“Sorry, I can’t hang out this weekend. I have to wash my hair.” I’ve sent that text to my friends so often that my phone fills in the rest of the sentence for me after I type the first few words. Many Black women know the struggle of having to block out a whole day (sometimes two) just to wash and style their hair—especially if you were participating in the natural hair boom of 2010. You remember the hours of pre-poo, shampoo, conditioner, hot oil treatment, deep-conditioning mask, detangling, LOC method, and twisting or braiding (whew)?
Many of us barely made it out of that era with the will to stay natural. Some Black women have turned to consistent heat-styling and chemical straightening treatments to more easily manage their natural hair.But some who did decide to stick it out have developed a “laziness” toward doing their hair. “I think …