Natural hair is very unnatural

Here is the promised interview with my husband! My husband is a scientist much like myself. His interests are largely gadgets (currently his kindle) and chemistry. As a brief, I told him that the majority readership of this article will be black women. He is very much a straight talking person and I refuse to censor him. Here are some hubby'isms (stuff he says because we laugh when he says it).



1. Hat - Means weave or wig. In his view, weaves or wigs are more like hats.

2.Hair sock - Means scarf, satin bonnet, any sort of hair tie



General Views on Natural Hair



Q: What is your general view on natural hair?

A: Natural hair is very unnatural to many black women.



Q: Why do you say that?

A: From my experience, many women devote a lot of time and money to looking after their hats (aka weaves and wigs). In order to see a woman in her so called 'ugly' state with her natural hair, you will often have to be very close to her, her hairdresser or she will have to trust you.



Q: So do you dislike fake hair?

A: As odd as it sounds, I really think that black women have done an excellent job of hiding the fact that sometimes what you see is not real hair. Prior to meeting you (that is me, Jc), I thought that black hair pretty much grew in the same variety that you see white hair............meaning straight, wavy or curly. I definitely knew that natural hair like yours (my hair is type 4) was normal but I also thought straight hair was too.  I did not know that quite a lot of the straight hair was relaxed.



I never assume that a woman's hair is fake unless she has told me. I have no opinion on it because I do not know if it is fake or not. Your sisters (that is Jc's sisters) are one of the few people who showed me the tracks in their hair and explained what a weave was.



All I am saying is that when money and time is spent on the hats (weaves), it does mean that this type of hair is more normal to the women. Natural hair is not the priority and is not the norm.



Q: Why do you think natural hair is not that common to see?

A:
I think many times we do what our parents do and what their parents did
before them. If a woman grows up seeing her mother with straight hair
or weaves, she learns that when she grows up, this is how she will style
her hair.



Embracing natural hair is an educational process where the person has to learn to see and think differently.



Q: Do you think natural hair is beautiful?

A: It
does not matter what I think. The general idea is that the wearer of the
hair has to feel it is beautiful in order for it to be.



Society and Natural Hair



Q: What would you say to a woman who wanted to go natural but was afraid of society's perception?

A: First of all I would say that we as humans tend to home in on opinions that we ourselves share. If the woman feels that she looks ugly, she will easily hear the critics loudly. If the woman feels beautiful then she will hear the praise.



Q: What do you think about the argument that black people are forced to conform to a white stereotype in terms of hair?

A: The reality is we are all very self absorbed and as we walk down the street, the vast majority of people will not be bothered in the least about a passing stranger's hair. I think most people really do not care, possibly an employer could object if you dye your hair blue or green. Then again, blue or green hair is necessary for some professions. 



Natural Hair Support



Q: There is a popular post on the blog about an unsupportive husband who really dislikes his wife's natural hair. As long as it is in braids it is ok, if it is not then he is not happy. What advice would you give to him?



A: I would say the best way to have a happy life is to keep your your wife happy . It is actually quite an egotistic principle as the drive is really to keep yourself happy, but it works! If natural hair makes her happy, you want her to keep it! (Here we diverged into a conversation about Seal and Heidi as
although hubby did not know, Heidi actually said Seal's principle is
happy wife, happy life)



Q: Do you think more women should be natural?

A: No, I think women should do what makes them happy. Ultimately the perception that each individual has of themselves is important as it will affect how they see the world. If a woman is happy with her self image then it will be clear. If she is however unhappy then she should have the courage to try something different.



This is why I say natural hair is unnatural. For some people natural hair is too much of a cross to bear, others will take to it...........naturally (he laughs)



Q: Where do you think women should get support from when going natural. 

A: Don't ask old friends for new opinions (eh what?.....asks Jc). If you hang around women who are not natural and your general hair discussions involved which new hat (aka weave) to try then they will not necessarily be the best people to approach for advice.



Going back to my original point, the best support comes from self. Often that decision to go natural is an individual decision and is often made to create happiness. There is nothing wrong with changing your mind and making a different decision but if doubts creep in that do not originate from the self, then it is necessary to remind yourself that the natural hair decision was made for yourself. 



Natural Hair Management



Q: Do you think it is hard to manage natural hair?

A: It is as hard as you make it. I think natural hair is easiest to take care of when you do not deviate too far from your natural texture. The more you try to change it, the harder the management becomes.



Q: What do you think I do to manage my hair?

A: Erm I think you wash it, condition it...........oh and coconut oil, lots of coconut oil.



Q: I was just a tiny bit irritated by a comment on a blog about a
man describing his dislike of hair bonnets, what do you think about
them?

A:  (He laughs) I have been taught that they are part of a night time hair care routine (seriously his own words lol). I know that hair socks are about function rather than look. I think my only
objection is if the hair sock stays on after bedtime. I say this on
behalf of all men and because it is funny (he laughs)

Q: This is a trick question, do you think I would ever not be natural?

A:
I think that natural hair is a significant part of your identity. I
really cannot envision a time when it would make you unhappy, so no I do
not think you would change. I would support you if you did decide
otherwise but I have lost count of the times that you  (that is me Jc) have said 'I love my hair'.



Q: Ok a reader asked what scent do you like in my hair?

A: (Shrugs his shoulders) Erm.....I like that your hair always smells clean? (said as a question)


Q: What is the funniest thing you have heard about natural hair?

A: The question, 'How did you grow your hair?'  (I laugh). The biology is simple even for me who is not a biologist. You eat some food, it gets digested and finds its way to your scalp where it is turned into a hair soup and gets spat out.  (Very scientific honey lol)



Q: Growing natural hair is a big deal to some women.

A: Yes because they keep pulling it out.