Sadly, there has always been some beef between women who perm their hair and women who wear their hair naturally in the black community.  The truth is that there are pros and cons to each approach.

Those with natural hair will have healthier, stronger hair that is less prone to breakage, as long as its well taken care of and kept moisturized.  Because natural hair is generally stronger, it is better able to handle occasional heat from flat irons and chemicals from hair dye.  Relaxers use powerful chemicals that don’t promote the health of your hair and may cause reactions to those sensitive to the ingredients.

Natural hair may need more attention, though.  Natural kinky hair generally does very well when it’s co-washed at least one a week, moisturized daily and detangled as often as is feasible.  Many women with natural hair feel that this is a “childish” look for them, because in many families, a little girls’ fist relaxer is almost like a rite of passage. Relaxed hair also takes less time to comb and style and allows your true length to be shown.

Those with permed hair will know that their hair styles don’t usually last too long, though.  Heat causes frizz, rainfall will cause permed heads to scatter in all directions, searching for shelter and many women know about constantly forking over money to maintain this look. Relaxers are also pretty permenent.  They can’t be undone, so if you decide that you are done with your relaxed look, you will either need to transition your hair and deal with both textures for a while or do the “BC,” or the “big chop,” doing away with the relaxed ends.

The final answer is that there is no final answer for anyone.  Each one of us needs to decide for ourselves how to wear our hair and its always best to make as informed a decision as possible.