Is the Whole Natural Hair Thing a Trend?

That is something I've been wondering for a while now.  For me, it's not a trend.  I've had my hair natural, for almost 20 years (with the exception of a texturizer back in 2004).  It's just a way of life.  Relaxers break my hair, and quite frankly, I think I look ridiculous with permed hair. It works really well on others....just not me.

There has been an explosion of women shearing off their perms, and joining the ranks of kinkies and curlies over the past 5 years.  I think it's great, but will it last? 


The black power movement of the 60's and 70's ushered in an era of black pride and awareness which prompted the widespread sporting of afros.  And it was a beautiful thing! That of course faded...hair pressing turned to hair relaxing, and we were introduced to the scourge know as the Jheri Curl...SMH.  Followed by the S-Curl, and Wave Nouveau.  What a mess!  Weaves became king, and now natural hair seems to be muscling in on the weave's strangle hold.

I'm not sure that natural hair is a trend.  Black power hair was based on a political and cultural shift.  A moment in history when we were claiming our rights as full and equal participants in American society, and showing our pride in who and what we were.  When the energy and fervor of that movement faded, so did the Afro. 

The natural hair movement of today is different.   It is not solely based on a vast political movement, although there are political overtones for many.  The bottom line is  black women in America have been trying to figure out a way to grow their hair long and strong for decades.  Natural haired women have finally figured it out.  We have realized we can do it, like everybody else.  I feel that once you know that, the desire to go back to chemical relaxing is diminished significantly.  That's not to say that many naturals don't go back to relaxing, because they do.  Many just tire of the amount of work it takes, many can never get used to the look, many don't like their natural texture, and some just want to switch it up. 

Whatever the case may be, there is a generation of young black girls and boys watching their mothers and aunties and neighbors embracing their natural hair, and not thinking it is the slightest bit out of place.  And that, in the end, will be the most powerful force in propelling the natural hair movement forward - young girls who grow up loving their natural hair, and young boys who grow up seeing and  loving natural hair. - YB