Top Things People Said That Almost Kept You From Going/Staying Natural...

**SunsetsinBlue** · 11-28-2011, 12:22 AM

I know there may be threads similar to this, but I wanna know the exact quotes or things people said to you that almost stopped you or really had you thinking about relaxers. For me it was my mom. Get this:
1. She said natural hair was much harder to maintain than relaxed hair (Not so true).
2. She said the only way to manage transitioning hair would be to use a hot comb to make the textures straight and that would break my hair off. (How crazy was that? She really did not know what she was talking about, but I love my mom anyhow. lol)
3. She said she tried to transition before and almost all of her hair fell out.

So those things almost stopped me, but I did my research and know the truth now. So what almost stopped you?

**Precious Curls** · 11-28-2011, 01:48 AM

Those very same things, especially number 3!

**littlelibra** · 11-29-2011, 12:07 AM

1. You have such beautiful hair...why would you want to do that? (from my mom)
2. I don't do nappy styles..(my former beautician)
3. Locs are stinky. You can't wash them..oh and they are unprofessional.

**bowiechick** · 11-30-2011, 04:29 AM

Originally Posted by littlelibra

1. You have such beautiful hair...why would you want to do that? (from my mom)
2. I don't do nappy styles..(my former beautician)
3. Locs are stinky. You can't wash them..oh and they are unprofessional.

My stylist tol me the same thing! She also said 'we'll see how long this lasts. Just wait till that hair starts coming through'.

**sophistiq8ted** · 12-03-2011, 07:43 PM

I have had a lot of support while going/being natural. Mostly everyone in my family lets me make my own decisions. But my half sister keeps going on and on about how natural hair is so much harder to maintain. My sister...
1. I could NEVER be natural, you have to wet your hair EVERY day! I HATE getting my hair wet.
2. See, I'm done with my hair already and you're still working on yours!
3. I think a perm is so much easier, you don't have to do ANYTHING to your hair on a daily basis, and I can comb MY hair.

I didn't say anything to get these comments from her, it seems like me just being natural around her is offensive. Not sure why.
None of this has stopped my journey though. Never once considered going back to the crack!

**cham3571** · 12-03-2011, 08:13 PM

1. If you want to try this experiment then lets see how long this lasts
2. your going to have to flat iron your hair a lot
3. You don't have a lot of hair styles with natural hair
4. Your hair might break off

All are from my former beautician

**Kurliez** · 12-04-2011, 12:40 AM

From family and (only black female) coworkers, I got this comment; You wouldn't able to get a job with"that hair." I feel like it's my job to tell you that. You have to straighten your hair or always wear braids or a weave.
For a short spell, I did wear wigs and phony ponies to not offend these people, then I finally just mentally broke down, and wore my hair in a puff or afro everyday. I got comments and looks, but I just didn't care anymore. My scalp and hair needed freedom.

From my brother, he told me that men look at a woman's hair. Men don't like hair like mine. What am I going to do with my hair. He made this comment several times throughout the years.
I finally told him that my hair will just weed out the guys that won't bother wasting my time. I'll only get guys that see the real me and want the real me. He still doesn't get it.

**MissL2911** · 12-04-2011, 01:17 AM

1. If you wanna go natural you're gonna have to chop off all of your hair.

2. You know you in the salon every two weeks.....so what you trying to do to your hair now?

3. Let's see how long this will last.

**bettycakes** · 12-04-2011, 04:24 AM

1. All your hair is gonna fall out!
2. Guess you have to start pressing it now?
3. You'll relax again, this is just a phase....

(The jokes on them, I never did perm again

**Tel8** · 12-04-2011, 03:24 PM

My dad told me that people's hair "grows to a certain point and just stops." This was part of a longer conversation where I was enthusiastically suggesting that more of us black women should go natural. He said that having seen his 12 sisters grow up with hair that just would *not* grow, it just isn't possible for everyone. And then he said that no matter what I'd read, most of our hair wouldn't be able to make it that long because of genetics. It kind of made me feel like my hair wouldn't grow if I went natural, and I should probably just give up. For like, a second I was totally terrified of what I was doing to my hair- and then I thought: I've had and 1.5 inches of growth and retained every bit of it since I started following my techniques, and my hair had managed to struggle to my bra strap even when it was relaxed- so what am I worried about?

**KinkyandCurious** · 12-06-2011, 04:11 PM

My own beautician told me, "Don't go natural. Your dandruff will be this thick" (motioning wide gap between her two fingers).
I am the worst at taking care of my relaxed hair because it is so thick, so I guess she thought I wouldn't be able to manage my own hair if it were natural. If that's the case, I can't honestly blame her for stating that!

**Melody0329** · 12-06-2011, 07:32 PM

1. "what is this, some kind of phase?"

2. "your hair is too thick to be natural...that ish needs heat" (my best friend...who by the way just made the decision to go natural...AFTER seeing my beautiful crown and our journey)

3. "all of your hair will fall out" (huh?)

**lusciousnapsnkinks** · 12-07-2011, 02:11 AM

Originally Posted by Melody0329

1. "what is this, some kind of phase?"

2. "your hair is too thick to be natural...that ish needs heat" (my best friend...who by the way just made the decision to go natural...AFTER seeing my beautiful crown and our journey)

3. "all of your hair will fall out" (huh?)

@ #2

**Cocoadots** · 12-09-2011, 09:22 PM

1. What you want to look like that for?
2. I couldn't walk around looking a mess.
3. You need a damn perm
4. Your hair looks nasty
5. Men hate that s#%t

**SunsetsinBlue** · 12-13-2011, 02:35 AM

Originally Posted by Tel8

My dad told me that people's hair "grows to a certain point and just stops." This was part of a longer conversation where I was enthusiastically suggesting that more of us black women should go natural. He said that having seen his 12 sisters grow up with hair that just would *not* grow, it just isn't possible for everyone. And then he said that no matter what I'd read, most of our hair wouldn't be able to make it that long because of genetics. It kind of made me feel like my hair wouldn't grow if I went natural, and I should probably just give up. For like, a second I was totally terrified of what I was doing to my hair- and then I thought: I've had and 1.5 inches of growth and retained every bit of it since I started following my techniques, and my hair had managed to struggle to my bra strap even when it was relaxed- so what am I worried about?

Girl, I never knew why my hair wasn't growing past bra strap length as well. When I was in middle school and high school my hair DID NOT maintain it's length. My pic shows where it was a month ago (before I chopped 6 inches off.) and it took 19 years to get it to that length. That's because it was just breaking off. For years, I just did not get it. Now I understand. It's funny too because my hair seems to be growing faster than ever since I stopped using heat on it and using DooGro and Olive Oil. I'm doing what is natural. I can totally relate to your story.

**KeKe808** · 12-13-2011, 07:57 AM

My co-worker said, "I tried going natural before and I couldn't do it because it hurt too much and my hair started breaking off!" But she still complains her hair is breaking, so go figure...lol

**SunsetsinBlue** · 12-15-2011, 02:08 AM

I told a friend I was planning on going natural (she is half asian and half african american) and her eyes bugged out of her head: ARE YOU CRAZY?!
And she gave me her story about how she tried to go natural and all that. Didn't work out. I don't know, it's like whenever I tell someone they usually greet me with negativity.

**Akomas_Angel** · 12-15-2011, 02:17 AM

You're already dark-skinned, why would you want to go and get nappy hair? Them white folks gon' think you look like a slave.

It never stopped me from wanting to go natural, but it did get on my nerves. That comment was from a random black woman from a former job of mine. She overheard me telling a friend that I was going natural and just jumped into my conversation. I gave her such an evil look.

**Baggettcindy** · 12-15-2011, 06:17 AM

Don't have anything to add...just wanted to say good topic.

**SunsetsinBlue** · 12-15-2011, 06:49 PM

"I could barely get a comb through your hair when you were little."
"It's so hard too manage."

It's funny because hair is hair and you have to manage it anyways.