Is Your Hair Really Natural If It’s Texturized?
It’s a question that gives one a moment for pause. After all, if a hair texturizer is done right, your hair will look natural; whatever that means for you and your hair type.
Just what is a hair texturizer for those who may not know? The act of applying a mild relaxer to natural hair, but leaving the relaxer in for a short period of time without combing the straightener through the hair is the process of texturizing hair. The goal of texturizing is to give natural hair a more defined curl pattern and length without actually straightening the hair.
A texturizer that is added to natural hair correctly should leave your hair:
- With a clearly defined curl pattern while still maintaining the texture identified with a black woman’s natural hair
- A stretched coil or curl which adds more length
But more often than not, texturizers result in:
- Hair that is overly straightened or processed
- Loss of any real curl pattern
Regardless of whether a hair texturizer has been added to natural hair in a way that retains the natural curl pattern, any chemical added to the hair results in a chemical processing which changes the hair strand permanently; even if the relaxer is left in the hair for just a few minutes.
Texturized hair may look natural if done well, but it isn’t.
Now, before we start getting hate mail, as we’ve stated many times before on this blog, there is nothing wrong with relaxing your hair if that’s what you prefer. It’s just that it’s no longer natural.
Opinions? We’d love to hear all viewpoints!
Author: Dianne Shaddock
![]() |
You May Also Like:
Should You “Texlax” Your Kinks and Curls?
My Natural Hair Journey – Lisa’s Story
The Top Concerns of Women with Natural Hair – Felicia Leatherwood, Celebrity Stylist
Mature Women and Natural Hair – A Photo Gallery
A Retrospective: Our Favorite Natural Hair Products in 2013
Tia Mowry-Hardrict Embraces Her Natural Curls, Credits Her Son As Her Inspiration
What’s All The Fuss About Natural Hair?
Our Kinky Hair: A pH Balancing Act
‘You Down Wit’ B-O-B? Black Owned Brands
How to Have No-Frizz Natural Hair This Spring
Love Your Braids But Hate The Itch? Simple Strategies for Battling Itchy Scalp
Toddlers Left Home Alone While Mom Gets Her Hair Done Die In House Fire