Alberta 'natural hair' movement growing with meetups, product

A movement in Alberta has women with curly hair saying, drop the relaxer and love your curls.

A meetup in Calgary on Sunday drew about 100.

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Elaine Thompson came from Edmonton to network, get ideas and celebrate.

She says many of herfriends are going back to their natural hair.

"Before, when you were going into the corporate world, you had to have sleek, straight hair to just have that professional look," Thompson said.

She said though, that is all changing.

"We have good hair and it is time to start embracing our good hair and just letting our curls out and just doing what we do. My hair is so much better, I can wear it straight, I can wear it curly, I can wear it how I want to," Thompson explained.

"I am not just limited by one style."

The natural hair movement is driven by people with naturally curly hair, often black women, who chose not to change the texture of it with harsh chemicals, with a focus more on natural softening products.

It got a boost when Chris Rock's Good Hair documentary came out in 2009 highlightingthe challenges and pressures some African American women face with their curly hair.

Juliette Alexander was a vendor at the Calgary event.

She says the movement to go natural, is getting big in the province.

"I love to see that this natural hair community is just blossoming in Alberta," Alexander said.

"Everyone is trying to take part in this. Different events, meet ups, great opportunities to network."

She says as a child, she had a very different experience.

"A lot of us grew up with relaxed hair. Not appreciating it, not loving it, not thinking that our hair could grow," Alexander explained.

But that is changing.

"More people are feeling the confidence to wear their natural hair. It is slowly becoming more acceptable in society," she added.

Thompson agrees.

"All my friends, whether they live in England, Canada, Jamaica, the States, they have all gone natural," she said.

But both agree there is a shortage of natural products and education in the province.

That's where the meetup organizer, Jemelah Nicks, comes in.

This is the second annual event for Nicks, who 'went natural' about four years ago.

She says everyone is welcome at the event.

"I can't throw you under the bus because you come with extensions or you have relaxer in your hair. I will not throw you under the bus," Nicks said.

"I used to be that girl until I found the natural hair community, until I found resources."

Alexander said, other society will accept natural hair more easily if it's worn with authority.

"I think people are a lot more open-minded," Alexander said.

"We are embracing it so other people are willing to accept it more. You have to carry it with confidence."

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