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    Michael HarriotDanielle C. Belton
    9/08/17 5:49pm

    I was natural before it was cool, too

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      smoke&waterMichael Harriot
      9/08/17 6:33pm

      Oh you.

      Your browser does not support HTML5 video tag.Click here to view original GIF
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      Danielle YoungMichael Harriot
      9/08/17 6:54pm

      Go home Michael Harriot!

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    GDubDanielle C. Belton
    9/08/17 5:51pm

    I’m so glad this exists. I’m glad you went natural way back when. And I’m glad that this Natural Hair Movement has allowed me to confront my own hair bias and accept myself a bit more.

    What saddens me, though, is that despite everything, “long” and “big” hair is still heavily emphasized as beautiful, but we’re still struggling with promoting “short can be beautiful too!” I mean, Lupita is out here repping, but not many others are out here for that. Funny how no matter what kind of hair you have, longer is still seen as more beautiful.

    Anyway, I’m not griping too hard; we’re FINALLY being supported, and we can work on the other stuff over time.

    Thanks for getting out there and reporting for us!

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      OhMyYummiesGDub
      9/10/17 5:48pm

      I think a big mane of hair just emits a lushness and wild sensuality. The attractiveness is kind of a holdover from when the only people who would see your hair out and free would be your partner and family. Even when “big” hair was fashionable it was wigs, not actual hair. I am no sort of hair scholar but I’m having trouble thinking of a time when women’s hair wasn’t supposed to be clamped the fuck down. Until the 60s/70s at least.

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    thatsjustmyhair-kinjadDanielle C. Belton
    9/08/17 6:15pm

    This is by far the most joyful thing I’ve read all week. Where do I get my ticket for next year?!! Looking forward to the product reviews too. That’s a lot of castor oil tho...

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    Cardi B's Other ShoeDanielle C. Belton
    9/08/17 6:37pm
    I went natural before going natural was cool back in 2000, 17 years ago, when curly-hair products for black hair were garbage.

    Products were trash and we had yahoo groups, fotki, and prayer. Some days I still wonder if what I’m attempting is going to be awesome or if it’s going to end up in a bun and never discussed.

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      llaalleellCardi B's Other Shoe
      9/09/17 1:57pm

      So much truth. I’ve been natural since the early ‘90s (mostly out of laziness and brokeness) and it was the wild west for real, just full of mistakes and adventures left and right. When I think about the sheen I perpetuated for years, it makes me cringe. So much grease and pink lotion.

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    PhoebeCaulfieldTheThirdDanielle C. Belton
    9/08/17 7:25pm

    “I wish I had my hair’s personality. My hair clearly doesn’t give a shit. It possesses a confidence I could only wish to emulate.”

    That is gold.

    Also, me too.

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    SheeshTheseNamesDanielle C. Belton
    9/08/17 7:21pm

    I had to stop reading just to comment about going natural in 1996, when people were openly rude and hostile and made fun of my hair right to my face. I used a book called “For Colored Girls Who Considered Weaves When the Chemicals Became Too Ruff.” That was all I could find out there! I refused to cut my hair, choosing to wear braids and grow it out slowly instead. It’s soooo amazing to me that, like, EVERYBODY is natural now! I literally have one friend who has a perm.

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    Where are my keys?Danielle C. Belton
    9/08/17 6:26pm

    I love everything about this post! Wish I could have been there. So happy reading this.

    Reply