The natural hair movement is making girls almost everywhere embrace their natural curls and kinks. Big, thick, poofy hair is permeating the bone straight images we’re used to seeing and making many realize that the way their hair naturally grows is not only perfectly acceptable to wear in the workplace or around town, but it’s also beautiful.
But the acceptance and spread of natural hair does not necessarily mean the rejection of straight hair. I’m a firm believer that curly hair and straight hair can co-exist in blissful harmony, even on the same head. One of the great things about Black hair and the culture surrounding it, is that no matter how it has evolved, the one thing that stays constant is the fact that we love changing it and experimenting with it. We’re not surprised if one of our besties sports purple short hair one day and then long black hair the next. Changing one’s hairstyle dramatically and frequently is perfectly normal for Black women and that doesn’t have to change if you go natural. There are plenty of naturals who not only find creative styles to rock, but they color, braid and weave up their hair. Our ability to flex our hair versatility does not go away when we go natural, if anything it becomes even more possible as we have curly and kinky looks in the mix.
I recently had the awesome opportunity to try out the lovely Polished Hair Care salon in Paris (more about the Salon and its beautiful owner to come later). I had no idea what I was going to get done once I got there, but at the last minute thought, why not get a blow out! It was great to see how long my hair had gotten and also a great to get a much needed trim and deep conditioning. The stylist first blow dried my hair straight, then flat-ironed it with a ceramic flat iron, which is much gentler on one’s hair than an oven iron. Nicole, the owner of Polished Hair, gave me a heads up that the blow out would only last about two days and I should wrap my hair immediately when I got home.
First row, left to right: braid out; wash with scalp massage; shrinkage!
Second row, left to right: deep conditioning with heat, blow out, after flat ironing!
The finished product.
After about 2 days, the kinks began re-emerging.
Sure enough, despite wrapping, my God-given curls started to reemerge. But I’m actually loving the volume it’s creating and the hybrid of kinky-straight hair. It’s great to know that I can go back to straight, without chemically treating it, even if it’s for just a couple days.
On that note, we’re dedicating this week to the harmony of curly and straight hair and will be taking a look at celebs and hair icons that have rocked both.
What’s your take? Are you a natural who straightens your hair? Are you relaxed but rock curly ‘dos? Tell us your thoughts below!
