Lovely photos! I love the way some men and women rock their locks but it’s not for me.

Going natural is one of the best things I’ve ever done…

Check out my YouTube vid…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UWyiVmWalw

THANK YOU CONCRETELOOP AT LAST RESEMBLING HOW YOU USE TO LOOK THANK BEAUTIFUL ARTICLE

I LOVE IT WHEN A SISTAH IS SPORTIN HER NATURAL HAIR…..TAKE IT BACK TO THE ROOTS LADIES…I AINT MAD AT CHA!!!!

I don’t knock people who wear perms but you guys should research on it. You can still straighten your hair and rock straight look without having to put relaxer in ur hair. I do it all the time…and I like that I can still go back to my natural look.

Beautiful, beautiful beautiful!!!!!!!!!

CAN I ADD THAT I HATE IT WHEN *WHITE PEOPLE* HAVE THEM BULKY A** DREADLOCKS EWWW…..

OMG this is awesome…I have bin consideration the ultimate bold look of chopping off all my hair and getting locks…im so happy abt this post! Thanks Ms. Tiana!

thanks so much for this post…i’m already 6 months post relaxer! i don’t know when i’m going to chop it all off, but thanks for giving the naturals some of the limelight!

love you CL!

I really hate when people refer to LOCS as dreads. What’s “dread” about them? And how the term “dread” came to manifestation is what’s really dreadful. Big up for the Natural Hairstyle shoutout…

It is really not a difficult transition at all!!

I went natural by getting my hair pressed instead of relaxing. It blended right in and no one even knew I was half curly half straight. I did it while my hair was cut really short like Kelis’ too. Then I finally clipped the straight ends off last January and I now I always rock my curly fro! I love it! it’s much easier and if I want the straight look I can just press it out! Alot of hairdressers can press your natural hair with just a flat iron it’s not a hard transition at all!!

I chopped my relaxer off in 2006 and grew my natural nappy curls allll the way out! I straighten it with ceramics in the winter and rock a curly fro in the summer! ITS BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY AND EVERY WOMAN SHOULD TRY IT AT LEAST ONCE IN THERE LIFE!!!!!

@MJ YOU LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL WITH YOUR NATURAL HAIR,SHOWED OFF YOU NATURAL FEATURES VERY INSPIRING VIDEO.. THANX

My favorite natural sites:
Curlynikki.com
Honeybrownsugar.com
maneandchic.com
urbancurlz.blogspot.com

These really helped me on my journey, and I know they will help others

It is obvious you put a lot of care into your posts here. Very interesting and useful info - thanks for informing all of us. Nancy

I just got done doing the natural thing, couldn’t take it anymore!! LOL! I missed my perm… But this is a very nice post, it almost made me regret my decision to perm again but my hair is cool and I like it straight and I was happy with the results!! Yea CL!!

yay! im natural

Concreteloop, Thank you for doing such a post. Somehow I am not surprised that there aren’t as many comments here as I’ve seen on other posts (maybe it’s too early in the day). This site regularly gives “ace time” to those sisters that are committed to wearing their natural hair or texture.

One style of locks that I thought I should mention is Sisterlocks (which I wear). I really hate to distinguish them from other locks (because really it is all the same to me) but I must admit that people who had not considered traditional locks stop me almost weekly to ask about mine. I would be more than happy to provide you with some pics. While I am not a model, I would love to share with other young women who are considering another form of locks other than traditional palm-rolled.

Keep up the good posts CL.

Me going natural happened as a result from me wearing micro braids for way too long, then getting a relaxer the very next day after taking them out (dumb…I know). The relaxer started burning about 2 min after he applied it to my hair, and of course, became unbearable. The relaxer had no chance to take, so I ended up cutting it all off because I couldn’t do the half ‘fro half relaxed thing Anyhoo…Going natural was the best thing I could’ve done for my hair! My hair has always been thick, but now it just feels healthier all around. The biggest thing for me to get over was that everyone wasn’t gonna like it. That bothered me alot in the beginning, but now I’m like whatever. My hair is the ISH!!! I can press is straight, wear a weave, braid it, ‘fro it, twist it… The options r endless. I thought that life would be miserable without relaxers, but I was soooo wrong.

I’m currently going natural! I decided to on my 18th birthday and I am yet to find a style to rock with my natural hair so thanx so much for this post! It helps a lot! and it is a tough process to go through, but I know I’ll look dope in the end! lol =D

great article Concreteloop

you have much more versatility when you’re natural. even though it’s hard to figure out how to work with your hair at first, it’s really worth it.

anyone who presses, take a look at this website
http://www.milstan.com
I saw a youtube vid and the iron seems ten times better (and easier to use) than a pressing comb. I haven’t seen any vids on really kinky hair yet (they said they were working on getting new vids up when I asked) but the little girl’s hair came out GORGEOUS….
http://www.youtube.com/wa...bmuww&feature=related

and just so everyone knows, Michelle Obama does not perm her hair. I’m sick and tired of seeing ppl on another popular gossip site that I won’t mention posting comments about how “Michelle needs to get her roots done” and “they need to comb that child’s hair” blah blah blah.

and bigup to the Japanese people rockin dreads and getting nappy perms

Hello ladies, This is absolutely wonderful! You DON’T have to cut off your perm to transition to being natural… go to http://www.naturallyisis.com to find out more information about natural hair care and products that will help you maintain and grow your hair. Isis has been doing natural hair for the past 30 years and was the first in the State of Texas to be grandfathered to do braids and natural hair and teach natural hair care techniques in the state of Texas. Great photos CL! Check out Isis’ site for more in depth information and add it to your blogroll!

I haven’t had a perm in over 10 years. And I’ll never use one again. EVER!

It is a common misconception that you must cut your hair to grow out of a perm.
All you have to do is deep condition the hair once a week and wash it every other week (or as often as necessary-depending upon your hair type.)
Then, if you want to wear it straight, press your roots and all unpermed portions of the hair first. Then wait until the flat iron cools down and press the permed portions of the hair later.

That’s it!

LOVE THIS POST

i wish i could do that…or should i say i wish had the courage to cut my hair off and start over…i just wont do it but i give it to all the women that do!

Great post! I love natural hair!

I have been natural for almost 3 years ( June 1 is my 3rd anniversary). I absolutely love my hair! For the first time, I feel absolutely comfortable and absolutely divinely me. I am no longer afraid to go out in the rain and don’t have to sit underneath a hair dryer for hours on end or fear chemical burns from the perm. I decided to go natural after my hair was fallling out like crazy.

Natural hair also has so much versatility. I can wear my hair in twists, braid it or just wear it out and curly after a twist out! I get so many compliments on my hair. And men find it sexy! Ladies try it and I guarantee you will feel totally free!

I had natural hair for 3 years. I have so much hair that it become a huge chore. I ended up doing the relaxer, not for the look, but for the ease. I do admire it though.

im 17 years old,& i transitionded for 6 1/2 months and then cut off my relax ends on
jan 1,[new years]…everyone was shocked thinking i wasnt going to do it,but i did!
& it was one of the best decisions ive ever made,now all im waiting for is my hair to grow out!

alot of celebs & women ive meet on a website called fotki,had inpired me so much & gave me courage when i needed it to cont with y journey especially being a teen in highschool,,

check me & my hair out here;
http://members.fotki.com/Ayeyoneek/

Thanks for this post CL. I recommend doing research on you tube before trying to transition to gain inspiration and learn about products that work well. You Tube is a good instructional guide and source of inspiration.

This must be a sign. I’ve been contemplating going natural for months now. I’m going to do it. Can’t wait!

For all of you thinking about going natural, the longer you wait the more upset you’re gonna be for not starting sooner. Just do it! You wont regret it.

Goin natural is great. You really get in touch with your beauty when you do it. We’ve been tricked into thinking if your hair isn’t down your back straight or if you wear your hair they way is naturally you are beautiful, sexy, fine … whatever. DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE SISTAS! Rock your natural hair.. My motto is if you are really pretty who gives a damn what you do to your hair. Might not be such a good example, but Cassie is currently rockin this crazy cut of the side hairstyle, but she’s still very pretty.

Go for yall!

Natural hair is beautiful. I say F%^& white supremacy and lets stop conforming to what the world thinks as “beautiful”.

o yea
and lets stop giving our money to these chinese people, they dont care about us. support black businesses like oyin handmade, and nubian heritage!

i love being natural…and its so much healthier now!!!

I went natural 2 years ago and I will NEVER put a relaxer in my hair again. I always had long hair as a kid but during my late teens I abused my hair with excessive heat and so it broke off and became short (neck length). So I decided to cut it all off and go natural and my hair has grown so much in 2 years its crazy.

Websites like motowngirl.com, growafrohairlong.com and afrobella really inspired me and have offered so much help. Once you learn how to do your real hair you’ll realise that you don’t need relaxers. There are no black hair shops where I am but I have learnt how to look after my hair using natural products and by doing lots of research. Hopefully more and more women will continue to do the same.

And I have to add that I love CL even more now, you guys have realy stepped up your game, especially Angel and Tiana- well done!

i’ve always been natural (with the exception of the two perms that were pushed on me by grandma lol). i love this post. i wanna big curly fro like tracee or yaya!

Going natural was the hardest thing I have ever done. It took a lot of patience and a lot of motivation from my boyfriend, so we decided to lock together. Luv it!!!

MJ your hair looks FABULOUS!! I luv it. I wish I would have done the pics and videos of my locs!!

I just made the decision this week after not being able to afford and find someone to do my hair in this new city. I feel great about it already!

http://glorycrown.blogspot.com

This blog has been a great help as well.

thank you, tianna, for doing this post!
i am seriously considering going natural.
i feel my new growth now, and it just feels so nice.
i have so many questions, so thank you for providing those websites.
thanks a bunch!

Love this post. I have been natural for five years now. The process of growing my hair out was pretty easy, it only took a year and a half. Although I don’t have a perm, I usually wear my hair straight. I flat iron it myself with my $13 flat iron from wal mart and the whole process of washing and styling my own hair is an hour and a half on average. The only thing I hate is when it is humid early in the mornings or when it is going to rain. That’s why I have lots of hats. Anyway, I think I made a great decision and I love the versatility I have with styling my hair.

HEY SHOUT OUT TO THE PEOPLE WITH LOCKS, AND THE RASTAFARIANS.

I HAVE LOCS FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW AND I LOVE THEM, I HAVE GROWN SPRITAULLY AND CLOSER TO GOD AM STILL ON MY JOURNEY.

JAH BLESS PEACE

I want to get as natural as I possibly can without going straight commando. So I use all natural shampoo, conditioner, etc… and avoid those harmful cosmetic ingredients (read the labels folks), but I still relax.

For those who want to try a “chemical free” relaxer try Phytospecific. My hair has been the healthiest its been in years since I started using it and I can still rock a natural look because it’s never bone straight.

Tianna,

Could you do a post on (African-American) skin care? My first year of college has made me break out and I don’t know what to do/use. Thanks so much.

I just did the ultimate big chop 2 weeks ago and cut all the permed damaged hair out of my head. my hair is a tad longer than the chick on the first pic. Does anyone know how to determine what your hair texture is?

I LOVE yaya and Janelle’s hair sooo much they make me wanna grow out my relaxer, lol i was thinking about getting kinky twists put in my hair but im not sure if you can get that done with relaxed hair…

where’s are the pics lauryn? pre loc’d, loc’d and post loc’d?

been relaxer free since 1999 and i have been enjoying my freedom. the way God made me was just fine. who am i to tell Him that He made a mistake with my hair texture

im a natural also, i luv it, i don’t have locs tho, i like the curly fro better, im going to start getting it pressed and wearing it straight, i went natural cause i like to wear color and perm and color do not mix.

Loving this post. I’m always looking for different ways to style my natural hair.

I DON’T LIKE DREADS

Did you get this idea from twitter after you sent that tweet? lol But THANKS SOO MUCH 4 POSTING!!

Necole had did a blog about some fool who wrote about women look better w/longer straighter hair & it kind of rubbed me the wrong way.

Its about your confidence to me & how you carry yourself!! For instance, Amber Rose & (half of Cassie) decided to go bald & I think they look HOT with it!!

Wow someone was reading my mine. I just went natural 3 weeks ago and lovin it!! I feel so free with my natural beauty. Thanks CC for this post with the websites!!

Lovin this post. I started my transition a year ago tomorrow and did the BC in Jan. I’m lovin the natural looks!

BIG UP TO THIS POST FA SHO!!!! I”M CLOSE TO TEARS SEEIN THIS CUZ FOR REAL MORE BLACK WOMEN NEED TO EXPLORE THEIR ROOTS… IN EVERY WAY>> NATURALLNESS IS BEAUTIFUL..

I’ve been perm free and natural since December of 2004. Let me tell you, it’s a great feeling. My hair has so much more volume and it can hold any shape.

I’m not super-super natural like most, because I flat iron it.

The transition wasn’t exactly easy, because I have multiple textures due to a rather mixed ancestry (bone straight on the top, spiral curls in the back, and kinky by the temples.) But contrary to what most have heard, you don’t have to cut your hair off and start fresh. Just keep it well conditioned and moisturized and trim the ends here and there.

The best flat iron that I can recommend is the MaxiGlide and it’s straightening gel. (bed bath and beyond has the best price if you use one of their coupons.) The pins allow for you to comb through your hair rather than press down on it, and the gel keeps your hair straight for days on end. One time I went 7 days without running a flat iron through it and it still looked as straight and shiny as day 1

I just started going natural - not cutting my hair but letting it grow out- and i was getting discouraged because it is so puffy but this just gave me the motivation to keep going. Eventually I am going to cut it. Thanks for this article.

I’ve been natural for 8 years - since I was 14. Since then I’ve convince my little sister, my aunt, and now my mom to go natural.

I’m curlyfying the world - one head at a time lol.
=)

I’ve been tempted to go natural , but I don’t have the guts, lol. Maybe one day

THANK YOU for this post!!!!! Loves it!!!!! I have been natural now for a little over 2 years. I didn’t cut my hair completly off, I just kept it deeply conditioned every week. I love Tracee E. Ross’ curly fro, but I mostly keep my hair straight. My hair stylist had been begging me for over 4 years to go natural, but I was afraid of how it would look. I am so glad I took her advise! B/C now I have a completly different texture of hair than when I had the perm. My hair is EXTREMELY thick & FULL of body!!!! I LOVE being natural!!!! My fav natural chick is Michelle Obama!!!

YES YES YES!!!! I love this story thanks CL! I have been natural for 4 years and I Love my hair!

I’ve been happy nappy for 5 years now!!! I reluctantly went natural after getting braids for the first and last time. The procedure of getting braids caused my follicles to become infected at the crown of my head (Hello, bald spots). I think the more we rock it, the more corporate America and other black women will see it as the norm. Unfortunately, it’s still a challenge. Nevertheless, My nappy gives me this strut, this confidence… when people stare; I hold my head higher and strut harder.

P.S. If you do decide to go natural, you can still blow-dry it… if you like….
You won’t believe the length and health of it.

Until then, do you!!!

Tee Hee

great post! natural for 6 1/2 years and still loving it! i wear my hair in twists most of the time. one of the best decisions i ever made!

Thank you for posting this because Im going natural but not THE natural yall think, im not getting perms but im still wearing weave and adding moisturizing products to my hair. I have a nice texture that I am embracing but Im not a fan of dry looking hair. I have not had a perm ins 6 months and because i did my research RESEARCH! I am able to maintain my natural hair. Its takes alot of research!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and patience and PRODUCTS!!!!!!!!!!! dont go natural and all you go is pretoleum grease or what ever its called in your bathroom pantry of products. DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! beautifulbrownbabydoll on youtube gives GREAT advice! RusticBeauty on youtube is awesome as well. Check peoples fotki pages!!!!!! DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ BECCASAURUS

Cute!!!!

@ BECCASAURUS

Cute!!!!

Wow I am pleasantly suprised to see this especially with the Weave revolution going on (not knocking it) I just find it shocking how many ppl weave it up these days. I went natural a about a year ago, and it was haaard I was - that close to getting a perm a couple of times lol. But i like it and when i want it str8 i can just straighten it. SOme times i do miss not having to go thru all that, and ppl talking who might like at me like im soul sista/ black power (even if i am some of that lol) just because im natural like im not normal. But i have gotten lots of positive feed back too.

I’m gonna go ahead and say what most people said, this post is wonderful! I’m natural too, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made regarding my hair. Natural hair is so versatile: want it straight? blow it out, want it curly/kinky? wet it or rock a twist out.

I love my natural hair. ^____^

I’m a guy and very very straight. This post is so fucking sexy might I add. I have to say that I find it amazing to see women who are confident and secure in their selves and their bodies to go and chop off years of oppression. When I find a women who is not wearing a weave, the assertiveness it exudes makes my dick hard.

When she knows that her mother probably made the decision for her to get a perm, but she has returned to her roots. That she knows that there will be a challenge in not having the long locks down her back; it will give her time to find inward peace. To realize the beauty she holds without a lacefront falling from her face.

I have locs myself now and I started growing out my hair in January 2005. Loced on 9/28/05. Almost four years now.

I have colored and abused my hair but when it is freshly twisted I still get hella compliments on it. When women take care of themselves and do their hair, that is one of the most sexiest things they can do .Especially when women go out of their way to respect and pay homage to being who they were born to be and not who theyve been created.

I’m proud of this site for making this post, encouraging these young impressionable black women to make a choice, a change, realize that their shit aint growing, YES, because its being affected. When you take your body out of its element it responds accordingly - it DOESNT respond. When you eat bullshit, though most people do it mindlessly, your body responds accordingly. And people wonder why theyre so big..

But the difference between people who have natural hair and are nice, sexy looking, dont have to wear make up and do all the numbers to feel beautiful is that step by step , day by day, these people, men and women, make the choice and have the courage to challenge themselves for something different. To know that there is absolutely nothing wrong with change.

For me monotony in my life bores the hell out of me. To see a beautiful women with a short cut or locs, or sisterlocs, or non-weaved braids, looking sexy and confident is one of the most amazing and chest-flexing feelings Ive had.

WOMEN - do it!
We always talk about what white people do, but theyre talking about what we do, too.

Wow, another excellent post, great job!!
(Officially Bookmarked)

It looks good as long as theyre neat. I hate it when it’s all ratty and raggedy looking. Not my style, I like my hair being easy to comb (since its long and ridiculously thick) but it definitely works for the ladies featured. Very nice post.

IM ALREADY NATURAL! LOL IVE NEVER HAD A PERM YET….BUT IM ONLY 17….I ENCURAGE IT! ISS NOT MUCH OF A BIG DEAL…..

i decided to go natural last week. my mom thinks im crazy but she was born with nice coolie hair and my hair is just thick and hard to comb. i think i made the decision because perm makes hair drop out in heaves. everyday there is hair on the floor. it eventually got so bad i had to chop most of it off. it’s grown back since then but i’m definetly not going back.

IM SO HAppy that you guys made this post when i recently did two strand twist to lock my haur. Now i know it is the best decision i could have made. Thank you CL. You guys are the best site ever. I think imma copy the link somewhere.

I want locks like goapele’s or kia shine’s
But someone told me my hair might fall out
I have pretty thick hair so im guessing it wouldnt be cheap to get done
I heard i would have to shave my head when i dont want them any longer