--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know when I used to chemically…" description: "\"I know when I used to chemically straighten mine, I did it because I wasn't comfortable with my natural hair. I thought it was too poofy, too kinky. So..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/amandla-stenberg-8396_go_i-know-when-i-used-to-chemically-straigh_2940556.jpg" --- # I know when I used to chemically straighten mine, I did it… ![“I know when I used to chemically straighten mine, I did it because I wasn't comfortable with my natural hair. I thought it was too poofy, too kinky. So for me, personally, when I started wearing it natural, it felt like I was blossoming because I was letting go of all the dead hair and all the…” quote by Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/amandla-stenberg-8396_go_i-know-when-i-used-to-chemically-straigh_2940556.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/amandla-stenberg-8396_go_i-know-when-i-used-to-chemically-straigh_2940556.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ac/amandla-stenberg-8396_go_i-know-when-i-used-to-chemically-straigh_2940556.jpg) > “I know when I used to chemically straighten mine, I did it because I wasn't comfortable with my natural hair. I thought it was too poofy, too kinky. So for me, personally, when I started wearing it natural, it felt like I was blossoming because I was letting go of all the dead hair and all the parts of me that had rejected my natural state.” [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Embracing natural hair represents personal liberation, shedding societal expectations and honoring one's authentic self. **In simple terms:** Accepting natural hair is personal liberation. Key Takeaway Embrace your authentic self. Themes identity self-acceptance beauty standards cultural heritage Mood empowering affirming Type personal cultural When to use this quote - personal grooming - media representation - self‑esteem workshops - cultural events Key Concepts self‑image body positivity Questions to Reflect On - How does your appearance affect your confidence? - What steps can you take to challenge beauty norms? A Different Perspective Societal pressure may still cause insecurity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) [Natural hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-hair/) ## Related quotes > [I decided to start embracing and wearing my natural hair, but there was only one problem; I didn't know what to do with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-elise/i-decided-to-start-embracing-and-wearing-my-natural-hair-but-there/) [Kimberly Elise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-elise/) > [I've done enough years on TV that I feel like it's a normal, comfortable, natural place to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-gosselin/i-ve-done-enough-years-on-tv-that-i-feel-like-it-s-a-normal/) [Kate Gosselin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-gosselin/) > [“I looked down at her face, with her flushed cheeks and damp strands of hair, and thought, Whether it's simply some fierce animal joining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-looked-down-at-her-face-with-her-flushed-cheeks-and-damp-strands-of/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [When I decided to crop what was left of my hair, I thought, 'It's all over. I'm never going to work again: it's basket…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/when-i-decided-to-crop-what-was-left-of-my-hair-i-thought-it-s-all/) [Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/) > [I thought Roseanne Roseannadanna and I had the same haircut...kind of pyramid-shaped. There was just something about her, and she had my hair! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rudolph/i-thought-roseanne-roseannadanna-and-i-had-the-same-haircut-kind-of/) [Maya Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rudolph/) > [I've waited my whole life to be able to have body hair - but I never thought I'd have back hair. But what are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/i-ve-waited-my-whole-life-to-be-able-to-have-body-hair-but-i-never/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [I wanted to be like my friends. I hung out with girls who had blue eyes and blond hair and I thought, 'I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-wanted-to-be-like-my-friends-i-hung-out-with-girls-who-had-blue/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [“For many thousands of years people had looked at expensive heads of hair and thought of how much food and warmth they represented, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/for-many-thousands-of-years-people-had-looked-at-expensive-heads-of/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [The beauty industry is not up to speed yet really on how to nourish Black hair, and so I thought if I just do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/griff/the-beauty-industry-is-not-up-to-speed-yet-really-on-how-to-nourish/) [Griff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/griff/) > [I didn't realize that everyone was so attracted to my hair. I thought, well what about my music?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/i-didn-t-realize-that-everyone-was-so-attracted-to-my-hair-i-thought/) [Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/) > [My spiked hair goes back about 15 years ago. I had long, curly rocker hair then. The woman who cuts my hair thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-fieri/my-spiked-hair-goes-back-about-15-years-ago-i-had-long-curly-rocker/) [Guy Fieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-fieri/) > [I haven't seen my natural hair color in 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinsley-mortimer/i-haven-t-seen-my-natural-hair-color-in-20-years/) [Tinsley Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinsley-mortimer/) > ['I love my natural hair,' said no one ever...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-my-natural-hair-said-no-one-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My natural hair is super frizzy and wavy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonita-gandhi/my-natural-hair-is-super-frizzy-and-wavy/) [Jonita Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonita-gandhi/) > [For Halloween I'm just gonna wear no makeup and natural hair and go as a monster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-halloween-i-m-just-gonna-wear-no-makeup-and-natural-hair-and-go/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Amandla Stenberg > [What would America be like if we loved black people as much as we loved black culture?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/what-would-america-be-like-if-we-loved-black-people-as-much-as-we/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [My hope is to see people of color in roles that do not emphasize race. Often times when movies are centered around people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/my-hope-is-to-see-people-of-color-in-roles-that-do-not-emphasize-race/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [I want to be fulfilled creatively as an actress and get to be in roles that are meaningful and impactful. I hope the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-want-to-be-fulfilled-creatively-as-an-actress-and-get-to-be-in/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [As a fan of the books, I feel fortunate to be part of 'The Hunger Games' family. It was an amazing experience; I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/as-a-fan-of-the-books-i-feel-fortunate-to-be-part-of-the-hunger-games/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [When we're growing up and being teenagers, oftentimes you try so hard to define yourself. You try to create an image of yourself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/when-we-re-growing-up-and-being-teenagers-oftentimes-you-try-so-hard/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [I've read the 'Mortal Instruments' series; I was obsessed with those.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-ve-read-the-mortal-instruments-series-i-was-obsessed-with-those/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [Whenever black women have a point, they're characterized as angry black women, and therefore the thing they're talking about is no longer of importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/whenever-black-women-have-a-point-they-re-characterized-as-angry/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [My sexuality's very fluid, and my gender is very fluid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/my-sexuality-s-very-fluid-and-my-gender-is-very-fluid/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [It's a tiny revolution to express yourself fully and be who you want to be, especially when systems tell you that you can't. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/it-s-a-tiny-revolution-to-express-yourself-fully-and-be-who-you-want/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [I think the best piece of advice that I would give is beauty is really just - I know it sounds cheesy - being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-think-the-best-piece-of-advice-that-i-would-give-is-beauty-is/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [My mom reminds me that all things are possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/my-mom-reminds-me-that-all-things-are-possible/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [I'm realizing that the people who criticize what I'm doing, their intentions and comments are not actually real.There's nothing happening in the real world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-m-realizing-that-the-people-who-criticize-what-i-m-doing-their/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [I'm just someone who cannot fake it. I can only do something with my full heart invested or just not do it at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-m-just-someone-who-cannot-fake-it-i-can-only-do-something-with-my/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [As I started to explore my gender identity, I didn't know how I could claim the title of 'feminist' without subscribing to the gender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/as-i-started-to-explore-my-gender-identity-i-didn-t-know-how-i-could/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [It's hard to find black roles that are just whimsical and fun and colorful. And I think, in many ways, that can be just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/it-s-hard-to-find-black-roles-that-are-just-whimsical-and-fun-and/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) [Explore all 81 Amandla Stenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) ## More Go quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [Intel has a very complete process that I go through any time I want to sell that ensures I have no insider information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/intel-has-a-very-complete-process-that-i-go-through-any-time-i-want/) [Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/) > [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [I go out there and I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-chubb/i-go-out-there-and-i-work/) [Nick Chubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-chubb/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-mings/as-much-as-you-want-to-improve-or-help-the-team-as-a-centre-back-your/) [Tyrone Mings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-mings/) > [I don't know what successful journaling really looks like... I think it really does look so different for everyone who does it, I'm always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-abrams/i-don-t-know-what-successful-journaling-really-looks-like-i-think-it/) [Gracie Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-abrams/) > [“Everywhere is home, let is go home”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzuco-hu-nh/everywhere-is-home-let-is-go-home/) Dzuco Huỳnh > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) Browse all 23,138 Go quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know when I used to chemically straighten mine, I did it because I wasn't comfortable with my natural hair. I thought it was too poofy, too kinky. 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