Sunday, October 4, 2009

Real Hair VS "Fake Hair"

I started this blog back in May of this year and haven't posted anything since then. I guess it takes more time to be a blogger than I anticipated when I started the venture. Anyhow I have something to say now so here is my latest blog.


Lately we've been hearing about and seeing a lot in the media about real hair vs fake hair or weaves and Lace front wigs. I think there is a focus on African American women's hair because of our first lady Michelle Obama. I love her hair and the fact that she's not a weaver. Don't get me wrong I have nothing against wearing weaves and have worn them on occasion. In fact I will be sewing a weave into my own hair in the next couple of weeks so I am not a weave basher. I am however in favor of women wearing their natural hair as much as possible. I decided over five years ago to stop putting chemicals in my hair to straighten it. I do use color and that is a chemical but it is not as harsh as relaxer. The real reason I chose to stop the relaxers is because I began to get a lot of grey hair and I didn't want to use color and relaxer so I chose to go natural and use color.

My hair has never been healthier as it is since I quit relaxer's. This is not a decision that everyone can make and it takes a commitment to do this so in this fast pace busy society many women choose to wear wigs and weaves and there is nothing wrong with that. Many women who work out on a regular basis sweat a lot and it is easier to wear a weave to keep their hair looking good and presentable. Many women suffer from hair loss because of alopecia and chemical alopecia so they have weaves and wigs as options. Many women have lost their hair because of medical conditions ie chemotherapy. We shouldn't judge women for wearing weaves and wigs because we don't know what their reason may be for wearing them.


The only advise I would like to give is this, If you decide to go natural you don't have to cut your relaxer out. With deep conditioning treatments and trims you can simply grow it out and maintain the health of the hair. I've done it personally and have helped other women do it. If you do get a weave go to a professional so that you can take care of your real hair that is under the weave and maintain it's health and integrity.
Here is my advise about Lace Front wigs, STAY AWAY FROM THEM! Lace front wigs are big right now because of entertainers like Beyonce and Tyra Banks, who by the way recently started her talk show season by wearing her "natural" hair. Only it wasn't natural at all in a sense that it isn't chemical free. It was her hair and not her normal Lace wig but far from being her "natural hair". Lace wigs were made originally for the theatre and film making. In this use it is taken off after the performance or filming and therefore not bad for the person's natural hair or hair line. If a person has lost their hair because of one of the aforementioned conditions then by all means go with the lace front, it will look natural and since alopecia is sometimes a permanent condition it is a great solution. If however your hair loss is temporary because of a medical condition buyer beware! Here is the reason why, you have to put either glue or double sided tape on the hairline to hold the wig on your head. Some people are even shaving back their hairlines to hold the wigs on with the glue or double sided tape. The hair in some cases will NOT grow back! I have seen people who have done this and over a period of time their hairline is so far back that they are forced to wear the wigs all the time because there is permanent follicular damage. Did you see how far back Tyra's hair line is?

Well in the next week or two Chris Rock will have a movie coming out entitled "Good Hair" and we will start the debate again. Good hair, Bad hair, weaves and wigs. In my opinion all hair is good when you think of the alternative.... No hair! That is unless it's your choice to be bald and I've seen some sister's that can rock that too!
This is the latest from ..
The Image Transformation Specialist


Sheryce Watson