History Of Retro Back 1970 ( Rb70 )

There has been a notable amount of conversation on the internet on the rebirth of the natural hair movement. Cherise Luter (2014) states that despite afros and the natural hair movement not being a new concept (i.e. the Black Power Movement), it has gone under what she calls a “refreshing change”. Furthermore, what used to be “I’m black and I’m proud”, has been replaced with “I’m me and I’m proud” (Luter 2016). So, what is the natural hair movement? It is defined as a movement where black women decide to not conform to the social norms of chemically altering their hair and wearing it in its natural, kinky, or curled state (Joignot 2015). The movement could also be considered as an outlet for black women to display their racial and cultural pride or to articulate their “political position (Brown 2014:297). However, simply the terminology “movement” is something that should be shocking to many. There is a great amount of historical context behind the continuous influence Eurocentric beauty ideals have had on black women for centuries. According to Nadia Brown (2014), Black natural hair throughout history has proven to be recognized as “either unintended or intended personal and political statements” (298). the beauty standard in Western society which praises European hair textures, has influenced many black women to be critical of other black women who choose to chemically straighten their hair, accusing them of being subservient to the dominant and pervasive racist

For years, African woman have been the prime consumers of chemical relaxers. We all have experienced similar outcome from the substance. The main result we love most about it is that our hair is so easy to manage and is straighter without our natural curl pattern appearing. Even though we lust to have straight and manageable hair, we neglect to actually think about what this substance is doing to our hair, better yet our bodies and children. So, by questing that, I would like to share the benefits and non-beneficial effects of the chemical relaxer, and introduce the other alternatives for straight hair because women need to completely stop using chemical relaxer and open her mind to a safer and natural

The Mintel market intelligence agency has some thought provoking research on the Natural hair movement and sale changes over the years. From the years 2008 to 2013 hair relaxer sales have declined 26%. From the years 2013 to 2015 hair relaxer sales have dropped 18.6%. These reports really show how natural hair is really changing. This also leads down the road or how prevalent relaxed hair is. Yes, Garrett Augustus Morgan did create the relaxer on accident almost, but why did it take off and become almost the social norm amongst African

Many African American women have finally embraced their natural hair and are no longer perming, straightening or altering their hair. However, it has become difficult to obtain the necessary hair care products and learn the ins and outs about caring for their hair, but with the help of social media, they are obtainable. Ever since African American woman decided that they are going to embrace their natural hair, perm sales have decreased. More than 26% of perm sales have decreased since 2008 (Opie & Phillis, 2015), while perms are declining, natural hair care products are increasing. While natural hair care products are increasing, it is no thinks to big brand stores or beauty salons in near hometown. It has to do with buying

African American culture has grown tremendously and has become more popular among all of the races. Not only has it become popular but it has also stirred up a lot of controversy. One aspect of African American culture that has become popular and is very controversial is Black women wearing their hair natural. Black women are really starting to embrace their natural hair and love the skin they are in but there are also a lot of people in society tearing them down. A lot of Black women and men have very curly natural hair and when the women do not feel like managing their hair they wear protective styles like braids or faux locks. Because of these styles, African Americans have been denied jobs and opportunities to prosper in society (Williams, 2015). It is offensive to tell Blacks how to wear their hair and that it is not acceptable. It is basically like telling her that she is unacceptable. There has been a great flow in the popularity of natural hair. In the early 1900’s since Black women were teased for their natural hair, straightened hair had become widely favored in the African-American community, but it lost its popularity to the Afro, which was seen as a symbol of black pride during the 1960s. Later on, Black women and even men returned to using chemical straightening treatments known as relaxers that loosened their naturally curly hair. Experts say that this method was often used as a means of meeting the white standard of beauty. The number of women using relaxers

Hair product companies that are owned by African Americans are created to help the black community enhance their kinky-curly textures. From natural hair products to permed hair products, many companies are making millions among millions of dollars for providing the best shampoos and moisturizers. Many of the natural hair companies were influenced be a woman who created a new regimen for hair growth and created handmade hair products. Sarah Breedlove, who is also known as Madam CJ Walker, gained knowledge about caring for coarse hair and started her own product line. Her first hair product was Madam C.J Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower and her reputation skyrocketed because of the good reviews about her new creation. Not only she was an entrepreneur, she was also a philanthropist and a helpful Civil Rights activist throughout the early 1900’s.

In the late 1960s, the Afro hairstyles became a political statement, announcing, “I am black and proud” and challenged white aesthetics. This movement asked Black people to show their natural beauty without shame, spreading to the world that black is beautiful (BlackHistory.com). However, two decades later, this statement has slowly faded away and has been replaced by fake hair weaves and hair straightening chemical creams. Today, African Americans spend over half a trillion dollars on hair care and weaves, more than any other racial group. Majority of African American women do not feel the need to wear their hair naturally, and choose to chemically straighten their hair (Johnson & Bankhead, 2014).

Hair modification is a century old tradition for all ethnicities. The focus of this research paper will be the benefits of natural hair versus relaxed hair within the African American hair community. My position on this issue is that the natural state of hair is inherently better than the processed relaxed state of hair, even though African American women continue to relax their hair the outcome may be extreme.

Natural Hair to black women is important because it is so unique and cultural. It is the one thing that society cannot strip away from African-American women. In the journal of In Conversations on Black Hair: A Response to the Fifth

3) Capitalize on the renewed strength on the brand name by extending it to other mens’ grooming products.

The notion that you must be of mixed heritage to have “good hair” or that if you are lighter skinned your hair was “good”, was all over North America. In 1997 Andre Walker, a hairstylist, developed a classification system for curl types/patterns that is heavily used today by naturalistas. Prior to this system black hair was seen as a “one size fits all” topic; either you perm it or straighten in some way to mimic the Caucasian women in the media. Unfortunately, that mentality has done lots of harm to the hair of the black community because there are so many different textures of hair. A relaxer was always encouraged because kinks or to many curls is not the look of the European standard of beauty but no one wanted to look into the cons or even educate themselves of what the relaxer is doing to their health. Walker’s Curl Typing System breaks curl patterns into four categories; Straight (Type 1), Wavy (Type 2), Curly (Type 3), and Kinky (Type 4) and three subcategories within each (a, b, and c). The system caters to al hair types but the system is highly used in the “naturalista” community. In an article on currlynikki.com they provide pictures and further explanations to help their readers understand what kind of curl pattern they have and why it is like that. For example they explain that type three and four curl patterns are both considered to be coarse, “but it is actually

Chemical relaxers were used assimilate into white society. “America found the more European traits they had, the higher class they could be. The less apparent their African roots were - the more bleached and straightened their features were - the more refined (less savage) they could be considered. (The Oppressive)” This idea can still be seen in modern times and our perception of beauty is challenged. Black women often hear terms like “nappy” that degrades their natural state. This would cause them alter their hair through this extreme method.

With relaxers you need a lot of grooming and touch ups are required every 6wks-3month for new growth. Improper application of relaxer can cause breakage and hair damage!!! Which is why going to a licensed cosmetologist to do your relaxer and touch ups is recommended. Now, there are store box relaxers that you can buy in the store but they aren’t as effective as salon products. Maintaining relaxed black hair requires deep conditioning weekly and moisturizing on a daily basis, if not the hair will develop excessive dryness and experience hair breakage and excessive shedding. (Pugh, 2016) On the plus side you get to see your hair length and don’t have to play hide and go seek on a daily basis. Even though natural hair is making a stamp on society, relaxed hair will always be accepted in the work place and sometimes looks more professional and more maintained.

In the fall of my junior year, while attending a Wella hair product education class, I discovered that I could combine my love of cosmetology and my interest in chemistry by becoming a cosmetic chemist. Over the past two years my passion for cosmetology has grown. I believe that I will always be involved in cosmetology in some capacity. By attending a cosmetology program I have been given a good foundation in the cosmetic chemistry field. In order to formulate successful products one needs to do a lot more than understand product formulation. One needs to consider the structure of the hair, what the product will do to strengthen the cortex, how it will affect the color under the hair’s cuticle. I see my cosmetology education as a unique tool that help me along the way to reach my

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