I explain the benefits of going natural.

1. When I was in the third grade, a little bald headed girl, with a twig, named Brittany, came up to me and told me that I “needed a
perm”. I was so depressed and couldn’t figure out why, because I didn’t even know what a perm was. I went home crying and
begging my mother to give me a perm. She told me no, and took me to a stylist who gave me a Vigorol instead. This was only a
temporary fix for the insecurities that Brittany instilled in me that day.
Wednesday, May 22, 13

2. Once I entered the 5th grade, I was given my first relaxer. My hair was never the same. I could not sweat because the smell of
relaxer was extremely bad. Keeping my hair up was time consuming. I had to wrap it up every night and I could not go anywhere
without styling it first. It would burn if I kept the cream in too long. The stylist was so heavy handed. Getting a relaxer had totally
taken over my life at such a young age.
http://www.loveafrocosmetics.com/ekmps/shops/loveafro/images/just-for-me-no-lye-conditioning-relaxer-kit-166-p.jpg
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3. Treating our hair with chemicals has taken over our money, time, health, and self-esteem. It is time for people of color to go
natural.
Wednesday, May 22, 13

4. According to Good Hair (2009), It is estimated that black women buy up to 40 percent of all hair care products in America. Think
of the amount of money you spend annually getting you and your child’s hair relaxed? Think about all the money that you spend
on products, such as, scarves, mousse, gel, and frizz control that upkeep your relaxed hair?
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.stylelist.com/media/2013/03/vacation-beauty-mistakes-hair-product-032113.jpg
Wednesday, May 22, 13

5. If you went natural, you would save so much money. You would be able to learn how to do and upkeep your natural hairstyles.
You would save yourself from dangerous diseases, and you would be able to show your kids that loving who they are makes who
they are.
http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/p480x480/486692_478362552235868_766741643_n.jpg
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6. This is worth discussing because people seem to be ashamed of their natural hair. There are parents that are putting this dangerous
chemical into their toddler’s heads. The chemicals that are in relaxers are not safe.
http://naturalreview.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/natural-hair-woman.jpg?w=266&h=400&h=400
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7. I started transitioning from relaxed to natural back in 2010. I did not cut all of my relaxed hair off until 2012. I have been lye free
for three years now. My mother was diagnosed with Alopecia back in 2006. After she went natural, her hair completely grew back.
I know the dangers of chemicalized hair.
Wednesday, May 22, 13

8. A tremendous amount of people are experiencing hair loss. There are many ways to stop the process of hair loss, and going natural
is one of them.
http://www.vissastudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hair-loss-on-black-
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9. All relaxers are laced with an extremely harmful key ingredient called hydroxide (lye). Relaxers have three essential types of the
chemical hydroxide components. These components are, Ammonium hydroxide, Sodium hydroxide, and Calcium hydroxide.
http://www.jeans-green.com/images/images/english/No_Lye.png
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10. You can still be confident and natural. Please do not allow your child to feel insecure about whom they are. There are some people
that don’t even remember how their natural hair texture looks.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l9_Y-ep04JQ/
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11. Many people have a hair loss disease known as alopecia. Sadly, most of the victims of alopecia are not even aware of the fact that
they have it.
http://www.blackhairmedicalexpert.com/images/mild-cicatricial-alopecia.jpg
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12. My mother was diagnosed with alopecia, like so many other elderly women of color, due to harmful hair relaxers. Once she went
natural, her hair grew back.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D6li8n3l0Ro/UT-JpCdZJNI/AAAAAAAAAKc/DDe_2TJnfdY/s1600/grow+black+hair+with+coconut+oil.jpg
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13. If you go natural, the only key tools you will need to upkeep your hair is a comb, brushes, conditioner, shampoo, and hair holding
tools.
http://blog.i-glamour.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Tourmaline-300x241.jpg
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14. I only use conditioner, shampoo, and oil in my hair. I deep condition my hair once a week, and then style it every other week. I clip
my own ends every 3 months, and have saved so much money by doing so.
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15. There are so many styles that you can have while being natural. You can style your hair in twist out’s, braid outs’, wash-n-go’s,
high buns, poofs, Afros, weaves, and dreads. The styles are endless. Celebrities are now going natural.
http://the-voyage-of-didiana.blogspot.com/2013/02/natural-hairstyles.html
Wednesday, May 22, 13

16. You can still be confident and have natural hair. It used to be that you could not get a job with natural hair. Now you have
celebrities who are no longer ashamed of whom they are. Why should you be ashamed?
http://photos.essence.com/galleries/hot-hair-celebs-natural-hair#80484_80463
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17. Try going natural for 6 months and see if your health and wellbeing does not improve. Avoid putting any heat, relaxers, or hair
straightening creams in your hair for the full 6 months.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1aXGruuA-E/UX2ocUVJgrI/AAAAAAAAGq0/q1en8wrSchw/s1600/Relaxed-To-Natural-Transition-Picture.jpg
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18. Studies show that any hair product that carries hydroxide chemicals cause hair loss and alopecia, often a permanent form of hair
loss, and fibroids in the uterus. If you have ever used a chemical that is made with hydroxide (lye), there is still hope for you. It is
time to take care of your health, your self-esteem, and your body. Create a better you and go natural.
http://static.emedco.com/media/catalog/product/Chemical-Warning-Signs---Industrial-33619BBHPLY2WY-ba.jpg
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19. Your chemically treated hair has controlled your life for far too long. It has taken over your money, time, health, and self-esteem.
It is time for people of color to go natural.
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20. You can stop, cut off the damaged hair, go natural, or take better care of the few breakable strands of hair you will have left. Try
the 6 months and see if it does not change your life.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01591/Health02_01_1591467a.jpg
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21. References
Curly Nikki (2012). Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Natural Hair Care. Retrieved May 19, 2013, from http://www.curlynikki.com
Ritchie, R. (2010, November 17). Special Report: Going Natural. Retrieved May 21, 2013, from http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/local_news/
special_reports/Special-Report%3A-Going-Natural
Victorian, B. (2012, February 21). Relaxers Linked to Uterine Fibroid Tumors and Early Puberty | MadameNoire | Black Women's Lifestyle Guide |
Black Hair | Black Love. Retrieved May 21, 2013, from http://madamenoire.com/139486/relaxers-linked-to-uterine-fibroid-tumors-and-early-
puberty/
Wednesday, May 22, 13