I was discussing my choice to not relax with an acquaintance at work. She asked me why I stopped relaxing. Among other reasons, I said that I also felt unique. Practically every head I see is relaxed. I stand out in a crowd of my peers because of my hair (in addition to a sparkling personality 
)
My acquaintance got this holier than thou look on her face and then said,” So what if everyone was natural? Then it wouldn’t be so special anymore.”
My initial reaction was “Hmm, maybe not”. But as I thought about it I realized that was completely not the case.
Every head of natural hair I see online and (rarely) in real life are so different. Some are comprised of kinks, curls, coils, kinks and curls, curls and coils….you get the picture!
And the different combinations! Hair density, thickness of hair strands! All of these combos make an unpredictable head of hair for everyone. You might find a “hair twin” but I doubt anyone is a carbon copy. Even siblings will have different natural hair.
When styled, each natural head differs. For example, twist outs always seem to look different on everyone. Even though we might wear the same style, it still doesn’t look exactly the same. How cool is that?
I can’t say that for relaxed hair. Nearly every relaxed head of hair I see has the same look. I occasionally see a few relaxed ladies that I admire and that stand out because they’re not thin, damaged and limp (mostly on LHCF). But overall they look the same, from the thinning/destoryed edges to the scraggly, thin ends.
Once I worked all of that out in my head I went back to my acquaintance and told her all of this.
“So,” I concluded “Even if everyone were natural, I would still feel unique”
A long pause and raise of the eyebrows. And then comprehension. “Oooh! Because you got that good hair?”
I just sighed and walked away. I just wasn’t up for that discussion again.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
OMG that coworker is annoying. I think if everyone was natural then people would want to stand out by having the most defined curls, the biggest hair, longest hair, best styles, different colours etc. So many people want to have straight hair but not all straight hair looks good. Fine, limp, dull hair is nothing to admire.
i think i found my hair twin…YOU! your hair is absolutely gorgeous. Everyone should go natural. It worked wonders for almost every aspect of my life.
I cant EVEN tell you how many times i hear that. It makes me really sad. All natural hair is good hair, becasue is healthy and beautiful, but brainwashed peoople will never get that.