Naturalista Movement Research Paper

Employers encouraging their staff or pupils to get a perm because they feel that their hair is too “nappy” is not only damaging emotionally but down the line is hazardous to people’s health. Studies from the American Journal of Epidemiology shows that relaxers have been linked to uterine fibroid tumours called leiomyomata. Sodium hydroxide is one of the few active ingredients in relaxers and it is also used in Draino, a product used to break down buildup in drains. That is just one of the harmful products that can be found in a relaxer and women are encouraged to put that on their scalp? There are numerous after effects of using relaxers other than uterine fibroid tumours such as dermatitis, balding, scarring, eye damage, and the list goes
According to Chinwe of blackgirllonghair.com the movement started in the 60s but had a different name, the Black Power movement. “The “afro” of the 60s and 70s was not just a ‘style’ of that period nor merely a political statement.” (Chinwe, “The Natural Hair Movement in the ‘60s and ‘70s; How It Began and Why It Ended) The Civil Rights movement in the 60s progressed into the Black Power movement, which brought out the significance of the Afro. “The pressing comb and chemical relaxers became oppressive because they were tools that symbolized the shame associated with black hair in its natural state.” (Banks, 43) The black community started a movement that people were not used to and many became intimidated by
Going into the 70s, the Afro was used as a target to help law enforcement find black activists such as Black Panther members. Black activists were under heavy watch and needed a cover so many needed to use wigs as a disguise, which took away from them showing their roots. What started off as a movement promoting self love and acceptance turned into taking a risk that could put them behind bars or worse for trying to speak against society’s standards. Going underground had worked throughout the 70s but once the 80s came around the Black Power movement started to lose its fire. A hairdresser by the name of Jheri Redding introduced a “less harmful” way to loosen your curls since relaxers were losing their hype during the Black Power movement. The trend got picked up quick, especially by men; celebrities like Eazy E, Ice Cube, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Ritchie who have a huge influence in the entertainment industry were key in jump starting the trend and making it