I think what I was missing when I first googled was including the word 'natural' -- I guess going on the idea that if it grows out of your head, it's natural (as opposed to a wig, or when you braid in long pieces of real or synth hair, which was what my HS friend did).
Hair that is not chemically processed is still treated differently from hair that is, even if something else is braided into it.
Also, while shea butter is wildly popular now, it pretty much didnt exist in Black hair care in America until approximately 20 years ago. West African women popularized it among African Americans. There's a certian amount of historical perspective that seems to not be understood by many outsiders performing research on black hair.
I would also suggest that sites like nappturality are very much intended for people of african descent and their members do not lend themselves kindly to providing learning experiences or educational material.
no subject
Date: 30 Sep 2009 09:03 pm (UTC)Hair that is not chemically processed is still treated differently from hair that is, even if something else is braided into it.
Also, while shea butter is wildly popular now, it pretty much didnt exist in Black hair care in America until approximately 20 years ago. West African women popularized it among African Americans. There's a certian amount of historical perspective that seems to not be understood by many outsiders performing research on black hair.
I would also suggest that sites like nappturality are very much intended for people of african descent and their members do not lend themselves kindly to providing learning experiences or educational material.