Confessions of a Straight Natural: Embracing Texture My Way

Like many other Black girls, I grew up relaxing my hair which over the years cause a lot of damage to my hair. About 10 years or so I stopped relaxing my hair. I did not do the big chop, so I had to find hairstyles that I could wear that would accommodate the parts of my hair that were still straight from the relaxer. I tried doing twist outs and other protective styles, but as a low maintenance girl, those styles were a lot of work and never turned out the way I liked. That lead me to start straightening my hair with a flat iron.

A lot of times I was straightening my hair myself and was not using the proper protective products, which lead to a lot of breakage again.

Over time, I started going to a stylist and started getting better at maintaining my straight hair for longer periods of time which eliminated the need to use the flat iron as often.

For me, I chose to be a straight hair natural because it is easier to maintain on daily basis. I love my hair in its natural state and I love to see other women wearing their natural curls, but I don't have the time to dedicate to properly maintaining my curls.

I just had a baby girl and I often think of what she'll think of me straightening my hair vs. wearing my natural curls. I want her to embrace whatever texture her hair is and I think as she gets older I'll begin to explore wearing my hair in its natural state as an example for her so she knows the curls are beautiful.

But for now as a busy, working mother, ease comes first!

Kira W. for Soft Rows

Kira W. with her daughter for Soft Rows