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  1. #1
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    Default The Future of Napptural Hair?

    What is your opinion of where the "natural hair movement/community" will be in 2025? (10 years) 2035? (20 years)

    Do you think more Black women and girls as a whole will have healthier / longer hair? Will the good hair / bad hair mentality be nonexistent?

    Will hair vloggers and bloggers be unnecessary?


    Opinions and speculations welcome



    "Authenticity is true beauty."
    "Asking God why He gave us this hair, then praying for it to grow..." Stahp it!
    /

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  3. #2
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    Default Re: The Future of Napptural Hair?

    Ugh. I reflect where we were 20 yrs ago and where we are now. Not a good 'picture' to me. But maybe because of my generation of naturals. I'm very sentimental about the organic community derived natural movement that was fostered late 90's early 2ks. I'm very disinterested in the commercialism and isms' that are popular now. Dare I say I cringe when I see the word 'naturalista....curly girl....and other terms that came post Chris Rock movie...whoosah...there I said it.

    On another note, I laugh at myself and think of those who critique my genre of natural. I mentioned the word nappy to a revolutionary who ran an African store. She had on mud clothed clothes, locks, head scarf-the whole 9. She cringed at my use of word nappy and said that she didn't know 'why' we used that term. I gave my negative turn positive answer and she wasn't buying it -she conferred that it's just natural hair period - It's what grows out of your head blablabla. Well, of course I agree, and had to chuckle. I'm sure my cohort irked them as we took on the natural evolution as though we created it or something.

    Ok, back to your topic, in 20 yrs the current form of interacting and message conveyance will be played. As much as we love this forum, we know forums of almost any community struggle now. People don't want to read. They want a YT commercial. Yet, that is getting old and diluted as we type. I think the pendulum will swing back and natural will be not so cool again as others come along and get exhausted with the process of educating themselves on temperature, climate, porosity, density etc...it's a lot. Add to that the exhaustive misinformation out there now, it's bound to turn off a new generation that is waiting in the wings, as they create their own platforms, gurus and media sensations and hair drama.

    My theme for today: keep living. we all get a turn .Each generation seeks to differentiate itself.
    Great topic!
    Last edited by KnottyAuthor; 04-22-2015 at 09:26 PM.

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  5. #3
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    Default Re: The Future of Napptural Hair?

    I tend to think that natural hair will become somewhat of a norm. I see a LOT of natural hair where I am and most people that I encounter don't think as deeply about it as I did when I started out and found this board. I remember when Jerry curls were popular, and now you rarely see them. I think relaxers will become the same way, especially when people are seeking "healthier" alternatives. Granted, I think there will always be some element of "straight hair being better" but I think that mindset will die out as more and more people embrace their hair. When I started, there were not nearly as many products on the shelf that were geared towards my hair type, nor were there as many combs, hair accessories, etc geared towards "thicker" or denser hair. I really believe that natural hair will become something that people "just have". A lot of people are raising their daughters up without putting them through the "growing up" ritual of getting a relaxer. My daughter is 15 and has never hd a relaxer. One of my besties went natural (and she LOVES her relaxer) so that she could show her daughter that it was OKAY to be natural. She didn't want to be a hypocrite. So I DO see change on the horizon. Natural hair may not be some deep revolutionary experience for future generations (as it was for me) but I believe it will become the norm.
    Visit my blog: fragilehaircare-gilroygal.blogspot.com
    I share about my natural hair happenings, lessons, and experiences.

  6. #4
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    Default Re: The Future of Napptural Hair?

    This question caused me to pull out my external hard drive and look up some of the things I was writing back in that period that KnottyAuthor describes...before the proliferation of blogs led to this thing becoming a "movement." (Yes, I still have a problem with that word but that's another topic...) One of the things I wrote back in 2002 was a response to the question, "What if every black person was natural?" I attempted to speculate in two areas: what might have happened had black folks never been poisoned by white supremacy in the first place, and what could happen if some catastrophe caused every black person to give up relaxers, weave, and wig at once. With regards to the second area, it wouldn't be enough to make black people truly love their natural hair because, again, WHITE SUPREMACY. What would most likely happen is that hats and headwraps and turbans and satin bonnets would become fashion statements...and because of our incredible gift for turning adversity into beauty, white folks would copy/steal/bite off us as usual.

    To the question: Mainly because my primary reason for going natural was to break my dependence on salons and stylists, I'm more interested in the commercialism than KnottyAuthor is. I am unashamedly delighted that the natural hair "movement" was able to impact the black hair care industry at such fundamental levels. Simply by turning away from the status quo, we demonstrated the power of our dollars, and God willing this industry will never be the same again. The key thing, though, is whether the choice to wear natural hairstyles becomes the primary choice for a majority of black women. I don't know about where y'all live, but in this town I'm in, I still see a lot of relaxed heads...and the number of young girls wearing weave and wig is just ridiculous.

    At my job I am now the only black woman who wears her mostly-4b hair in its natural state 100 percent of the time. There was one woman who occasionally took off her weave to reveal her 'fro, but currently she's back in the straight weave. It's very important to me to wear my hair in its natural state because I believe that Afro-textured hair needs to be seen as normal. One of the first things I discovered upon going natural that still resonates with me nearly 20 years later is that most white folks have no idea that black folks are so worried about their reactions to natural Afro-textured hair that they will tie themselves in knots (spend $$$ of money, lose their edges, get chemical burns, etc.) trying to make sure they look "professional." It's ri-damn-diculous that in 20-mutha-effin-15 black folks are STILL letting white folks' reactions influence their decisions. As I wrote on my proto-blog back in the day: The question "Can I wear natural hair in corporate America?" is really about "Can I wear natural hair around white people?"

    This is what I'd like to see in 20 years:
    - Natural hairstyling as the default...meaning, every black woman should know how to care for and style her natural hair even if she chooses not to wear it natural. (Yeah, I was saying that back in the day too...)
    - I should be able to go into ANY black hair salon in America and find a stylist who knows how to style my hair without resorting to chemicals, heat, or too-fine combs. Straight hair simply cannot be the default for a people whose hair, by and large, isn't naturally straight.
    - All the negative words associated with natural Afro-textured hair becoming relics of the past because black women have learned that our hair does perfectly fine when treated right (see point 1). Today's generation of little girls will become adults who aren't afraid of, ashamed of, or ignorant about their natural texture.
    - Natural hair forums like this one -- which has from the very beginning promoted beauty and love of NAPPY HAIR -- will no longer be necessary.

    What will probably happen in 20 years (or less) is that those mad scientists at L'Oreal/Soft Sheen will finally perfect that pill that makes coily hair straight and a lot of black women will run to their nearest pharmacist's to get a lifetime prescription.
    Hello, 2021. Glad to see you. Hope you're bringing us goodness and light this year!

  7. #5
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    Default Re: The Future of Napptural Hair?

    @KnottyAuthor:


    I see what you're saying about the commercialism that is going on today. Part of that irritates me b/c hair care companies are just trying to cash in. They don't really care about us.


    On the other hand, I've found it interesting that years ago (maybe 8 or 10?) when I was newly natural, it was seen as some type of political statement. "Going back to one's roots". I'm picturing someone right now, wearing cowry shells (nothing wrong with them) and a picked out fro with a pick shaped like a fist stuck in it. They may be wearing African-esque garb or whatever.


    My mindset now, is this: I'm just an American. Black, but never been to any of the countries in Africa. Because of what happened to Us, I have no idea what tribe(s) I may have descended from. I don't know anything about my actual ancestors' culture or customs. All I have is the American culture I grew up with, and I'd rather have that, than a conjured up sense of Africanism.



    @gilroygal:
    @LBellatrix:


    It's my hope that natural hair does become the norm in 10 or 20 years. Where people grow up learning how to care for their hair in its natural state *before* trying something new. I just can't see it "going out of style".


    What I don't want to happen: Watering it down. Can't we have something to ourselves? That's the problem I have with certain bloggers that rep for another site. They say that "natural hair" grows out of everyone's scalp. That's true. However, which hair type faced the most discrimination? Highly textured, NAPPY hair. Not 2b hair. Now I know there are some non-black women who've had issues with their loose curly hair, and it's great that they want to embrace it, but it's just not on the level of hate nappy hair has endured. Realizing and celebrating our own beauty should not be a threat to others.


    I foresee:


    1. More commercialism (unfortunately)
    2. Natural hair care becomes common knowledge (for Black people)
    3. Eventually the word "natural" is dropped (though coily, kinky, and curly will still be used)
    4. It becomes "not a big deal" because its the norm
    "Authenticity is true beauty."
    "Asking God why He gave us this hair, then praying for it to grow..." Stahp it!
    /

  8. #6
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    Default Re: The Future of Napptural Hair?

    Ya'll we're having a conversation thread just like we used too! Diversified ideas and introspective thoughts all included! I love this! And yes to everyone. As much as my experience is mine-there's so many to account for and experience. Glad to read, learn, grown and know it all!

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  10. #7
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    Default Re: The Future of Napptural Hair?

    Weighing in here. I find it hard to speculate on what the norm will be twenty years from now regarding natural hair. Of course, I'd love for permed and straight hair to all but disappear on black folks hair... you know like we still see a stray jheri curl every now and again. But I suspect that for some reason black folk will find yet another reason to gravitate back towards straight hair. Like as soon as they figure out the ultimate non breakage, long growth formula that doesn't burn, everyone will go running back to the crack.

    On a side note, but I just realized that I've only ever seen straight weave hair with crazy colors (e.g., green, orange and Ronald McDonald red, etc.). Never real natural hair. Has anyone else noticed that?
    Michael Nathan White * My big brother * 1953-2011* Happy Birthday Michael
    June 24th
    We really, really, really miss you!

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  12. #8
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    Default Re: The Future of Napptural Hair?

    One thing is for sure though, I'm 100% sure I'll still be natural.
    Michael Nathan White * My big brother * 1953-2011* Happy Birthday Michael
    June 24th
    We really, really, really miss you!

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    Default Re: The Future of Napptural Hair?

    Quote Originally Posted by KnottyAuthor View Post
    Ya'll we're having a conversation thread just like we used too! Diversified ideas and introspective thoughts all included! I love this! And yes to everyone. As much as my experience is mine-there's so many to account for and experience. Glad to read, learn, grown and know it all!

    YAAAAASSSS to the bolded! No harsh debates, no rolling eye smilies, just people sharing! Love it!

    I don't really believe hair care companies "care about" anyone. I believe it is all dollar signs for the big wigs. What sells is what will be sold...
    Visit my blog: fragilehaircare-gilroygal.blogspot.com
    I share about my natural hair happenings, lessons, and experiences.

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  15. #10
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    Default Re: The Future of Napptural Hair?

    Quote Originally Posted by Napia Mia View Post
    On a side note, but I just realized that I've only ever seen straight weave hair with crazy colors (e.g., green, orange and Ronald McDonald red, etc.). Never real natural hair. Has anyone else noticed that?
    Here there's a lot of long straight weave but most of it is in "natural" colors. When I do see unnaturally-colored weave hair it's usually curly-kinky.

    Something I've noticed: Thanks to weave and wigs, we have gone from a state where very few black women had long hair to a state where a lot of black women have long hair. It's sad, but nowadays I assume black women with long straight hair are wearing weave or a wig. (I remember seeing some long-haired sisters griping about this online some years back and at the time the word "privilege" wasn't as prominent as it is now but I remember thinking something along the lines of...what's it like to lose long-hair privilege?) Yes, of COURSE it's their choice BUT we all know choices aren't made in a vacuum and as I said above it really bugs me when I see young girls (preteen/teen) wearing fake hair.

    Slightly related: My sister, who has had Sisterlocks for nearly 15 years now, is working on her husband to allow their oldest daughter (now 9) to get Sisterlocks. Aside from a TWA, locs (in general) is the most sensible styling alternative for her for a variety of reasons. NM, what's going on with your niece's hair?

    Quote Originally Posted by gilroygal View Post
    I don't really believe hair care companies "care about" anyone. I believe it is all dollar signs for the big wigs. What sells is what will be sold...
    Ain't that the truth.

    Related to the original topic, I saw this on YouTube today and thought it fit.

    Hello, 2021. Glad to see you. Hope you're bringing us goodness and light this year!

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