Why Should My Hair Be Straight? Day 64

Happy Wednesday. I hope you have a great day. I hope you love and display love to your fellow man and/or woman.

This past weekend, my daughter and I went to the cinema to see the movie "Good Hair". I have been waiting for this movie. It is written by Chris Rock, a Black comedian. The movie is about Black hair, and why most Black women choose straight hair over their own naturally curly hair.

In this comical documentary, Chris Rock begins by giving us the origin of his quest. He told the story of his oldest daughter coming home from school, one day, and asking, "daddy why don't I have "good hair"?" What is "good hair"?

In the documentary, Mr. Rock speaks to various Black "celebrities", and others to ascertain why they choose to wear "straight" hair.

Most of these celebrities readily admitted that they wear "weaves".

Weave-To interweave or combine (elements) into a complex whole.

This means that most of the Black celebrities you see with the long straight hair have interwoven additional hair pieces onto their head to make their hair appear longer. This make them feel apart of the American beauty culture that has been sold as being the "acceptable" culture.

In this documentary Chris Rock also questioned why most Black women choose to have a "permanent relaxer" to straighten their hair.

Perm-to give (the hair) a permanent.

Permanent-set into the hair by the application of a special chemical preparation and that remains for a number of months.

Relaxer-One that relaxes, as a chemical solution used on tightly curled hair to soften or loosen the curls.

Now you may ask what is the actual chemical in the relaxers used to straighten the hair? Excellent question. The answer is "sodium hydroxide". According to Wikipedia:

Sodium Hydoxide-Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also known as lye and caustic soda, is a caustic metallic base. It is used in many industries, mostly as a strong chemical base in the manufacture of pulp and paper, textiles, drinking water, soaps and detergents and as a drain cleaner. Worldwide production in 1998 was around 45 million tonnes. Sodium hydroxide is a common base in chemical laboratories.

Solid sodium hydroxide or solutions of sodium hydroxide will cause chemical burns, permanent injury or scarring, and blindness if it contacts unprotected human or animal tissue. Protective equipment such as rubber gloves, safety clothing and eye protection should always be used when handling the material or its solutions.

Dissolution of sodium hydroxide is highly exothermic, and the resulting heat may cause heat burns or ignite flammables. (Wikipedia)

So it is importan to know that many Blacks have been "brainwashed" into believing that in order to be accepted our hair need to be "straight" as opposed to naturally curly. This lie has been sold to Black America because there is so much money in the "weave" and "chemical relaxers" industries.

Many people are rich and getting richer off of these products. But you may be surprised to know that these "fat cats" are NOT Black people.

You may ask, L.(me) "is your hair straightened with chemical relaxers or lengthened with weaves"? The clear and unequivocal answer to your question is....NO NO and another NO. My hair as well as my daughter's beautiful hair is all natural. And we love our hair. My hair is probaby a foot long, and even though I have to spend more time with it, it is ALL mine.

I encourage you to love yourself. There is nothing wrong with enhancing your assets. But do not destroy yourself in the process. The documentary went on to point out how parents are allowing their daughters as young as three (3) years of age, to get chemical relaxers in their hair.

What a shame to teach a child that their own hair is not good enough, plus these chemicals(sodium hydroxide) are damaging the scalp and brain.

Who knows what other side effects the chemicals may have? So I ask...why should my hair be straight?

Have a great day.


L. for Love