I'm almost at a decade relaxer free! Shout out to all my girls proud to let their curls bounce into a room and become the center of attention!
That perm shyt is so ingrained in diaspora culture and it's complete unnecessary. My hair is damn near at my ass now when I straighten it (hot comb) and it had plateaued in length with my perms from sophomore year in high school to freshman year at Howard.
Perms kill your hair and I think it dulls your IQ a bit as well. I have no scientific proof but my dreams, critical thinking and creative mind both exploded after I stopped perming my hair.
My abuela has locs and told me all throughout my teenage years that perming my hair was killing my connection to the sun and it's advantages for those with 9 ether hair. That's another conversation but she was right.
My hair was dead when it was permed, Michael Jackson straight with no bounce. Now even when I straighten my hair (naturally) I can feel the life and vibrance of it. Hair is a living breathing part of our crowns and I feel as a woman you should feel empowered to rock it in it's natural glory.
Not to mention I was always told how long my hair was for a black girl when I had it permed, which is a backhanded compliment. Now I'm told countless times per day how beautiful my hair is, from people of all ages and races anywhere I am. Well taken care of naturally curly (African) hair is so beautiful. And i feel regal anytime I put on a dress and let my hair flow in all of it's glory.