At one point in her life, Kobe Campbell considered herself a natural hair warrior. Not just natural hair, kinky hair.

“I think there’s a part of me that felt like I want to represent kinky hair. I want to represent what it means to be a dark woman with beautiful, long kinky hair,” Campbell explained to her followers in an Instagram reel.

So it may come as a surprise that Campbell is now considering giving her kinks a rest.

“I am genuinely considering becoming a straight natural. I love my natural hair but I realized that I don’t have the time to give it the care it needs,” Campbell shared.

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Understanding Natural Hair Exhaustion

For years, the natural hair movement has empowered Black women to embrace their kinks, coils, and curls. This was a way of making a statement of self-love and resistance against Eurocentric beauty standards. However, more recently, many women have found themselves experiencing what can be described as “natural hair exhaustion.” This is considered a sense of burnout from the time, energy, and effort required to maintain their natural hair. As a result, an increasing number of women are choosing to become “straight naturals,” opting to regularly wear their natural hair in a straightened state for convenience and peace of mind.

Natural hair care is often seen as an act of love, but it can also be demanding. From lengthy wash days to the unpredictability of styling. Maintaining natural hair requires a level of dedication that can feel overwhelming. The process of detangling, deep conditioning, and more can consume hours, making it difficult to balance with busy schedules.

The Mental and Emotional Toll of Hair Care

For many women, this exhaustion is not just about time, it’s about mental and emotional well-being. The pressure to ensure hair is always in its best state for professional settings, social outings, or public appearances can contribute to stress. When hair doesn’t cooperate or a style doesn’t turn out as planned, it can impact confidence. It also creates an unnecessary layer of frustration. It can also become a source of stress when maintenance begins to feel overwhelming.

“I also was thinking about how it affects my mental health,” Campbell said in her reel. “As a Black woman knowing that you have you have to get on stage, knowing you have to speak in spaces and feeling like I don’t feel confident because my hair is not done or didn’t you know the twist out didn’t dry or whatever it is and realizing like it is ok to pick an easier path.”

Many women who once took pride in the full experience of natural hair are now prioritizing ease and simplicity. The reality is that life’s demands—careers, relationships, self-care, and personal goals—often take precedence, and simplifying hair care can be a practical decision rather than an emotional rejection of natural texture.

The Shift to Heat Straight Naturals

The choice to regularly wear heat straightened hair is becoming more common among natural-haired women. This shift is not about rejecting natural beauty—it’s about finding a balance that makes sense for individual lifestyles. For some, heat straightening allows for low-maintenance styling, reduced tangling, and less daily manipulation, which can contribute to healthier hair in the long run.

Additionally, some women feel a sense of freedom in detaching from the expectations placed on natural hair. The natural hair movement has often carried an unspoken pressure to represent and uphold an image of Black beauty, particularly for those with kinkier textures. While this representation is important, it should not come at the cost of personal comfort and well-being. Choosing straight styles as a regular option does not make someone any less connected to their natural hair journey—it simply reflects an evolving perspective on what natural hair care can look like.

Some Naturals Returning to Relaxed Hair

The boom of the natural hair movement resulted in a major departure from a former staple in the Black hair community: relaxers. As the popularity of natural hair grew, salon clients seeking relaxers plummeted from 90 percent to 25 percent. While relaxers remain less common there are those who are deciding to return to the practice. Many TikTok users have shared glimpses of their journeys returning to relaxers after being natural, celebrating the ease of smoother hair. For some, getting a relaxer is a matter of convenience. Living an overstimulating life that’s quick and busy, styling your hair is much less of a hassle when it’s relaxed.

Embracing Versatility in the Natural Hair Journey

The beauty of natural hair is its versatility. Being natural does not mean a woman must always wear her hair in its curly state—protective styles, braids, wigs, and straightened looks all fall under the umbrella of natural hair choices. The most important thing is that Black women feel empowered to make hair decisions that work best for them without guilt or external pressure.

As the natural hair movement continues to evolve, the definition of what it means to be natural is expanding. Whether kinky, coily, straight, or somewhere in between, hair should be about self-expression, ease, and confidence. The straight natural movement is not a step backward—it is simply another way for Black women to reclaim autonomy over their beauty choices and prioritize what makes them feel their best.

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