<p>I will be going away to college next year and have a small dilemma. My hair is very natural (ethnic), thick, and pretty long. It gets really tangled and is just a pain. It takes forever to put it in a simple ponytail in the morning, even after hours of hot combing/ironing b/c it still is a lot of hair.
What do I do for college? I won't be able to manage my hair like this forever, especially w/o the aid of my mother, nor will I have the time. However, I'm terrified of perming, although I heard that a salon perm will not damage my hair (this of course coming from the salon)?</p>
<p>I've had my hair relaxed since I was a little girl. I've found that to be incredibly convenient (except for having to get it touched up every 4 to 6 weeks). So, I'd say go for it if you don't think you'll be able to handle your hair any other way. Just be sure to go to someone that comes highly recommended.</p>
<p>if you've gone this long without a perm, do you REALLY need one? I'm sure a good hairdresser you can see every 2 weeks or so will be able to help you manage your hair, if you can't do it yourself while at school. I have had a relaxer for years now, but I kinda wonder what my hair would be like without it, but it's too much of a process to go back, you know? Really think about it, because once you get a relaxer, you'll have to stick with that for a long time, and you don't want to regret that in like 2 months will you?</p>
<p>Northstarmom, I think her point was that she's been fighting with her natural hair for years. And she doesn't think she can handle it in college...</p>
<p>I always thought that African American girls look great with... well, not quite bald heads, but with really short hair. Nearly bald but not quite? Do you know what i mean? I think it looks really cute, and I'm so jealous that I can't pull that off. And did I mention that i think it looks really cute?</p>
<p>i definitely suggest avoiding relaxers- they really damage your hair, no matter who applied it and how- just because they chemically break the bonds in your hair... making it really weak and fragile</p>
<p>"I always thought that African American girls look great with... well, not quite bald heads, but with really short hair. Nearly bald but not quite? Do you know what i mean? I think it looks really cute, and I'm so jealous that I can't pull that off. And did I mention that i think it looks really cute?"</p>
<p>i'm west indian but have the same kinda hair you AAs have and I keep natural. I either braid it myself, blow it out or put in a pony tail. Perms will screw up your hair badly and it won't grow as long as if you keep it natural.</p>
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Do you have to use relaxers to braid your hair then wear it down? I'm thinking of how Yaya DaCosta wore her hair in "Take the Lead".
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<p>Definitely not. I'm sure her hair would have to be flat ironed first, to make the braiding easier, but she wouldn't need to necessarily get a relaxer first</p>
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I always thought that African American girls look great with... well, not quite bald heads, but with really short hair. Nearly bald but not quite? Do you know what i mean? I think it looks really cute, and I'm so jealous that I can't pull that off. And did I mention that i think it looks really cute?
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<p>you mean like halle berry a few years ago short?</p>
<p>i like that style on black girls too, but only few can really pull it off. you have to have really delicate facial features to not come of looking manly</p>
