When the natural hair movement swept America a decade ago, it was supposed to encourage Black women to love their hair in its natural state with the help of products and regimens specific to and best for Black hair. But by glamorizing looser curls and prioritizing techniques and products to create defined curls, the movement focuses less on loving textured hair and more on manipulating those kinks into curls.

It could be argued that the movement has failed Black women by convincing them that their natural hair is as acceptable and professional as anyone elses but only when it leans toward Eurocentric beauty standards.

A 2017 study by the Perception Institute found that while Black women in the natural hair community have significantly more positive attitudes toward textured hair than other women, Black women still perceive a level of social stigma against textured hair. Preferred hairstyles among Black women in the natural hair community show how much that perceived stigma affects Black womens relationship with their own hair.

Lati Horton, a 22-year-old from Kansas City, Missouri, chopped off her relaxed hair because she thought her natural kinks looked cute, but quickly discovered the public didnt agree.

When out with her sisters, who have noticeably looser textures, people respond to her look less favorably.

You can tell they prefer one hair texture over the other, Horton told HuffPost. The one with wavy hair, shell get better responses about her hairstyles than I will if I wear it natural.