Nappy : Back to the roots!

Choice.

I decided to go back to my natural hair.

You know a couple of days ago, I decided to try something new on my blog and to post more content related to me ( without being narcissistic 🙂 !), so you can get to know me better.

Following today’s assignment, I’m taking another Blogging U class, I decided to share with you guys my story.

So…Nappy 🙂 !

It’s a fact, Nappy {as Natural and Happy} is trending. In Paris, in the subway, in the street, in grocery stores, you can find many, many, many women with their natural hair.

I’m black and I’m proud, you know what I mean!

You know, in the past decades, black women were all going like this:

I don’t know what to do with my hair, I have to go to the salon to get a nice haircut (let’s go for a relaxer 🙂 !)

Women: You’re beautiful as you are, don’t touch anything!

It’s kind like the “nude” phenomenon.

Now everybody wants to go back to the basics and simple things.

Now, the question is: Do all Black women have to get back to natural hair?

You know what? My story is a little bit different.

I have relaxed my hair once when I was little. It turned out to be a really bad idea as I lost both the volume and length of my hair.

So I decided to never, ever, ever do it again! (But you know what they say 🙂  , never say never!)

For a very long period I was all about Afro hairstyle, braids, flat twists and bun with headbands (I’m a really big fan of headbands! I think I should make another post for it!).

In 2014, I was up for a really big change (summertime 🙂 !)  and I decided to try that thing again. So I bought a new relaxer (different brand: less damage for my hair) and luxury hair extensions.

 

Then, in 2015, I decided to go back to my natural hair.

Why?

The answer is: the texture (women who have relaxed their hair, will understand me, for sure 🙂 !). We miss them! Even though we, girls, have frizzy or curly hair, at some point, we simply miss them.

Mine are very soft!

You might think there’re only a few hairstyles for black women with natural hair. But, you’re wrong. You can be as natural as possible (and beautiful as well 🙂 !) with short or long hair. If you wanna go fancy : you can try hair extensions.

The thing is: when I decided to stop, I didn’t go for the big shop. Nope. I think I simply wasn’t comfortable with it 🙂 ! So, I took great care of my hair.

Relaxed-hair women in Comorian society:

Anda. Anda is a traditional Comorian marriage. It has a great impact on the Comorian’s society and lifestyle. For most Comorian women relaxed-hair is the ultimate level of Comorian beauty. It’s kind like a standard. A little story, when a woman gets married, she uses relaxer to have the same result as everybody. Whether she has frizzy, curly or (that’s not a joke!) straight hair, she uses relaxer. Don’t worry 🙂 , now the things are going slightly different!

That is why many, many, times I was asked the same question: Why don’t you relax your hair?

Relaxed-hair women in French society:

When I was a child, one could hardly find products for frizzy hair in traditional stores. My family and I, had to go to African & Asian shops (lost of imported goods) to find special products that would suit our needs.

Kinky hair are delicate (not rebels as said in many commercials 🙂 !) They require special attention, different needs and have to be systematically hydrated.

Natural kinky hair in French society: kind of a challenge!

• The right hairsalon:

I decided to pick a random salon near me. I just ask the lady for a shampoo, a mask and to comb my hair (from the bottom to the top and not the other way around 🙂 !). She simply didn’t know how to do it. At last: she finally asked me that question: why don’t you go somewhere else, somewhere you can find someone who can manage (and I’m not joking 🙂 !) hair like yours? I wish all hairdressers can have the same training program so I won’t be asked that question again 🙂 !

• To find a position:

It’s a well known fact, you have to pay attention to your look & your clothes before an interview.

There is always someone (I don’t know: a friend or a member of your family 🙂 !) that will tell this:

“Don’t you wanna get a new haircut: maybe cut your hair?” If it’s a man.

“Relax your hair?” if it’s a woman or “maybe you should try a nice hair bun!”

Now, why is that?

The interview. We want to get in and match the standards.

• French Tv :

Diversity? There’s kind like a standard for everybody (especially for colored men and women). Afro haircuts? Braid extensions? I don’t know: volume 🙂 ? Missing! There’re only a few exceptions to that: musical Tv programs & community Tv channels.

Nowadays:

Things have started to change in the Beauty industry. Even famous brands now start to develop more products (skin & hair care) for black women. This sector has a high financial potential.

Yet, there’re still improvements to do, especially in commercials: « Do you have damaged hair? Rebel? Are they hard to comb (etc…) ». Can’t we just say, delicate or simply kinky hair 🙂 ?

Things also are starting to change thanks to the Net. Voices are being heard. Blogs and Youtube have a big part to do with that. Now you can find tutorials, daily routine advices and key tips.

So you can be natural and pretty!

Finally:

I like my natural hair and sometimes I like to try something different. The best thing is to be confident and always remember beauty comes from within.

See you soon.

Houssnati Baraka.

 

Afro woman clipart found here.