The decision to stop using harsh chemicals, such as relaxers, on your hair is becoming a more popular decision today than ever before. From college campuses across the nation, young women are rocking the fro, twist out, or their natural curls. So why do these students go natural? College Lifestyles explores this subject by interviewing seven collegiates from various ethnicities, hair textures, and schools. Check out what they had to say:

**College Lifestyles: Why did you decide to go natural or have you always been natural?**

Karyn Washington, 1 year natural

“It just kind of happened one summer, I decided I wasn’t going to get a perm until school started again.  My hair grew like weeds during the summer so I figured I didn’t need one anymore.  However, I am not super bold or brave so I didn’t do the big chop, I transitioned. Then I mini chopped twice and trimmed the rest away.”- Darcelle Cress, Norfolk State University, 2013

“I decided to go natural after my hair started to break off excessively from getting perms. I had also been inspired by pictures of natural haired girls on Tumblr and how unique and healthy their hair looked. I stopped getting perms in August of 2011.”- Karyn Washington, Morgan State University, 2013

“I decided to go natural just after having a relaxer for so long and wanting my hair to grow back healthy. I just grabbed some scissors and started chopping.”- Corria Hawkins, Prince George’s Community College, 2013

“I decided to go natural a year and a half ago because I got tired of continuously having to straighten my hair. Although I had been getting a relaxer since I was 14, my hair would still come out wavy when I washed it, and I used to hate my curls. But then I started getting curious about what my natural curls would look like now as opposed to 8 or 9 years ago. I also studied abroad in London Spring 2011 and didn’t want to have to deal with my hair while overseas, so I decided to go natural and had my last relaxer in Dec. 2010.”- Dee Lockett, Syracuse University, 2013

“I think I stopped really styling my hair once I got to college. I came to love what I have and avoid altering it by dying or overly straightening and curling it.”- Jessica Fecteau, Central Michigan University, 2014

“I decided to go natural because I got tired of going to the hairdresser every week and a half to get my hair done. It became expensive, and at the time I was in college, struggling financially. I also thought it would be a good thing for my hair. a healthy start. So I chopped it all off, without transitioning.”- Eugenie Pierrette, University of Baltimore, 2012

Randi with a modern fro

“I’ve always been natural. My mother is natural as well, and since she was the one responsible for my hair, I was natural, too. (She was also convinced that perms would make me bald, haha.) But it wasn’t until the summer before my freshman year of college that I decided to go what I call “super natural.” Although I’ve never chemically straightened my hair, my mother always pressed it. Last summer, I stopped getting it pressed and I’ve been heat-free ever since. I also started researching different products for natural hair because my mother only ever used grease.”- Randi Young, Dartmouth College, 2015

**College Lifestyles: How do you usually wear your hair?**

“I usually wear my hair down, pinned back, or in a bun.” -Dee Lockett, Syracuse University, 2013

“I usually wear my hair down with a center part after letting it air dry. Sometimes my

Jessica Fecteau embraces her long locks

part goes a little off center and is like a zig-zag but I just let it do its thing. If I am working out or it’s a really hot day, I will pull it into a high ponytail or braid.”- Jessica Fecteau, Central Michigan University, 2014

“I’ve been natural for 9 months, and the more it grows, the more I can do with it. Lately I have been doing twist outs.”- Eugenie Pierrette, University of Baltimore, 2012

“I usually twist my hair. Again, my mother’s influence. She only knew how to braid and twist so that’s what I started doing when I started doing my own hair. I kept at it because it lasts so long.”- Randi Young, Dartmouth College, 2015

“Mini twists or a puff but now I try to do a different style every week since I wash once a week. Also, I like to change my hair a lot so I don’t limit myself to styles I wear wigs, weaves, my straight hair, and different forms of twists and braids.”- Darcelle Cress, Norfolk State University, 2013

“I usually wear it “out” in an afro with a band around it.”- Karyn Washington, Morgan State University, 2013

Corria Hawkins with a beautiful twist out

“I usually wear them in twists and in about a week or so I wear it as a twist-out.”- Corria Hawkins, Prince George’s Community College, 2013

**College Lifestyles: What hair products do you use?**

“None! I only use Pantene shampoo and conditioner in the shower.”- Jessica Fecteau, Central Michigan University, 2014

“I use a wide toothed comb, hair mayonnaise, Creme of Nature shampoo & conditioner, Eco-styling Gel, and Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie.” -Karyn Washington, Morgan State University, 2013

“Everything! But as of right now I’ve be using the Jamaican Mango and Lime product line, their whole line smells so yummy!”- Corria Hawkins, Prince George’s Community College, 2013

“I use Pantene Pro V for Women of Color shampoo, conditioner, and moisturizer. I also use a Mixed Chicks deep conditioner, a leave-in conditioner, and a sealer as a part of my washing regime, but I can’t remember the individual product names for the last two.”- Dee Lockett, Syracuse University, 2013

“Water, Giovanni’s direct leave in conditioner, and a sealant of choice usually coconut oil, olive oil, or shea butter. I have plenty of substitutions I make but those are the basics. I have discovered that moisturizing and sealing is the best way to keep you hair (relaxed or natural) from being dry and brittle.”- Darcelle Cress, Norfolk State University, 2013

“I live for shea butter. My shea butter + olive oil mixture is my main staple. I’m still dabbling around and testing out other products since I’m still kinda new to this. Currently, I’m using L’Oreal’s EverPure Moisture shampoo, Aussie’s 3 Minute Miracle conditioner, and Cantu’s leave-in conditioning repair cream in addition to my shea butter.”- Randi Young, Dartmouth College, 2015

Eugenie rocks dark auburn hair

“I use coconut oil as a conditioner from time to time, and Shea butter. I also use olive oil, and Jamaican black castor oil for my twist outs.  I use Giovanni as my conditioner, or Mixed Chicks. Herbal Essence Hello Hydration to co-wash every 3 days or so, that’s about it.”- Eugenie Pierrette, University of Baltimore, 2012

**College Lifestyles: What are the downsides, if any, of being natural?**

“It’s a lot of work to maintain natural hair, which is why I started getting a perm in the first place. You have to make

Dee Lockett in the transitioning process

sure that your hair is always hydrated because once it loses moisture, it becomes vulnerable to breakage which I have experienced. The transitioning period can also be painfully slow if you don’t want to get the “Big Chop,” which I have opted against. It can also get expensive to try new natural products before you find the right ones for your hair.”- Dee Lockett, Syracuse University, 2013

“Hmm well I do occasionally miss my straight hair but not too much. The downside is the tangling and shrinkage. It’s not bad enough to make me doubt going natural but it does take a little work to maintain.”- Karyn Washington, Morgan State University, 2013 

“Yes, bad hair days! Just when there is not enough time to do what you need or do to your hair. Natural hair takes time and when you have 4 type hair (kinky) like me you need a hair day to care for it.”- Corria Hawkins, Prince George’s Community College, 2013

Darcelle with her natural curls

“Detangling once and a while makes me want to take a slip back to my relaxer days. I also, do not like the fact that when I do straighten my hair it reverts so quickly because I don’t do it often. The last downside is that some people still don’t respect my choice to be natural.”- Darcelle Cress, Norfolk State University, 2013

“Tangly hair! My hair is usually pretty tangled because I don’t style it. But I think that’s what gives it the bedhead,

messy look and I am OK with that.”-  Jessica Fecteau, Central Michigan University, 2014

“The only downside to being natural is how hard my hair can get. Other than that I love it! I am glad I made the decision to go natural. I can now do my own hair, don’t have to schedule a pool party or a trip to the beach around my next hair appointment, and I don’t run from the rain anymore. I feel so free.”- Eugenie Pierrette, University of Baltimore, 2012

“The time! Being natural is a lifestyle change. You have to commit to it because it’s not easy. I spend so much time on my hair, it’s not even funny.”- Randi Young, Dartmouth College, 2015

Tips from these natural collegiates:

Moisturize, have patience, watch YouTube videos for tutorials, get regular trims, wear protective styles, find products without mineral oil, petroleum, and sulfates.

Exclusive–From College Lifestyles C.E.O. Shelly Marie Redmond: “I used to dye my hair all colors of blonde, brown, and black to get the ‘orange/red out.’  While I still add color to my hair, I go with my natural family color – auburn.”

Are you a natural haired girl? Share your tips in the comment section below!