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Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the struggles African American women face with embracing the natural texture of their hair and appearance. African American women have wrestled with the concept of "good vs bad" hair as far back as the beginning of the mid 1800's when slavery was rampant. Natural hair is defined in this paper as hair that has not been processed (chemically) in any way. Straightening (alternative to "natural" hair) is a chemical process by which excessively curly hair is straightened in an irreversible way. Generally, the products used are formulated in a cosmetic emulsion with high ph. Several questions are raised in this paper including but not limited to; (a) what is good hair? (b) is "natural" hair accepted in a professional setting? (c) are Euro American hair styles preferred by society? In an effort to further demonstrate the seriousness of this topic, this paper will also include types of straightening products and processes. Solutions to help African American women make the transition from relaxed to natural hair will also be presented, along with hair care advice that addresses the top concerns which create most of the struggles African American women face. Finally, using standpoint theory, this paper examines the effect of the white standard of beauty upon African American women. This paper is meant to bring these issues to the forefront by discussing the effects Euro American beauty standards has had and is still having on African American women.
Keywords: hair texture; body image; African Americans; beauty; women; natural hair; perception.
How many times have women in general discussed appearance, hair, hair texture, weight and body types in public places? More specifically, how often do African American women reflect on their own appearance? How many African American women have been told they have "good hair"? What is "good hair"? Good hair is often considered hair that is straight, silky and without tangles. Therefore, if the texture of African American's hair is thick, kinky and curly, does society view it as "bad hair"? Is this the reason African American women seek to straightened their hair to fit into society's standard and to be accepted?
I wish I had a quarter for every time I've sat idly in hair...