Verified answer

I wear my hair natural. I went natural because I began to question the purpose of straightening my hair. I used to believe it made my hair more "manageable", but I had to constantly wrap it, i avoided getting my hair wet, and the ends were always dry. My hair would never get longer than shoulder length. I had to admit to myself that it was not about making my hair manageable. It was about fitting in with WESTERN society's conceptions of beauty and femininity. I reminded myself that Black people's sense of self worth, esteem and beauty has been under attack by White people for over 400 years.

Some Black women say, "it's just hair, so do what you want with it". But if it's just hair, then why is going natural so much harder than getting a perm? It must be more than "just hair". The stigma against natural hair is bothersome. The attitude that our hair is ugly is self-hate. I think it's past time to reverse this thinking. And also, its way past time that we stop passing down this self hatred and negative thinking to our innocent Black children.

natural. but people often tell me I don't have "black hair" whatever that means. I think you should wear your hair natural because it is who you are and what makes us beautiful. you were born with it. you don't see other groups changing their hair to be like ours so why should we? i've never had a relaxer or perm (thank god) and i think i have more of an idea of black beauty than most of my friends who have chemically treated hair. but hey at the end of the day it is your hair. and about the hair styles. you can do even more with natural hair. most girls with relaxed straight hair either wear it down or in a pony tail.

I have thick curly/kinky hair. I would love to wear it out and natural, but have not been able to get my hair into a style i would be comfortable wearing out other than pulled into a ponytail or bun.

I do enjoy wearing my hair straight for two reasons:

(1) I think it looks nice

(2) It is SO much easier for me to manage my hair that way.

I do not have any chemicals in my hair and I am not looking to do so, but I wish that I were able to wear my hair out more without fear of it getting messed up.

...and YES I think you should be able to wear your hair how you want it. I think it's crap that people will tell you that you are conforming to "the man" by straightening your hair.