Society’s Impact on Young Black Women
Written by Samara on June 17, 2009I was appalled when I logged in this evening and found this comment on my blog. After reading the entire comment what I realized was that this young beautiful teenage girl feels that her hair is beautiful if it’s long and thin (like a Caucasian or Asian woman). This is what society has our young queens believing: That it is unacceptable to be who we are and to embrace the thick curly beautiful locks we were blessed with. It is okay to have a relaxer to help with manageability if you chose to do so. I honestly feel that regardless of your hair being natural or relaxed, with the proper education about how to care for your hair it will be manageable no matter what.
I remember three years ago when I tried to go natural. I had no idea how to care for my natural hair so I became frustrated with it and got a relaxer. Now that I know how to manage my hair in it’s natural state, all my frustrations are gone and I love my hair, naturally.
With that said, on to my question of the month:
Umm, I’m twelve and when I was nine I had hair like a queen, now my hair is dull, thin, lifeless and just BORING! I really want to know what i should do to get it back to being long and thin (Well it is long but not as long as when i was nine!). I have been getting bangs and ponytail and microbraids (Just found out it wasn’t working!). My hair is relaxed and I also wanted to know if Just For Me hair relaxer (coarse) or African Pride Dream Kids is the best for a twelve year old with damaged and breaking hair. Also, is it okay to use shampoo’s that are different then the relaxer’s brand and conditioners that are way off the list?
I can not tell you how to get your hair to be long and thin, however, I can guide you to have long, thick hair. If your hair is naturally thin, that’s one thing, but if it’s thick, then that’s how it should be. If you notice my pictures in the banner(more can be seen here), you should notice that my hair is actually thick and it’s still gorgeous. If your hair is originally thick and you somehow do something to make it thin, then your hair is severely damaged and I know you don’t want to have damaged hair at all. None of us want that.
First and foremost, I do not recommend Just for Me. I’ve used this hair relaxer in the past and it caused my hair to come out in patches. I had long thick hair when I was in the 8th grade and when my stylist gave me this relaxer I had bald spots! Which, I must add, showed up weeks or even a month after my relaxer. I only recommend the relaxers in the Grow Black Hair Shop, which are relaxer’s I’ve used with no bad side effects such as Motions Salon Herbals and the Phytorelaxer, both should be applied by a professional only.
It is okay for you to use a different brand shampoo and conditioner. You need to use one that is best for your haircare needs. For example I may use Kinky-Curly’s brand Curling Custard, but I use the Karen’s Body Beautiful Hair Nectar in place of the Knot Today for my leave-in. I also use the CURLS brand shampoo and my hair is beautiful, soft, moisturized, and strong.
If your hair is breaking severely, I’d recommend postponing your relaxer for about 2 months to give yourself some time to recondition your hair. First start off by using a protein treatment such as the Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment. Wash your hair with a sulfate free moisturizing shampoo such as the Curls Curlicious Cleansing Cream. Follow by a conditioning rinse every time you shampoo such as the Coconut Sublime Moisturizing Conditioner. Remember to wash your hair every 3 days and deep condition your hair every 2 weeks with the Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise, or the Curls Ecstasy Hair Tea Conditioner. Use only a wide tooth comb in your hair and moisturize the hair daily with either the Organic Root Stimulator Carrot Oil or the Curls Milkshake.
I think this article will be a good read for you before getting another relaxer.
Another good read: Micro Braids: A Hair Growers Disaster
And another: Pontytails Cause Hair Breakage
I will also suggest that you visit the Relaxed Haircare section to learn how to develop your own haircare routine.
Samara
http://www.growblackhair.net
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- Black Haircare Kit – Relaxed Hair
- Curls Ecstasy Hair Tea Conditioner Review
- Does Natural Hair Need Protein Treatments?
2 Responses to Society’s Impact on Young Black Women
Thank You so much for the article!!
But I thank you most impornantly for focusing on young women because if we want long beautiful thick hair in the future, we must start NOW!
But won’t washing your hair every 3 days help it break? I know when I was my hair, lots of hair comes out. I just don’t think washing the hair every week is the best way. Maybe every other week max!
The reason your hair is coming out is because it is either shedding or damaged. Washing black hair frequently is not damaging at all as long as you use a sulfate free shampoo. Using harsh shampoos containing sulfates are damaging. Our hair is very dry and it needs the moisture from the washings. It will further harm your hair if you extend your washings beyond a week.