natural hair

Lately, or over the past few months Ive gotten more interested in the well being of my hair. For starters, my hair is naturally curly, and I have never worn it that way, except for once. And only a few people saw me like that. As a kid, my mom would braid my hair, and once I grew out of that I could always be found in a ponytail. If anything else, thats what Im known for. I never saw my ponytail as a bad thing and on occasions I did wear my hair straightened, but I only usually did on weekends, and special events. When I wear my hair down I feel like I draw attention to myself and then the questions arise "do you get perms/relaxers? who does your hair? what are you mixed with? did you get a haircut?...etc" Its gotten old, the questions that is, and I get irritated having to answer them. I mean, first off, why do i have to be mixed to have good hair? my feelings are that there is no one kind of "good hair" theres just different types depending on the person, and yes ethnicity plays a big part in that, but managing hair is just different for everyone. Second, not every black girl needs to get a perm, and I wish the mothers out there would educate themselves on that because chemically altering your hair is anything but healthy. In my opinion putting a perm in a childs hair is irresponsible and lazy! Yes I know moms work, and dont always have time to do their daughters hair on top of everything else that may be going on but would it be worth it if it was healthier? I have never had a perm/relaxer, color, anything chemically done to my hair and I love my mom for that. I wanted so bad to cut and color my hair when I got about 14 years old, and she told me that I couldnt do anything to it until I was 18. I will be 19 next month and have yet to do anything to my hair, mainly because Im afraid, and the other reason is that Im in college now and dont have extra time to manage my hair. So Ive continued to stick with my ponytail and when I wash it I blow dry and straighten it! Which brings me to another point..over the last five or six years I have had my hair straightened, with a flat iron, on a regular basis. so much that my natural curl pattern has been altered, so as a new years resolution Ive chosen to get away from that in hopes that I can rock my natural curls! Maybe this spring I can debut my "new look" ha. But, in the meantime I hope that all women, not just those "of color" can educate themselves more on how to properly care for their hair, in more healthy way! As always, Ill keep you updated on what happens.
In love & style
lexii