. Natural Sistas, you all have such a beautiful family!
I so love the point you made about the struggle. Having a relaxer or weave does NOT mean that your hair is ultimately better than my natural hair. I have friends with relaxed hair who compliment me all the time on my natural on how health and strong it looks and I encourage them to take better care of their hair. Also a lot of them want to return to natural but they are afraid of what people will say. I have been natural my entire life no flat iron or no texturizers and you will think that people will get accustomed to my natural hair. Heck no. I get the disgusting comments all the time.
I love this channel it gives me the encouragement and the confidence to wear my natural hair and this channel reminds me that my natural hair is beautiful
My sister has a mixed texture of hair it's really different. Some of her hair is straight like the top is a 2 type some of her hair is like 3c and some kind of a 4a. This is true. It grows like that, gets wet like that and drys like that. She complains about it all the time. She has issues getting it all to match and we talk about it all the time. She always says I wish all of my hair was this texture (referring to the 3/4a texture). Today my mom was looking at it and she commented and said "If only all of it was like that piece". I was like "Yeah I know, the curly hair right." She looked confused and said no. My sister said she meant the straighter hair. I got a bit upset because I'm on a natural journey too and I'm 4a/b and maybe 4c...my hair is a mixture too. But she said my natural hair is beautiful. So I asked her if she was saying my texture isn't pretty and I said I think my sisters curlier hairs were beautiful too. She just said she thinks it would be great if all it matched too. Then I said why not the curly ones...she said she likes straight hair....My sister didn't really care as much. She said "You can't get mad, she likes what she likes." I don't know how to feel. I love my sisters hair even with it being all different textures and I think she can find ways to make it match if it bothers her (but she's its sooo much work lol). But I sort of felt like when my mom complemented my hair all those times she was just being nice...but she really secretly preferred I straightened it. I know I'm probably overreacting but this event really made me feel sad and I don't know why.
You're not overreacting ,but just know that God loves you and your mom probably just grew up around people who liked straight hair and has been trained to perpetuate those beliefs. Just instill different beliefs in your kids +self love &self esteem- Blessing and Love :)
I just love this video. I've never had a relaxer but i decided to wear my natural almost two years ago. I'm happy that I've learn what works and doesn't work so well with my hair. I'm thinking about doing a big chop just have a better sense of natural and self beauty.
"I know y'all talking about my hair. I know y'all talking about me." That's just it. They're talking ABOUT it, ABOUT us, by not directly TO us. Hence, the stigma. My daughter and I have VERY different textures of hair and I watch in amusement the various reactions on people's faces. Some of them make assumptions about both our backgrounds and will argue with us to the death about where we are from given our hair textures and skin colors (which vary greatly as well). Thank you for this video. #communication #naturalhairtalk #womaninthejungle @naturalhair
Your family looks wonderful. I love the different hair textures that exist within your family. Nice vlog and great for pointing out some of the things those of us who decide to go natural go through and explaining how being natural is beautiful.
I love this video. I big chopped about 3 wks ago. Y'all videos are educational as well as inspirational. I've always loved natural textures even when I was relaxed. For the last year & a half I've had so many ppl tell me not to cut my hair & I didn't because of all the negativity. But I decided to do me, and I love it. Loved it from the 1st look in the mirror.
Thank yall..yes I said yall...I'm from the South...N.carolina....Thank you all so much for educating the public. Slowly, but surely I'm seeing more naturals being represented in the public eye. It is time we blossom into what our Great God made us. Be free, Be free, Be free to be you.
Love it!!! Great vid!!! I substitute last year as well. Kids are something else. Most of the students would say they like my hair if it was done professionally but if I wore it in a puff or did it myself; they would say I like your flower in your hair or headband. So many still may not like it but I am okay with that because I am now pretty confident.
Loved loved loved loved this video, we ALL have good whatever is growing out of your scalp And I loved the part when she said your talking about yourself! !!!! Made him think , guys are so quick to judge and forget where their ROOTS come from
I'm transitioning right now and it is soo hard! I don't know what I'm doing at all and it's so frustrating to have no one to really guide me but I want to finish what I started! I didn't really consciously go natural, I just stopped getting a perm because I am away at school and it wasn't until I started getting more confident from everyone's natural hair video journey's on UA-cam, especially your families, that I want to fully embrace my natural hair. I love it and am getting more and more ready to just do the bc and start fresh ♡
I love that you educate people constantly about natural hair. I have had the most resistance from my family. We get together as well and laugh and talk but only my 17 year old and I are natural. I have sisters and I cringe at how they comb my little neices hair. The straightening of it at such a young age offends me. I've seen them come around to liking mine and my daughters hair but they are so reluctant to go there with their hair.
Mia made me laugh so much! She kinda reminds of me of myself in a way. lool and wow i have seen this issue mostly in the south especially in FL. At one point i was bullied to perm my hair and it wasnt good enough ... it broke off then i decided to transition than do a big chop. So much negative feed back but i still got the wows and oooh for having my afro. I also experienced getting looked at side eyed like mia then when someone complimented me on my afro another person wanted to say ya its really pretty. However a lot of times i got back handed compliments...
I don't comment often but I truly enjoyed you fam vlog. It's amazing to see such a variety of beauty. We have a long way to go with teaching our little ones to love themselves as they were created. Thank you for the education!
Thanks for this video cause I just did the big chop like your cousin and people at work did me like that and I put braids in the next day b/c people say disrespectful comments but then I watched Carmen videos and talked to my hair dresser and it was just pure motivation to rock my twa and now I love it and can't wait to try new things with it
I love you girls. Y'all are so real. Since I've been natural I have not been to a salon, but there are natural hair studios here in Jamaica. It's a wonder how someone can treat you differently just because of your hair. I'm at a lost about it.
I hope this question/statement doesn't offend neone but its just a question to hear your opinions. The only black person who supported me going natural for the longest time was my mother. Then two ladies in my class this year. Everyone else I know frowned on unrelaxed hair. As a matter of fact, I almost lost a job because my hair wasn't relaxed. My boss called me over and whispered that i needed to get my hair relaxed or I would loose my job. I forget the exact words they used, its been a while. My husband is white and, of course so is his family and they love my full hair. My husband convinced me to go natural because he likes my full, soft "sistah hair" as he calls it and he likes that I can do so much more styles with it. So, without going through my life's worth of stories, in my experience, white ppl r much more excepting about black, natural hair than black ppl r but I wanted to know if that was neone else's experience or what is everyone else's experience as far as other ethnicities/races and natural hair. I receive lots of compliments from other ppl of other ethnic backgrounds also. Asians and Hispanic women especially. So what about everyone else? Do you find mostly black ppl don't like natural hair or is it other races as well that don't like natural hair? Note: I am not trying to say that racial/ethnic background defines whether or not a person likes natural black hair.
I have noticed that white people are more appreciative or our natural hair. But I've also notice they are more attracted to the more kinkier hair. I have looser a looser curl pattern and I notice I get more likes from blacks than whites. My friend has 4c hair and white people are constantly complimenting her hair. When I wear my hair in a more Afro state I do get more compliments from whites tho I thought this was quite interesting.
I totally agree! My spouse is white as well & even though he did not understand the "natural hair process" he was supportive. I get dirty looks from black people & tons of compliments from other races. They love my hair. When I was transitioning my own mother told me that I should just relax my hair cause it seems like I can't handle it. From that moment on I was convinced that the problem isn't society. It's just the black community.
I never found anything wrong with my natural hair until I moved closer to my grandma. Everytime I would visit her she would always say how I needed a relaxer cause my hair is to wild, nappy and I have to much hair to handle. So in middle school I gave in and just relaxed my hair. I never liked the chemicals but I did it anyways and my hair was long so I liked that part until highschool year when my hair begin to break and thin out. I started transitioning and not use heat and I sometime get comments from my own family about how my hair looks a mess and it's to thick and need to be relaxed or flatiron. I big chopped my hair last month (my 2nd year of college) And I want to be comfortable wearing my natural hair again depict what my family and other people say. I HATE RELAXERS
Love it!!! My daughter has virgin hair, never touched by chemicals. She has hopes of growing out a big afro. Recently, she asked me to flat-iron her hair so that she can prove to her classmates that she has long hair. I am not against flat-ironing her hair, but I am against her doing something just to prove something to someone else. She is a beautiful girl and there is not a week that has gone by that the weave/relaxed mob has not said something about her hair. The sad part is that she is only in 7th grade. Little girls need to know that your hair is an accessory and that it does not define your beauty. Nor do relaxers and weaves make you more beautiful. There are little girls with damaged and broken hair due to chemicals and yet the parents still put chemicals and weaves in their hair. She is my only daughter, I went natural for her initially. I have always thought that her curls were beautiful and she taught me to love my own.
This video really came right on time. I just recently did my big chop, and I started a new job shortly after. My hair is about 5-6 inches, so I can only really do twist-outs and puffs right now. That's how I wore my hair to work for the last 2 weeks. This past weekend my boss called me into a meeting on what I thought was going to be about my job performance. He told me that he was hoping to make his business into a franchise, and because I was going to be the face of the business, I needed to "fix" my hair. I was extremely offended, and I quit immediately. There's nothing wrong with how my hair looks, and I'm not going to change it in order to keep a job. My dignity is worth more the couple of dollars he was paying me.
I had just now had a talk with mom about using that word "Bad Hair" I think its starting to get threw. However my sister is another story. I remember a time when I was at a place and we had to go into are own gender groups. I had someone whom was taking my information ask me if I was female. I had a twa no makeup and I was pregnant (not obv. pregnant but none the less). I was not happy. When I told him I was a woman I think he had a look of oops and I think he chuckled a little. Needless to say I was not happy. I should have complained and yes this person was a black male (sometimes I think they can be just as bad if not worse then women) I remind my oldest daughter everyday that all are hair is "good hair". I make sure to reinforce this in front of her brother and sister. The struggle is real!
Oh my that's terrible!!!! The day I big chopped on the way home, a neighbour's kid came up to me and when I turned she was like "oh, I thought you were a boy", it's the worst feeling ever!
:( it happens but it wrong , i wore a hat in 90 degree weather .. didnt have $$ for protected styles didnt know my mom can do box braids lol
Hopefully i dont sound too ignorant or arrogant when i say this, but our hair type(African American/Mixed hair types) has to be the most unique hair type on this planet! Because its so unique, most people just dont know how to react in its presence, around true beauty!!
Ur rite I agree wit this completely it's one of a kind for each person's head it grows out of
Amen, sista! Diversity is definitely divine!
you're so true. It is so different and unique that I've had people of other races tell me that hey didnt know that what we have is hair! They thought it was 'afro' ... dont ask me why lol
Because you can never find one that's EXACTLYthe same
The Masked Man And that's all the more reason that we should embrace our own hair more. Like you said we have the most unique type of hair but it's like WE don't respect it.
Absolutely loving the family vlogs. India made a great point about the phrase "everybody can't go natural." That saying has to stop. Loving car men's hair style as well. Yes to the vlogs ladies!
I finally wore my natural hair to school (Im 75 percent Ghanian, 25 percent European) and mind you im a senior in highschool, and majoirty of the race here are hispanic asians and biracial people. I walked in to school and got positive feed back. "your hair is cute" "omggg its soo different , i like it" think like that, BUT the other African American Females and Biracial females kept on wispering "omg why would you wear your hair like that to school" "someone needs a hot comb", like really, really it was unbelieveable but i love my natural hair its different,my mom also supports me but my dad was taken back,im glad i havent touched it with a relaxer in 2 1/2 years :3
I like your cousin Mia. She's eccentric lol, I'd love to see more of her. And your dad is VERY good looking. WHOO.
I like this, its very motivational. Because I've even been in a hair salon & listen to the stylists try to convince ladies to NOT go natural because of how its such a struggle & its "more expensive" to maintain. Then they even went into horror stories about customers they've had with natural hair & how it was a nightmare because the hair was so nappy.
It was such a negative experience.
The beauty of people of color, the diversity in the skin tones, the wonderful different textures of the hair. Embrace the beauty and diversity. It's wonderful!
Awww this reminds me of my mom's side down in Georgia. We're all so different too, there's even a little Asian in there lol. But I loved the convo you guys had, really insightful!
Thanks!!!! We actually loved visiting Georgia! It immediately felt like our home away from home!
So glad you ladies posted this video. I was actually doing my mom's hair today and had a short discussion with her about the idea of "good hair;" I was slightly taken aback because of her use of "good hair" rather than the terms "loosely-textured curly hair," as though hair of a kinkier texture (like mine) wasn't "good." I told her that ANY hair, regardless of texture, that is growing healthily is "good hair." It's crazy how that idea of hair that is as close to that of someone of a Caucasian background being the superior texture is still so ingrained in the minds of so many people of African descent.
On the flip side, I've found it interesting over the course of my own natural hair journey (I BC about a month ago after transitioning for about 8 months) is that I'm complimented most by people who aren't particularly close to me on my hair when it's in an unaltered state, like a 'fro. :)
Well said!
Thank you mynaturalsistas! Keep sharing, inspiring, motivating & encouraging! India, I'm also a teacher & there are 7 natural staff members. Two wear their hair straight & the rest of us wear twists, fros, low cut, ect. I have seen a few students go natural & I always encourage & compliment them
I do this b/c my school is pre- 5th grade. And for a 4th grade to have that type of courage to make a decision at that age I applaud them. One girl in particular hugs me daily & I say "good morning my natural sista, you're hair is beautiful!" I want her to know on a daily basis to stand proud of who she is! :)
It just got REAL!!! I love Chillin with fam and other naturals to discuss things like this. One of my reasons for going natural was not for me but for my nieces, little cousins, girls is my church, girls in my community, etc. Most of all in the category of those most influenced by me are my sons. I want them to learn to love people naturally for who they are...including themselves.
You have a very beautiful and articulate family. Thank you for posting. This video has been very inspirational.
I got into a discussion at work with a patient of mine who said that I have "good hair". I know she meant it as a compliment but I still inwardly cringed. My response to her was "No, I do not have good hair. I have good hair care." I then explained to her that my texture was not what was making my hair look nice. It was my upkeep. If I was to just let it go, it would be a mess! In the end she said "you're right, texture is not important". BTW, she was natural.
So many people just don't understand how damaging that train of thought is. And it's not their fault. We have been taught as a people to perm, flat iron and hide our hair like a dead body. It's time we left that mentality in the past where it belongs.
Love this...my nieces are growing up surrounded by women who are natural and proud. Families are the most important role models! Thanks for sharing. Also, Mia's story had me cracking up!
My mom will see someone with long natural hair and still say they have good hair. But whats sad is though I've been natural since I was 18 and now I'm 30 I still find myself thinking it when I see a black woman with long type 3 hair even after all this time. I hate that and give myself a good chewing out but it just shows how deep what we say to little girls goes. But the irony is my friend who is white with blonde STRAIGHT HAIR loves the updos I can do with my 4c twistout hair and said with 3 other white straight to wavy hair friends standing there "I wish I had hair like YOURS" And then the 3 standing there blew my mind by nodding in agreement with her!! My hair! The hair that deep down I still have to tell myself is good she wants??? And maybe if we keep having conversations like this-Thanks so much for making the video-the next generations can feel that way to.
I love u guys and ur channel. I am so thrilled by the discussions you have because among many black families, this simply isn't discussed openly. This is what ALL young black girls need to see. You all have inspired me to go natural a year and a half ago and I haven't looked back. I'm 25 and have been relaxed since I was 8. I have also been complimented yet insulted by "good hair" comments. Now, because I'm happily natural, my younger cousins and others around me have been inspired to do the same. It's contagious, almost. And you are absolutely correct: young brown girls won't aspire to what they don't see. Which is why channels like this breathe life back into our community. Keep shining, ladies. You never know who is inspired by your example.
Beautiful multiracial family! I don't believe in the term "good hair" it's makes people think they are superior to others because of their texture however "healthy hair" is always greatly welcomed!
Almost had this discussion again today! Basically, girl complemented me on my hair and said that she couldnt do hers because she didnt have good hair. I sent her this video along with Genesis 1:31 :) I think I will make a video on my naked hair because people dont see that my hair is beautifully nappy because it is easier for me to take care of my hair in stretched states. I think people will be highly surprised! lol
I absolutely LOVE this video!! I have 2 daughters with 2 different textures and people comment on one having "good hair" and the other one not!! SMH!! This is definitely TRUTH you ladies are speaking!! I tell my daughters everyday that they AND their hair are BEAUTIFUL despite what they hear or see!!!
Thanks so much for this. Its sad that more people don't feel thankful for the hair texture they have. I have been on this journey since 2009 and loving it. Stay natural stay real stay true and God Bless you.
Aww, I just love y'all bunches!! The mindset y'all sistas have concerning hair and overall wellness, encapsulates much of my own beliefs! Continue to spread truth and knowledge and lessen the ignorance. God bless.
I think we need to have more conversations like these. It makes me happy to see that there are people who support all textures and all types of natural hair. I have 4a, 4b hair and although I've never had a perm, it's taken a long time for me to enjoy and love my hair.
This is such a great convo! Thank you guys soo much for sharing!!! You are setting such great standards! This is so real and heart felt!
so glad you were able to reel the guy into a positive way of viewing our hair and i'm sure he left you thinking man i gotta change my way of thinking on that. THIS is why i love discussions because i can listen to you and vice versa but after a while the positive point of view/thinking will sink in. you guys have a beautiful family! i especially liked your moms msg to your dad! cute puff/pony mom!
I am 15 and transitioning. I told my mom and she didn't believe me at first but she supports me. I had a conversation with my friends (they were all Caucasian) they love my natural hair. Most of my school is Caucasian and they love my hair because of the different styles I wear that portrays my personality. I've learned not to let people say "good hair is straight hair". "Good hair" is healthy hair just like my stylist told me. I want to inspire people in my family to embrace their hair and not let it define them.
You do have a beautiful family. You are also a very wise young lady.
I love the message you're sending. I was a little ashamed of my hair when I did my big chop back in September. After doing a little youtube research, I've learned to love and take care of my bush! I feel a lot more confident than before. :)
This is such a great video!!! I believe most women who have decided to wear their natural hair have had to deal with folks not accepting the decision. However, it is very encouraging to see that we choose to stand and know that we are who we are and our hair is what God blessed us with. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful family....!!
And is so true what you all was talking about, wend you don't know to take care of your hair, you tend to just follow the crowd, and be afraid to show the real you...just for lock of information, and easily you forget to love your self for what you really are, given the power to other's to say what's good for you or not...
Such a great video. I hear some of those comments on a regular basis and for our youth and some adults those statements can be damaging. I have a 18 y/o who returned to natural about a year ago and has struggled with acceptance from her peers as well as herself. At this point she needs to bc again because of heat damage caused by constant straightening. My hope is that videos like this will help her understand that all hair is good hair and what she has naturally is beautiful. Thank you ladies for allowing us all into your lives. Please keep up the great and inspiring work.
Ugh, I've gotten that comment before, "Not everyone can go natural". I was like really dafuq?? How can I not look ok with what my hair does on it's own? That's stupid as hell to say. Of course I try not to get into it with people and stayed quiet but it irked me too.
I've heard the "oh, it's not for everyone" or "some girls just can't pull that off" comment so many times. I've honestly never knew how to respond to it, other than saying thank you with an awkward look on my face. But this video was much needed; I wish there was a "LOVE" button!
Amen to everything about this video!! Love your family and all the points made in the "good hair" convo!
There was a time I had the same problem, I'm in middle school and a lot of girls in my school wear relaxers. I was raised with natural hair and I never put a relaxer or weave in my hair. I felt different. I look beautiful in natural hair. Natural hair all my life has made me feel beautiful. My hair is 3c and I take care of it. I love to do styles with my hair. I haven't flat ironed my hair in a long time. I can't really have fun with my hair when it's flat ironed. We need to be nice to each other and stop saying the word nappy that word is just unnecessary.
Thank you so much for these videos about "good" hair. They've made me so confident about my own hair :)
Nice video and subject, but I still can't understand why would anyone thumbs down this video. I think this was and is a good discussion on family, natural hair, young children/teens and confident, educating a stranger, etc. This was really nice.
You have such a wonderful family! I am thankful/greatful to all the compliments I got after my BC and even if people didn't like it I wouldnt care because my hair ia beautiful because its mine!
Great video would love to see more... It would be AMAZING if Carmen did a tutorial on her hair with the flower band its looks soo beautiful
Thank you so much Natural Sistas for your vidoes. I recently made the big chop to going natural and I can relate to the stories. I have been watching all of your hair videos and subscribe. But it has been your messages lately regarding "good hair" that really has pushed me to comment. For the 1st time in my life my self worth does not depend on my hair. I feel my confident and empowered more than ever, which makes me want to share my story with young women and girls. Thank you for sharing!
Great video. Beautiful Family. The struggle is real, if you let it get to you. I personally don't give a flying flip about what anybody says about my hair, not now or ever.
I back sided compliment is not a compliment at all. Just a jab with a seemingly soft impact. Thanks ladies!
This vid was so great! Your cousin Mia is hilarioussss! Haha! Great storyteller!
I agree so much with you India... it's through healthy discussion that this ignoramus thinking is broken. I mean, there are all these natural hair events, and youtube discussions about good and natural hair, but how often is it that people who have a good hair mentality choose to engage in these discussions or attend these events? We have to bring the conversation to them! Maybe Toni you'll have a future opportunity to talk to that girl!
This was awesome to watch. Family is so important. Thanks for sharing with us. And yes!!! All of you really look alike, that was real. Be blessed.
Thank you!!!!!
You have a beautiful family! My family is similar in that we are different shades and have different textures. My sister and I look different in every way!
This video was great in that you all had a discussion amongst yourselves and commented on others apart from the group. Each one, teach one.
Love the family video please if u can make more I just went natural an im loving it , an I look back over the yrs how we just got caught up with straight hair an weaves, wigs wend under neath we always had beautiful hair an we are just going back to the 60 70 an 80 hopefully for good
Omg such an excellent discussion I can certainly relate on all levels. I can't stress enough to my daughter about the importance of taking care of her Puerto Rican naturally curly beautiful waist long hair. I love mines & I'm so proud of my thick mane & she sees that we need to set an example so they will follow. I enjoy your channel & all your sisters & family it's really informative & so refreshing to know we all have the struggle no matter what background we come from. Thanks so much for all that you beautiful ladies put out LOVE IT!!!
I am with you guys on "the struggle" is real... I have been trying to learn how to treat my hair and it has been a struggle at times. But its all worth it when my little sister says to me I wish my hair curled up like yours but I have bad and I can respond; it CAN you just need to learn your hair, take care of it and stop using so much heat on it. I always end our hair convos with "your hair is beautiful"
Thanks for the video, it was awesome!!!
Out of hundreds of cousins I am one of very few naturals. I am so proud though. I have went from going to the salon every 2 weeks like clockwork to learning to care for my own hair and my daughters. You are so right your hair is good hair because God blessed you with it. ♡♥ the vlog. You have a beautiful family.
Love the vlogs. You cousin's BC story was hilarious. She was very comedic, and super natural with it.
Great way to start the conversation. Everything should begin with family as they are the ones who love and accept you first, allowing you to express your true self outside. I'm glad you discussed sensibly with that man and got him to see that hair care is NOT about natural vs relaxed or weaved. It's about knowing what to do with your hair on your head. God bless you for sharing, ladies!
Bravo ladies!! As always yall come on UA-cam with positivity, wisdom and encouragement. Yall make me and so many other natural women of every race proud!! It's icing on the cake that yall are from Houston, Texas!! Keep up the awesome work!!
Wow!!! That reminds me of the time when i was at work. And i had my hair out (twist out) Love my hair when it's in a twist out. The majority of my customers were giving me compliments but then one customer told me this: " what's going on with your hair? you need to cut it all off" I'm not sure what's going on with people these days that they feel like they have to right to say things like that. I was annoyed at his comments for a little bit, but i still like my hair no matter. Natural since 2006 and will remain that way. Loved this video!
so much can be said, but all I will say is I truly love hair in any texture. I have tight coily hair and I love it. I see people especially older blk women staring at my hair in fright...lol. it makes me laugh though. I don't care but if you hate or have negative things to say about afro textured hair you don't know much about yourself. honestly I feel you don't like yourself. if you did you would love the hair that grows out of your hair or see the beauty in a black woman's natural hair. your family is beautiful and this is a great video.
I've been there... My mom is half native and half black. She has beautiful loose, long curly hair. My sister has a similar texture (just a bit more coiled curls) whereas my hair is around 4b-4c. Growing up I always had a perm or extensions because my mom didn't know how to deal with my hair. And trust me, from a very young age I knew this. My family though they had the same texture as me did not hesitate to tell me that I had bad hair. I pitted me against my sister for a long time until I realized I didn't care about how they saw me, its all about what I saw. Since then I've gone natural and I love my hair.
P.S. (at least I have hair😉) this one goes out to my family
that's sad because 4c hair rocks!!!😊👍👍👍
Thank you for reasoning with him! That's how we can help people embrace our uniqueness and true beauty! Loved this video!
What a beautiful family! xx I'm not shocked about it. I remember being told I have 'shit locks' when I wore my hair in threaded twists as a child. There is still a shock and awe I get, from some relatives, about my curls. That I maintain them on my own. These were the same people who told me my hair was 'messy' when I first went natural in 2010. It's a huge issue in our community. It's so unfortunate that people think there is such a thing as 'good' hair and bad hair. Hair is hair. All curls are beautiful. Great video.
This video made me feel so good, just the conversation and topics in general.
last week one of my teachers (an older black woman) asked a few of my male class mates about #nappynation and gave them an assignment to create a commercial or advertisement for it.
being interested in the assignment I asked if girls could be in nappy nation, the boys shrugged it off, but one girl said "they shouldn't, it looks unmanageable, and doesn't look good". -note: I have been natural my entire life, but ive had protective styling since I started this school about 1 month ago- i plan on showing this video to my classmates next week.
I've always said that "good" hair is healthy hair, and say the same to whoever tries to make it just a certain texture all the time. So thank you for this video. It was beautiful and so are you and your family. :)
HI Natural sisters,
Im from East Africa and i loved this video. Ive seen a lot of people go on about what good or bad hair is. The most recent encounter was on a forum which im part of on fb. Although the forum is not about hair, one of the administrators posted a lady with long and for me what i saw as beautiful 4c hair but you wouldnt believe the negativity this beautiful woman with beautiful hair got. When i saw all the negativity, it broke my heart. Im also natural and just celebrated my 2 yr anniversary. There was this comment which kept comming up and which east africans use a lot to call people who are termed as having 'bad hair'. They call their hair 'steel wire'. I dont know if you have the same term for what is used to scrub saucepans but that word is hurtful as hell. Most of the women on this forum where the type who wouldnt even look at naturals twice. Majority said it was ugly. I cried because i realised that these women where what would be the future of their children where kinky is totally unacceptable. Its not only them but a lot of our women refuse to go natural because as they say their hair is not good. I myself have tried to convince some of my sisters and like in a family we all have different types of hair. And they all say well you have good hair thats why you are natural. They will give excuses like mine's too thick or too thin. Well you can counter with well if its too thin then is it not worse if you chemically treat it but they will counter with more ridiculous excuses. The truth is they are afraid of change. Anyway ive never been a fun of chemicals and my head always got burned. First relaxer was at 16 in 1990 and it burned like hell but i loved it until it was time to redo it again. Eventually in 2004 i coudnt stand it and decided to cut my hair off. I didnt know then that what i did was a big chop. It took another 2 years before i relaxed my hair again, not because it was what i wanted but i didnt know how to deal with the natural. I must say here that my scalp is also very painful when i get my hair plaited and ony 2 hair dressers are now allowed to plait my hair. Anyway i went back to the lye. In 2011 i moved to Europe and then i got bigger challenges. I moved to a small town with no afrcan salon. And any african i met and asked about how they got their hair done said they did it themselves. I didnt know how to do this although id seen it done countless times on my hair so i travelled twice to the city to have it done which was very costly, finally in december of 2011 i bought a relaxer kit olive oil, and tried to relax my hair my self. I followed all the steps to the letter but during the combing my scalp started to burn and i decided to quickly comb and got relaxer in my eyes to say the least, it was a mess and that is when i deceided enough was enough. I washed my hair and some parts were done others not., but that was the last time i had a relaxer. 3 months later the growth was back and my hair was getting to be unmanageable, a friend visited me and convinced me to buy relaxer again. I did buy it but couldnt muster the courage to do it again. I spent 2 wks thinking and re thinking whether i should relax again, in the end i decided to chop my hair off. For me that was the easiest option. In april 2012 i did what i would 2 days later come to know as the big chop. All this time i was going nuts with trying to find a solution for my hair i never once thought to look on youtube. Anyway i went online to google products i would need for my natural hair and was shocked at what i came up with. A whole new world was at my finger tips. There was soo much information and i tried to share with friends and family but noone was interested and are still not. It all boils down to good and bad hair issues and also to the fact that people feel more secure or beautiful with either a relaxer on or a weave. Im still trying to get them to understand the it is not a relaxer or weave that makes one look beautiful but to accept yourself as you were born then you start to see yourself as beautiful. Im4a, b and love my hair and since i accepted my myself as i am ive never looked back. Even with soo much information people are still stumbling in the dark out there and chose to remain ignorant. I dont hate relaxed hair coz at one point i was relaxed but i know the potential of learning to love me as i was born. I walk out the door eachday and have people look at you like there goes a nut case and i think please this is me, love me or leave me and just keep walking. Many people want to touch my hair and i never say no because it doesnt hurt when they touch. Im sorry to say this and mean no offense to anyone but but the most negative looks i get are from my fellow Africans or blacks. This is my hair story!!
I have be natural nearly 2 years and I've been starting notice in my high school many many more girls are starting to rock the natural! It makes me sooooo happy to see that.
I'm so glade that you ladies did this video, this is definitely a topic that needs to be bought up consistently. I would like to share an incident that happened to me I didn't know rather to take it as a compliment or not. I had a co-worker that was Hispanic came up to me and say your hair is good, how come it's so good. My respond to her was Number 1 black people have good hair as well as other culture. Number 2 there is no such thing as bad hair in my opinion everyone hair is good and beautiful. Number 3 black people hair is so diverse and we can do anything to our hair one day we can rock a weave and on the other hand we can rock braids, wigs, ponytails and our natural hair. Last but not least everybody hair is different and is beautiful no matter what textured it is. Again thank you ladies for making this video I can go on and on incident that happened when I first did a big chop to now.
love love love the dynamics of your entire family. This is an on going conversation we are having around the world. Never stop talking to the youth, they MUST know their truth
So true! I'm a transitioner and some of my family say that natural won't be my thing and stay relaxed, but I was more comfortable with my natural hair. To me it depends on how u take care of it rather than if it doesn't "fit you". Anyone who wants to go natural... GO FOR IT! Be you and embrace it despite what people say.
Thank you for this video!!! It is sooooooo important to have this discussion. Still today a lot of people just don't get it at the natural state.
I love this vlog. I actually had a similar story to Mia. It was crazy lol my co workers didn't know what to do, they were in shocked and seemed to be upset with me because I went to work with long relaxed hair one day and then hair literally a mm long or so the next. They guys at my job shunned me for months. I still held my head up high and was on UA-cam daily for support through my transition. Now, almost 6 years later, I'm still natural :) and I love it.
You all have great eyebrows!
Hi, I'm from the Caribbean and about 3 yrs ago, after watching tons of youtube videos along with a deep desire to show my natural beauty, I did the BIG CHOP....and boy did my life change. I was currently in my 1st year of university when I took this step and my family and friends gave me no support. One of my family members told me it was "UGLY", my friends and just random people at school made jokes about my hair and said some of the meanest things, even on the job, people started treating me differently. Guys who once bombarded me for my attention, now didn't pay me any mind. It was a horrible experience and eventually I caved and went back to the relaxer. But what I found to be most disheartening was that like a year after, the naturalistas phenomena hit my island and many of those same friends cut their relaxed hair and are now natural...Hopefully I will be able to rock my natural hair again someday soon.
Great video and good point on salons turning us away..when I first did my big chop I had a salon turn me away when I asked for some twists. That's ok I went home and did them myself thanks to one of Carmen's videos. I'm going on 1 year natural and I love my hair. I don't care what anyone has to say about it especially somebody who's not even wearing their own hair(no discrimination against weave I'm just saying). Thank you ladies for being a positive and inspirational resource for us all. God bless you and your beautiful family!
Miss Mia, you are AWESOME and so is your hair! You have a great personality and a beautiful spirit that shines through. Natural Sistas, you all have such a beautiful family!
I so love the point you made about the struggle. Having a relaxer or weave does NOT mean that your hair is ultimately better than my natural hair. I have friends with relaxed hair who compliment me all the time on my natural on how health and strong it looks and I encourage them to take better care of their hair. Also a lot of them want to return to natural but they are afraid of what people will say. I have been natural my entire life no flat iron or no texturizers and you will think that people will get accustomed to my natural hair. Heck no. I get the disgusting comments all the time.
You have a beautiful family, they seem fun. I couldn't help but smile.
I love this channel it gives me the encouragement and the confidence to wear my natural hair and this channel reminds me that my natural hair is beautiful
My sister has a mixed texture of hair it's really different. Some of her hair is straight like the top is a 2 type some of her hair is like 3c and some kind of a 4a.
This is true. It grows like that, gets wet like that and drys like that. She complains about it all the time. She has issues getting it all to match and we talk about it all the time. She always says I wish all of my hair was this texture (referring to the 3/4a texture).
Today my mom was looking at it and she commented and said "If only all of it was like that piece". I was like "Yeah I know, the curly hair right." She looked confused and said no. My sister said she meant the straighter hair.
I got a bit upset because I'm on a natural journey too and I'm 4a/b and maybe 4c...my hair is a mixture too. But she said my natural hair is beautiful.
So I asked her if she was saying my texture isn't pretty and I said I think my sisters curlier hairs were beautiful too. She just said she thinks it would be great if all it matched too. Then I said why not the curly ones...she said she likes straight hair....My sister didn't really care as much. She said "You can't get mad, she likes what she likes."
I don't know how to feel. I love my sisters hair even with it being all different textures and I think she can find ways to make it match if it bothers her (but she's its sooo much work lol). But I sort of felt like when my mom complemented my hair all those times she was just being nice...but she really secretly preferred I straightened it.
I know I'm probably overreacting but this event really made me feel sad and I don't know why.
You're not overreacting ,but just know that God loves you and your mom probably just grew up around people who liked straight hair and has been trained to perpetuate those beliefs. Just instill different beliefs in your kids +self love &self esteem- Blessing and Love :)
You have a beautiful family!
I just love this video. I've never had a relaxer but i decided to wear my natural almost two years ago. I'm happy that I've learn what works and doesn't work so well with my hair. I'm thinking about doing a big chop just have a better sense of natural and self beauty.
"I know y'all talking about my hair. I know y'all talking about me." That's just it. They're talking ABOUT it, ABOUT us, by not directly TO us. Hence, the stigma. My daughter and I have VERY different textures of hair and I watch in amusement the various reactions on people's faces. Some of them make assumptions about both our backgrounds and will argue with us to the death about where we are from given our hair textures and skin colors (which vary greatly as well). Thank you for this video.
#communication #naturalhairtalk #womaninthejungle @naturalhair
OMGoodness! Your family is wonderful. It makes me miss my family so much. Great video, great discussion, really.
Your family looks wonderful.
I love the different hair textures that exist within your family. Nice vlog and great for pointing out some of the things those of us who decide to go natural go through and explaining how being natural is beautiful.
I just love this!!!!! Your family reminds me of mine. Different complexions and hair textures but we are all beautiful!!!
Oh my gosh..your cousin Mia had me cracking.cute family you've got.
I love this video. I big chopped about 3 wks ago. Y'all videos are educational as well as inspirational. I've always loved natural textures even when I was relaxed. For the last year & a half I've had so many ppl tell me not to cut my hair & I didn't because of all the negativity. But I decided to do me, and I love it. Loved it from the 1st look in the mirror.
Thank yall..yes I said yall...I'm from the South...N.carolina....Thank you all so much for educating the public. Slowly, but surely I'm seeing more naturals being represented in the public eye. It is time we blossom into what our Great God made us. Be free, Be free, Be free to be you.
Love it!!! Great vid!!! I substitute last year as well. Kids are something else. Most of the students would say they like my hair if it was done professionally but if I wore it in a puff or did it myself; they would say I like your flower in your hair or headband. So many still may not like it but I am okay with that because I am now pretty confident.
what a beautiful family.
I love this, it is so true about our hair. We need to embrace and love what we have because it's a beautiful thing!
Loved loved loved loved this video, we ALL have good whatever is growing out of your scalp
And I loved the part when she said your talking about yourself! !!!!
Made him think , guys are so quick to judge and forget where their ROOTS come from
I'm transitioning right now and it is soo hard! I don't know what I'm doing at all and it's so frustrating to have no one to really guide me but I want to finish what I started! I didn't really consciously go natural, I just stopped getting a perm because I am away at school and it wasn't until I started getting more confident from everyone's natural hair video journey's on UA-cam, especially your families, that I want to fully embrace my natural hair. I love it and am getting more and more ready to just do the bc and start fresh ♡
I love that you educate people constantly about natural hair. I have had the most resistance from my family. We get together as well and laugh and talk but only my 17 year old and I are natural. I have sisters and I cringe at how they comb my little neices hair. The straightening of it at such a young age offends me. I've seen them come around to liking mine and my daughters hair but they are so reluctant to go there with their hair.
Mia made me laugh so much! She kinda reminds of me of myself in a way. lool and wow i have seen this issue mostly in the south especially in FL. At one point i was bullied to perm my hair and it wasnt good enough ... it broke off then i decided to transition than do a big chop. So much negative feed back but i still got the wows and oooh for having my afro. I also experienced getting looked at side eyed like mia then when someone complimented me on my afro another person wanted to say ya its really pretty. However a lot of times i got back handed compliments...
I don't comment often but I truly enjoyed you fam vlog. It's amazing to see such a variety of beauty. We have a long way to go with teaching our little ones to love themselves as they were created. Thank you for the education!
I love you lady's. You guys have so much positive encouragement to offer natural women. Thank you.
Thanks for this video cause I just did the big chop like your cousin and people at work did me like that and I put braids in the next day b/c people say disrespectful comments but then I watched Carmen videos and talked to my hair dresser and it was just pure motivation to rock my twa and now I love it and can't wait to try new things with it
I absolutely loved this video! So inspiring, family oriented and informative! I would love to see more family Vlogs in the future!
I love you girls. Y'all are so real. Since I've been natural I have not been to a salon, but there are natural hair studios here in Jamaica. It's a wonder how someone can treat you differently just because of your hair. I'm at a lost about it.
Your family is so beautiful and your little cousin is so funny, I love that she told the story with a bit of humor!
the young lady who told the walmart story gave me Lisa Lefteye Lopez. I love her! She is so charismatic!
I hope this question/statement doesn't offend neone but its just a question to hear your opinions. The only black person who supported me going natural for the longest time was my mother. Then two ladies in my class this year. Everyone else I know frowned on unrelaxed hair. As a matter of fact, I almost lost a job because my hair wasn't relaxed. My boss called me over and whispered that i needed to get my hair relaxed or I would loose my job. I forget the exact words they used, its been a while. My husband is white and, of course so is his family and they love my full hair. My husband convinced me to go natural because he likes my full, soft "sistah hair" as he calls it and he likes that I can do so much more styles with it. So, without going through my life's worth of stories, in my experience, white ppl r much more excepting about black, natural hair than black ppl r but I wanted to know if that was neone else's experience or what is everyone else's experience as far as other ethnicities/races and natural hair. I receive lots of compliments from other ppl of other ethnic backgrounds also. Asians and Hispanic women especially. So what about everyone else? Do you find mostly black ppl don't like natural hair or is it other races as well that don't like natural hair?
Note: I am not trying to say that racial/ethnic background defines whether or not a person likes natural black hair.
I have to agree. I receive more comments on my natural hair from white men than black men.
I have noticed that white people are more appreciative or our natural hair. But I've also notice they are more attracted to the more kinkier hair. I have looser a looser curl pattern and I notice I get more likes from blacks than whites. My friend has 4c hair and white people are constantly complimenting her hair. When I wear my hair in a more Afro state I do get more compliments from whites tho I thought this was quite interesting.
I totally agree! My spouse is white as well & even though he did not understand the "natural hair process" he was supportive. I get dirty looks from black people & tons of compliments from other races. They love my hair. When I was transitioning my own mother told me that I should just relax my hair cause it seems like I can't handle it. From that moment on I was convinced that the problem isn't society. It's just the black community.
Ooh yes! I've experienced the same thing. I think other races appreciate out hair because it's different. Black people still have issues.
Being a natural sista over in Europe, I, too, have found that others compliment/accept my hair more than my chocolate sistas.
I never found anything wrong with my natural hair until I moved closer to my grandma. Everytime I would visit her she would always say how I needed a relaxer cause my hair is to wild, nappy and I have to much hair to handle. So in middle school I gave in and just relaxed my hair. I never liked the chemicals but I did it anyways and my hair was long so I liked that part until highschool year when my hair begin to break and thin out. I started transitioning and not use heat and I sometime get comments from my own family about how my hair looks a mess and it's to thick and need to be relaxed or flatiron. I big chopped my hair last month (my 2nd year of college) And I want to be comfortable wearing my natural hair again depict what my family and other people say. I HATE RELAXERS