Natural Hair Becoming Even More Popular Among Black Women (PHOTOS)

Whether we like it or not, African-American hair is still a hot topic.

The fascination, debate, discussion (or whatever you'd like to call it) around natural hair has spawned sororities, parades, national conferences and even reality shows. It's a big topic and only getting bigger thanks to a new report we found in USA Today.

According to Mintel, a consumer spending and market research firm, the number of black women who say they do not use products to chemically relax or straighten their hair jumped to 36% in 2011, up from 26% in 2010.

What does this mean for the black beauty industry? There definitely needs to be a major shift in product development and care.The report also found that sales of relaxer kits have dropped by 17% between 2006 and 2011.

Changes of 10 and 17 percent might not seem like much, but they are significant in a niche market like black haircare. A few big companies, like Soft Sheen-Carson, have seen the spike in interest and started to roll out products for their natural-haired customers.

The heightened and still growing interest in natural hair is also allowing smaller companies that specialize in natural hair care to profit as well. And thanks to YouTube several natural hair enthusiasts have become mini celebs dolling out tons of haircare tips and showing how to manipulate curly manes into masterpieces.

Here's a look at some of our favorite celebs who represent the growing number of women (are you one of them?) starting to embrace their natural roots.

Comments

[sk8queen]

11:55 AM on 02/04/2012

Natural for two years and its not a fad with me…I can workout and swim without regard to a hair schedule. I don't care who doesn't like it. I LOVE IT!

[Executive Styles]

10:01 PM on 01/11/2012

I love the all natural look... but sometime it is nice to change it up. That's why I post my styles at www.hairflo.com

[RedDonnaAnn]

09:32 PM on 12/30/2011

I live in a black neighborhood and I loooove all the natural hair.

[Executive Styles]

09:59 PM on 01/11/2012

I agree with you... I tell everyone to post up their all natural dos at www.hairflo.com

[IReadTheNews]

06:18 PM on 12/30/2011

Ok seriously this has to stop. Think about it. Every 20 years or so there is a surge in 'going natural' whatever that is.... Uummmmm remember the 60's. Oh and then the late 80s? The only reason this is news is because we have the WWW and we get to talk about it incessantly...

I chopped my relaxer off in 1989. No one cared back then. Over 20 years later I never looked back because that was me. There will always be weaves good and bad and all the other 'sins' of altering black hair. It is all based on the context created about hair in the home. The mother sets the standard. Without that, women are destined to be pray to fades some of which are damaging....that is all.

[reader1]

10:02 AM on 12/30/2011

As I have maintained locs for over eight years, this is a great article. It's more than hair, it's who we are, we can buy straightness, but me must learn to be happy with our nappy. You see, when black women straighten their hair, the world is relaxed, when we don't we are view as rebels. There is a long history of hatred for our hair. For those of your who don't understand, goggle it!!!

[ZC1968]

09:26 AM on 12/28/2011

I pray and hope Black men and women will embrace each other the way they are embracing their natural hair. Now that would be great!!!

[Janet Hubert]

12:51 PM on 12/26/2011

Not surprising in the least. Ethnicity has now become a fashion, back when I was a little girl, big lips were not the thing and now it is all the rage. I have worn my hair natural for over 25 years. It is important for our daughters to embrace their beauty. Whatever makes you feel beautiful, but for me it is very freeing to not be a sister running from the rain ever again.

[Yam716]

09:34 AM on 12/29/2011

Janet Hubert! I am so pleased to see you here! Love your hair!

RE: Whatever makes you feel beautiful, but for me it is very freeing to not be a sister running from the rain ever again.

Will never HAVE TO run from the rain again! :)

[RedDonnaAnn]

09:37 PM on 12/30/2011

"It is important for our daughters to embrace their beauty"

Thank you! White women fight the damn plastic surgery. My god, some of us look like traffic accidents or sixty year old high school students. When will women just be happy to be healthy (nothing is sexier than a healthy woman, look at Michelle Obama, I mean, yes the woman has great bone structure but she glows with health!) fit and ourselves? It's tired and old to have to be... fill in the blank... to be "hot".

I don't want to be hot. I want to be me! I am grateful for the growing number of Hollywood stars who are simply aging the way women do and being more concerned with their quality of life.

[jeffhintx]

11:18 AM on 12/26/2011

I still think the natural is cute, I never stopped liking it.
Check out some old pictures of Candi Staton.

[Yam716]

09:35 AM on 12/29/2011

Shello!

I have a question, why is natural hair referred to as "the natural"? It just seems odd to me...a woman that worked at the gas station here in Orlando said to me "I like your natural"...I knew what she meant but it was so odd the way she said it.

[almchrl13]

03:51 AM on 12/26/2011

I didn't see any natural hair.

[RedDonnaAnn]

09:40 PM on 12/30/2011

With a profile pic like yours I'm not sure you'd see natural if you woke up in bed with it.

[TheBestPatriot]

07:57 PM on 12/25/2011

I am so happy that more black women are moving past relaxers. I haven't had a relaxer since I was 19 years old. Since them my hair has been very healthy, long, and easy to manage. Also no dreads.

[Mark Gunn]

12:11 PM on 12/25/2011

I was at a Doctor's appointment a couple of days ago and on e the female employees talked to me about her desire to go natural with locks. She was very curious about the process I went through for mine and I was more than happy to give her the info she wanted. She'd already picked up on one of the main reasons why so many women are doing it. It's a spiritual freedom and a way of pushing back against a standard of beauty that's not their own.

As a photographer, I LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing women with natural hair. It brings their inner beauty to the surface. Big - ups to Huffington Post for doing more articles like this.

[kel347]

02:59 PM on 12/25/2011

This should be encouraging to the sisters but it is in their best interest not to become so consumed with hair and all the rest and do what's easiest for your lifestyle because ultimately brothers will never let you forget the real deal. Agree, that we don't fit the "standard of beauty" and shouldn't try to.

[Yam716]

09:36 AM on 12/29/2011

RE: It brings their inner beauty to the surface

You're right. I think Black women look more authentic with natural hair. It fits our facial features.

[Dorian Mode]

09:11 AM on 12/25/2011

YES, finally YES, and more YES, I love black woman with natural hair. Give me more. LOL.

[davejavalin]

09:55 PM on 01/01/2012

I agree with you brother, give me natural everything.

[Queen Cassandra]

03:32 AM on 12/25/2011

Natural everything is always......

The Best.

[Itz her]

02:03 AM on 12/25/2011

This is definitely something I like to hear, However what really gets to me is how people talk about others to get their point across. I hear people with natural hair talk about others who choose to wear fake, or straightened hair and people criticize others who like their hair natural. I have worn my hair all kinds of ways (natural as of now) and still the same person. I always viewed wearing fake hair, or having a relaxer kind of like putting on make-up, it's altering/sometimes changing your look. Doesn't always mean you are unsatisfied with yourself (unless you feel a constant need or something, then that might be a problem). The key is loving yourself , and embracing yourself. Natural hair takes patience, confidence. You definitely have to baby your hair. I believe the golden rule is to find what works best for your hair. Yea, suggestions are great but what works for one persons hair may not work for another,even if they have same hair type.

[qtpeye46]

01:48 PM on 12/25/2011

While I agree with you, I would encourage you to say the same things to the people that perm their hair. The sword cuts both ways!.

[AnaisKarim]

04:34 PM on 12/24/2011

It's been so long since I had permed hair, I honestly wouldn't know how to style it. Now that my locs are really long, I'm thinking about shorter hair. Natural hair thrives in my experience.