Kinky

Someone posted the following survey on a message board. I deleted the demographic questions.
See my responses below. Feel free to respond as well.

Marketing Survey for Natural Hair The purpose of this survey instrument is to find the attitudes generated by African-Americans between the ages of 19-40. For the purpose of this instrument “natural” hairstyles are as follows locs, afros – all varieties, corn rolls, bald, and very low cut hair (women only). We know you value your time and we would like to thank you in advanced for your participation in filling out this survey. Please take a moment and fill out this brief survey. Thank you.

4) Do you like “natural” hair as defined above?
A. Yes
B. No
C. No, and I never would
D. Like it? I have it now

5) Would you wear a “natural” hairstyle as defined above?
A. Yes
B. No

6) Would you be in a relationship with a person that has a “natural” hairstyle?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Maybe

7) Do you think that “natural” hair is appropriate in the professional world?
A. Yes
B. No

8) If you were going to wear a “natural” hairstyle, which would you choose?
A. Afro
B. Locs
C. Corn rolls
D. Bald
E. Short / Fade (women choose)
F. I would not wear any “natural” hairstyle
Twists (not on original survey)

9) Fill in the blank. “Natural” hairstyles are__________.
A. Sexy
B. Professional
C. Crazy (sometimes)
D. Normal
E. A no no in the modern world
F. No thought

10) Fill in the blank. People who wear “natural” hairstyles are________.
A. Lazy
B. Free thinkers
C. Anti establishment
D. Trendy
E. Normal
F. No thought

11) True or false. “Natural” hairstyles are more acceptable for women.
A. True
B. False

12) True or false. “Natural” hair looks better on men.
A. True
B. False

13) Fill in the blank. Whites in Corporate America find “natural” hairstyles______.
A. Scary
B. Offensive
C. Acceptable
D. Normal
E. Unconcerned

14) True or false. “Natural” hairstyles are fine for academics, artist, and entertainers, but not for business professional.
A. True
B. False

15) True or false. “Natural” hairstyles are fine in all aspects in today’s world.
A. True
B. False

Black women and Their Hair - Back in the Dayhttp://www.pamspaulding.com/Pam/pampix/hairhistory.htm


My Hair Story

I wrote about the other "n-word" sometime ago and now I'm finally getting back to my story. In the beginning, I had no hair. My mother would pull the few strands that I had to the center of my head and secure them with a bowrette. As I grew, my hair grew. She really didn't know how to take care of my hair, but she tried her best. My cousin would do my hair for special occassions. She was a kitchen-tician until she opened her own salon years later. I still remember Saturday mornings in her kitchen. I was small enough to lie down on the countertop for her to wash my hair in the sink. Then, she'd sit me between her legs in front of the stove and press my hair. She always had to redo the edges because the naps were rebellious. Later, I was introduced to creamy crack and I faithfully went back for a hit every 4-6 weeks for almost 20 years.

My hair was fairly healthy until I went to college. I couldn't afford to go to a salon, so my friends and I did each other's hair. I experienced overprocessing and a lot of breakage that had to be "fixed", ie. cut, everytime I went home for a break. I started considering "going natural" in late 2002. I just wanted to do something different with my hair, but I wasn't completely sure at the time. My cousin gave me my last relaxer that December while home for Christmas break. By the time my birthday rolled around (in late January), it was time for me to do it again, but I decided against it. Instead, I alternated between straw sets, roller sets, and braid-outs for a couple of months. It was hard to manage the battling textures, but I did not want to cut my hair. I've never wanted short hair for myself. I knew my friend's roommate did kinky twists very well, so I asked her if she would do my hair. I wore my hair in those twists from March to December. Each time that I took my hair down, I cut a little bit more of the permed ends. I actually cut several inches once and told myself that I was either going to stick to the natural thing or I was going to have a short permed-style. Either way, my hair was going to be totally different from anything I'd ever done before.

In December 2003, I went home for Christmas break and my friend cut the remaining straight pieces. I looked in the mirror and wasn't pleased. I almost regretted what I had done. I didn't know what to do with my hair. She tried to show me how to do comb coils, but that seemed like it would take forever. I slept on it and wore a shrunken fro the next day. Later, I sat in the mirror and decided to try to twist my hair. I liked what I saw when I finished. I left for Little Rock that afternoon to see a friend before anyone in my family saw me. When I went back home, my mother looked at me and said, "Well... you're still cute. At least you don't look like _____(a guy we know with the most unmaintained looking hair ever)." My grand debut was that weekend when we had a big party for my aunt's 80th birthday. A lot of people were shocked, but some of them complimented me still.

I am a recovering permie. I have been relaxer-free for 4 years. I have experimented with different products and styles and I'm still learning about my hair. Sometimes, I get ugly stares and nasty comments, but I don't let it get to me. I am more confident about my hair and my natural beauty thanks to the help of several individuals and websites, like nappturality.com and others. Now, I am able to help other people who are transitioning or contemplating discovering their own natural beauty.

My hair is nappy and I love it.

Well, I really don't care 'bout a whole lot of nothin'
'cept greasin' my scalp,
give my kinks lots of lovin'
Cause I am nappy baby, nappy as can be.

I move right along,
kinks never gone.
I'm just nappy baby.

-N'Dambi
Love & Nappiness: "A Celebration of Nappy Hair"