Not too long ago, I finished reading Thank God I’m Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Care for and Maintaining Natural Hair by Chris-Tia E. Donaldson (the woman to your left).  Isn’t she cute?  Awwww!  I was going to dub her book “the Natural Hair Bible,” with my afro pick, but someone had already beat me to the punch.  I guess my thoughts aren’t as original as I thought.

Throughout the book, there were quotes by Chris-Tia that pretty much stuck out to me the most and I would like to zoom in on a couple of things for you all to think about and discuss:

Despite the fact that so much information is now available, it saddens me that we continue to fix our daughter’s hair with a steady stream of dangerous chemicals. We often go through extreme lengths to protect our children from the solutions and chemical cocktails so dangerously lurking under the kitchen sink — yet we turn around and apply these same toxic agents to their hair and scalps without ever questioning the impact on their health and safety!

Whenever my hair did grow, my beautician would relax my new growth within minutes of it sprouting from my scalp and then turn around and cut two inches off my ends. I fought long and hard to fight this vicious cycle, but no matter how much money I spent or what products I used, I was always left sitting in the revolving leather salon chair, staring in the mirror at the inevitable, much hated chin-length bob.

Chris-Tia gives a very colorful, humorous, yet sometimes heartbreaking background on her hair story; from her hair being relaxed at the young age of four, her experiences attending an all-white school for seven years where she envied long, flowing hair, and insecurities that affected her all throughout law-school, and in the workplace.

And guess what? She’s a natural-haired lawyer in one of the top firms in the country! This just goes to show that you can be yourself and still get the job that you always dreamed of as long as you work hard at it. While there are a few bad apples in work environments that may turn up their noses at natural hair, it’s not impossible. As a matter of fact, Chris-Tia dedicates a whole chapter dispelling the myths and misconceptions about natural hair; a must-see for those who are afraid to go natural. In addition, it talks about the history of black hair in Africa and America, and provides one with a guide that can help both transitioners and naturals through their journey.

It has gotten the heads up from naturals like Alisha of Motowngirl.com, Patrice of Afrobella.com, and the celebrity hair stylists of celebrities like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and Mos Def. Christmas is coming up soon, so if you know someone who this book could benefit, purchase it!   She also has a website,  blog and twitter as well.  I also want to give her big ups for her first ever television appearance, interviewed by Chicago WGN.  Keep the movement alive!  You definitely have my support.

So what do you think about the quoted text?