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Relaxer sales have dropped almost 20% in SA as women choose natural hair

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Friends wearing their natural hair differently
Friends wearing their natural hair differently

The natural hair movement is growing. 

More women, locally and globally, are embracing their natural hair and the sales for relaxers and chemical hair products are reportedly dropping.

According to an article in Quartz Africa, the increase of women going natural has caused relaxer sales to drop by 18.6% during the period of 2013 and 2015. "Clicks did not give official data," Lynsey Chutel reports in the article, "but say they have identified the same trends in their stores around southern Africa." 

READ MORE: The best hair wash day secret you wish you'd known since you went natural 

“Increasingly,” she writes, “women of colour all over the world are choosing to wear their hair naturally, a cultural transition that has as much psychological value for them as commercial value for the manufacturers and stores finally catering to them.” 

Before, we had very limited options in terms of what we could do with our hair, but now there is an array of products that can be used to nurture and maintain natural hair. In addition to the fact that the hair care industry now better caters for women with natural hair, more women feel confident to celebrate their roots and encourage other women to do the same. As Lynsey explains in her article, this wasn't the case several years before, when 'nappy' hair "often felt like a burden" to women everywhere. 

These are the stats that were collected by Mintel, as reported by PremiumBeautyNews.com

READ MORE: Why am I losing my hair? 

We've rounded up a few articles that you absolutely need to read if you're thinking of going natural, or if you just want tips on maintaining your crown. 

1. "They never knew what to do with my hair"

This one is to remind you that you are not alone in your natural hair struggles. Since people are only getting the hang of it now, and global brands are just starting to develop products specifically for natural hair, there will be times when it will feel like your natural hair has no place in the world, but it really does. 

2. These natural hair looks from New York Fashion Week are amazing - and easy to do at home too 

Before, natural hair could be worn in only three ways: braided, tied, or just combed out. Now, you can wear your hair any way you feel like wearing it; treating it like a canvas and expression of self. The possibilities are infinite! 

3. Nomzamo Mbatha’s 5 hair care tips 

Hair care tips from a queen herself. What more could we ask for? 

4. Hair colour trends 2018: how to apply them to your natural hair 

You probably thought there's no way you could colour natural hair, right? Well, there is, and the options are all so tempting! 

5. Nappily ever after – how to find yourself after the big chop 

Many women begin their natural hair journeys by first cutting off their relaxed hair and starting from scratch. Regardless of what your reasons for the chop are, the journey to re-growing your hair and learning to love it (again) is a beautiful one.

This article shares a few women's hair journeys to their 'nappily ever after'. 

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