Baby Rana and her Natural Hair
How many of you natural hair, fro-having, twist-rocking sistas have been natural your entire life? That means no perms, no texturizers, no hair-texture changing chemicals, no nothing. From what I can guess, many women of color have experimented with chemicals in their hair at some point in their lives. That’s perfectly fine. I’m here to tell my story about how I’ve been part of the “natural hair movement” for the past 22 years, or to put in layman terms, my entire life.
Not everyone I tell that I’m a natural hair lifer believes me. For some reason I’m sometimes told that I “must be lying.” Or, I occasionally get that “yeah right!” look. Those responses have always puzzled me. Why is it so weird that I’ve never had a perm? Is there some kind of national law that mandates every black woman living in the 21st century needs to have had experienced the creamy crack lifestyle? Is having a perm a rite of passage that I somehow missed out on? Don’t get me wrong. I’ve had my hair pressed, flatironed, and blow-dried before but this mane above is a perm virgin.
I have to credit my mother to my natural hair lifer-ness. From early on, my mother was very adamant about us wearing our hair natural and , in her deepest Jamaican accent, made sure to let everyone know that her daughters would NOT be putting “dem nonsense chemical inna dem hair.”
Having “natural hair” wasn’t always cool or the “it” thing to do. Wearing my hair natural in elemantary school was pretty tough. Most of my classmates used to get their hair permed and styled, while I rocked “doodoo braids,”as my classmates liked to call them. This was also around the time when girls started becoming conscious of their looks. During recess, my friends and I would go around comparing who had “good” hair. I was normally never chosen because my hair wasn’t long, shiny, or straight.
My best friend tried convincing me that I should let her mom, a hair stylist, give me a perm against my mother’s will. It would make my hair “softer” and more “manageable,” her nine-year-old self lectured. “Nah-uh, I’ll pass,” was always my reply. I knew I didn’t need a perm to make my hair more “manageable.” My friend once had vibrant and healthy hair. Once she permed it, her hair started falling off and she even starting getting bald spots. We caught up a few months ago and reminisced about those younger days. In college, she made the transition back to natural and told me she regretted perming her hair when she was younger.
Natural in my Freshman dorm at Princeton
In middle and high school, I went to a prestigious predominantly white college prep school, so I didn’t have to worry about being taunted because of my hair. In fact, I experienced the reverse. Many of my classmates marveled at the texture of my hair and always wanted to touch it. During his stage of my life, I experiemented. I pressed my hair. I braided my hair. I twisted my hair. I wore it in afro. I even wore wigs and weave. I just never permed it, nor did I have the desire to. There was no need. I started to become known as “Natural Hair Rana,” and I was pretty OK with that.
I was a bit amazed how much “natural hair” had become the “thing to do” while in college at Princeton. Lots of my friends were “transitioning” and wanted to know all the latest natural hair tips. Many even became product junkies, spending tons of money on the latest life changing, hair transformative products. Me? I continued using my staple products, things I’d been using since childhood: Shampoo, Conditioner, Moisturizer, Olive Oil, & Shea Butter. No fancy fixings here.
I think my mother’s refusal to (and lack of encouragement for) perming my hair really helped me build confidence in myself from an early age. Because of my difference, I had to learn to really believe in myself and stand up to naysayers and negativity. I have no judgment against women who have or still perm their hair. If it works for them, then so be it. If you like your hair straight or if you like it curly, do you boo. Heck, my latest obsession has been wigs. I think they are so fun and a great way to try new hairstyles without– you guessed it,– having to trouble my own hair.
I love that this “natural hair movement” has caused so many women of color to reclaim their sense of self and proudfully flaunt (or protect) the beautiful mane of hair they were born with. I love to see women loving their natural hair and choosing to stand up to societal norms of beauty. Personally, I’ve learned to love my hair for what it is. What could be better than that?
I’m so looking forward to the day when wearing one’s natural hair is the “natural” thing to do.
Where are all my natural hair lifers at? What has rocking your hair natural for all these years taught you about yourself?
Rana Campbell is a journalist, branding expert, and self- proclaimed “digital butterfly.” Follow her on Twitter , Instagram, or Facebook to connect or check out her website www.ranacampbell.com to read more interesting commentaries.
