If you are entrenched in the online, natural hair world, then you are more than likely aware of the categories that have been created and instituted like some of these described below:
* Militant, Everything natural, Naturals - Don't do anything "unnatural" to their hair or anything to alter its original texture, use no heat or hair color, are anti weaves or wigs, use all natural ingredient products, and even shun styles like braid outs and twist outs b/c it's (temporarily) altering the original texture. Anything outside of what they do means you hate your God given texture and hate yourself. There is a small population of some who do not have this mindset and just hold themselves to these standards.
* Straight Naturals - Wear their hair straight over 90% of the time via direct and/or indirect heat.
*Texlaxed Naturals - Use relaxer or texturizer to loosen their curl pattern just a bit. They are not going for the straight look necessarily.
* BKT naturals - Wear their hair straight most of the time via the B.razilian K.ertin T.reatment but many also utilize in loosening their kurl pattern for aesthetic and/or manageability effects.
* Colored Naturals - Self explanatorily, color their hair. Color has the capacity to loosen one's kurl pattern but not everyone experiences this and it happens in individual degrees. Those who color are normally not looking for deliberate kurl loosening, they simply want a different hair color.
* Heat Trained Naturals - Deliberately use heat to loosen their kurl pattern. This deliberate use of heat also creates an easier straightening process and longer lasting straight looks. Many feel this is a healthier option to using caustic chemicals like BKT, relaxers and texturizers.
* Who Gives A Flying $!#k Naturals - Do whatever they feel like doing to their hair: grow it long and then cut it if they feel like, dabble in color if they want, use heat when they feel like it, swear off heat when they feel like, use products that work for their hair rather they be all natural ingredient products or not, etc.
If I chose a category, I'd be the last one. I don't care what anyone else does to their hair. I worry about myself and do what I feel like doing with it.
I think the categorizing can be helpful in so many ways for those seeking specific information and inspiration along their journey but a lot of cases, from my observations, it is not used for constructive purposes. It is more so used for devision so individuals of different categories can feel better about themselves and their choices. Hair is coo but it shouldn't have a lot of power. Don't be your hair. It can't solve all your personal problems and insecurities. How a person wears their hair, contrary to the sometimes belief, does not say anything about a person's character. I know insecure naturals, negative energy naturals and rude naturals. I also know insecure relaxed women, negative energy relaxed women and rude relaxed women. Let's stop being so self righteous and learn to just enjoy hair again; whatever your definition of that is. Our choices are our choices and don't make us any better than the next person. They just make us different. At the end of the day, what's another person's hair choices got to do with you or the rent getting paid? Ya dig?
* Militant, Everything natural, Naturals - Don't do anything "unnatural" to their hair or anything to alter its original texture, use no heat or hair color, are anti weaves or wigs, use all natural ingredient products, and even shun styles like braid outs and twist outs b/c it's (temporarily) altering the original texture. Anything outside of what they do means you hate your God given texture and hate yourself. There is a small population of some who do not have this mindset and just hold themselves to these standards.
* Straight Naturals - Wear their hair straight over 90% of the time via direct and/or indirect heat.
*Texlaxed Naturals - Use relaxer or texturizer to loosen their curl pattern just a bit. They are not going for the straight look necessarily.
* BKT naturals - Wear their hair straight most of the time via the B.razilian K.ertin T.reatment but many also utilize in loosening their kurl pattern for aesthetic and/or manageability effects.
* Colored Naturals - Self explanatorily, color their hair. Color has the capacity to loosen one's kurl pattern but not everyone experiences this and it happens in individual degrees. Those who color are normally not looking for deliberate kurl loosening, they simply want a different hair color.
* Heat Trained Naturals - Deliberately use heat to loosen their kurl pattern. This deliberate use of heat also creates an easier straightening process and longer lasting straight looks. Many feel this is a healthier option to using caustic chemicals like BKT, relaxers and texturizers.
* Who Gives A Flying $!#k Naturals - Do whatever they feel like doing to their hair: grow it long and then cut it if they feel like, dabble in color if they want, use heat when they feel like it, swear off heat when they feel like, use products that work for their hair rather they be all natural ingredient products or not, etc.
If I chose a category, I'd be the last one. I don't care what anyone else does to their hair. I worry about myself and do what I feel like doing with it.
I think the categorizing can be helpful in so many ways for those seeking specific information and inspiration along their journey but a lot of cases, from my observations, it is not used for constructive purposes. It is more so used for devision so individuals of different categories can feel better about themselves and their choices. Hair is coo but it shouldn't have a lot of power. Don't be your hair. It can't solve all your personal problems and insecurities. How a person wears their hair, contrary to the sometimes belief, does not say anything about a person's character. I know insecure naturals, negative energy naturals and rude naturals. I also know insecure relaxed women, negative energy relaxed women and rude relaxed women. Let's stop being so self righteous and learn to just enjoy hair again; whatever your definition of that is. Our choices are our choices and don't make us any better than the next person. They just make us different. At the end of the day, what's another person's hair choices got to do with you or the rent getting paid? Ya dig?
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