Real & Fake – Black Women & Weaves
Written by Samara on August 13, 2009In my personal blog life I like to read a couple other interesting blogs and one woman’s blog I read had a discussion about black women and weaves. I myself pointed out how not only do black women use weave, but when we relax our hair not knowing where this practice originates from. You can read the article here if you’d like.
I’m glad that she made this a topic because as a black women I wonder if we as black women are ashammed of our own heritage when we decide to put relaxers as well as the European textured extensions into our hair. I believe a lot of it stems from the media, and our own mothers, and grandmother’s etc. These are people we look to for approval and they raise us into believing long straight hair is beautiful.
Even so, in the natural community I see curl definition focused on way too much. Why are these companies that market to black women glorify mult-racial textured hair(3a-4a). Where’s the love at sistas? Why can’t we accept our kinkiness and learn to love it for what it truly is? Our crown and glory that God blessed us with.
In the black community relaxers and weaves have become a way of life. Everyone is wearing hair extensions, whether it be glued in, sewn in, braided, etc. The question is: Are you wearing a weave because you feel your hair is ugly and you don’t believe your own hair is capable of growing to that length or do you wear it just for pure enhancements with total confidence in your hair without it?
If you choose to wear a weave then it’s totally your choice in the long run, just like it’s completely your choice to relax your hair. I’ve worn weaves, I’ve also had my hair relaxed, texturized, pressed, flat iron, you name it I did it! When I finally came to the conclusion after all my years of struggle with my hair that God made me who I am for a reason. That was the first hurdle, then came the next one: To accept myself for who I am. This was even harder, but once I did I grasped an even greater reward: Total self love.
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2 Responses to Real & Fake – Black Women & Weaves
in no way am i trying to disrespect..but the media does not decide what i do..that’s my decision…i am not ashamed of my heritage and where i come from and i am not ashamed or embarrassed by my hair and i think i can speak for many other women… i am relaxed hair but i like the way my hair looks when it it relaxed…i have no problem with people who like natural hair i think it looks very classy and beautiful but i also like relaxed hair its pretty and beautiful as well..and i like relaxed hair and how it looks on me..i think a woman should do what she feels makes her happy..and if a woman that has relaxed hair feels beautiful with it then let it be so the same goes for a woman with natural hair..trying to be the rebellion of what the media says makes people feel like they have to choose between sides..and yes i agree that people shouldn’t conform to what the society has to offer..but if they feel comfortable with changing..then by gosh let them do what ever makes them happy and puts a smile on their face
In this article I never said that black women needed to stop wearing weaves and relaxers. It is your choice what you choose to do with your hair even if it includes using chemicals that alter the hairs natural curl pattern. My whole point of this article is to educate women on the where the relaxer practice originates from. I also would like women to take a look at themselves and understand why they wear weaves and relaxers or curl defining gels. If society and peer pressure isn’t your reason and you do it based on just your choice with knowledge of all the precautions and side effects then go for it. I’ve done it all so with that being said, I don’t judge anyone for wearing relaxers or a weave.