For years, I lived within the modern beauty standards. Like many, I spent hours and a fortune on products, treatments, and tools that tamed, altered, and disguised my natural hair and skin texture. Straighteners, relaxers, and skin products promising a complexion as smooth became my daily companions. Looking from this point, I understand that all of that was completely unnecessary and pointless, and it caused more damage than use.
But then, a magical switch happened. After years of dying my hair, and trying to find a perfect tone that matches my face, I found an old photo of my natural color and understood that in the end, my natural color suits me the best.
The thing is that people have a natural urge to make some changes, and they get bored easily which leads to some pointless decisions such as completely changing their natural look and appearance. Usually, it doesn’t even match their character and other physical features they have.
That is why I decided to go fully natural, not just regarding my hair, but also my skin. I found numerous benefits that I want to share with you now and make you think twice next time you decide to make changes.
Switching to A Natural Beauty Challenge
When I decided to switch to natural beauty, it meant getting to know my real hair and skin, not the versions I’d been altering with products and routines for years. I started by sorting through my beauty stash, tossing out anything with ingredients I couldn’t pronounce, and replacing them with simpler alternatives.
The first big step was letting my hair do its natural thing. I experimented with natural oils and DIY masks, which felt more healthy from the start. For my skin, I chose completely plant-based products and immediately saw improvements in its texture and appearance.
But the “switch” wasn’t smooth, because some unhealthy practices became a part of my daily routine. Some of them were using dry shampoo products when my hair was a bit dirty, which led to annoying dandruff. It took time to find the right natural products that worked for me. There were bad hair days and moments of doubt, where I missed the practical part of my old routine.
Despite these challenges, I knew that I was making positive and healthier choices for myself. I’ve never felt more in tune with my body, and I’ve learned to appreciate my genuine beauty without feeling the need to hide or change it.
So implementing new practices is challenging at the beginning. By that time, you simply get used to it and don’t think as much about it as you used at the beginning of the process. You will see that your natural skin and hair fit much better, and match your personality and overall appearance.
Of course, you still need to care about your hair, nails, and skin, but you will now use sustainable and DIY options that will benefit your look and health.
Important Note: When you switch to all-natural products, your hair and skin will need time to recover from the chemicals you’ve been using. They probably won’t look pretty enough during that transition and regeneration period, but it’s important to wait for a few months to reach to your beautiful genuine look.
The Psychology of Self-Acceptance
When we shift from the urge to meet imposed beauty standards to accepting our genuine looks, we engage in self-acceptance that carries powerful psychological benefits.
Body Positivity
Accepting our natural looks is an act of body positivity. This movement advocates for the acceptance of all bodies, no matter the size, shape, skin tone, or any other physical attribute, challenging the narrow definitions of beauty that dominate popular culture. When we adopt this perspective toward our own bodies, we cultivate a more forgiving and appreciative attitude toward ourselves.
Reduced Stress
The pressure to conform to conventional beauty standards often leads to a constant cycle of grooming and remodifying. This cycle can be mentally draining in long-term periods. In some serious cases, the stress associated with maintaining an appearance to fit societal norms can take a toll on mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues.
I have many friends that went through this and it is a nightmare, because it is present in your everyday life, from the morning when you look yourself in the mirror.
By accepting and loving our genuine features, we step off this never-ending cycle of constant self-modification.
Emotional Resilience
A less discussed but equally significant benefit of accepting our genuine appearance is the development of emotional resilience. The process of accepting your natural self in a world that often glorifies artificial beauty standards is an act of courage.
It involves facing and overcoming social stigma and negative beliefs about yourself. This transition strengthens emotional resilience, allowing individuals to handle criticism and rejection in various areas of life with grace and confidence.
It Saved Me Tons of Money
Finance often comes with some dose of stress, so saving money and not worrying about spending a fortune on beauty products will have a positive impact on your mental health. Natural ingredients that I use for my DIY recipes are so cheap, and they give you far more quantity.
You will notice a significant change in your finances – imagine that the money you used to spend on unnecessary unhealthy cosmetics suddenly stays in your hands. You can use it to improve yourself further.
Physical Benefits that You Will Feel Immediately
Natural beauty practices minimize the use of harsh chemicals and heat treatments on our bodies. This transition is not only a healthier option for you based on my personal experience, but it is also supported by dermatologists and trichologists. Here I will share with you how it worked out for me and what positive changes I faced immediately.
Reduced Hair Damage – Eliminating harsh chemicals and heat treatments prevents damage to the damage, reducing breakage, dryness, and split ends. I found out in one research that natural products have a significant role in growth, and make it healthier and more resistant to external factors.
Scalp Health – Minimizing chemical treatments and heat exposure can significantly improve scalp health. Experts point out that many scalp issues, such as dandruff and dermatitis, are caused by the chemicals in some care products and the excessive heat from styling tools.
Even though I wasn’t using styling tools, my hair was damaged from chemical products, can you imagine what happens to your scalp if you use both?
Restorate your natural oils – Switching to these beauty practices for your hair restores its natural oil balance, and improves moisture levels. This is important for preventing irritation, sensitivity, and conditions like eczema.
Better hair texture and quality – Avoiding chemical treatments will lead to better texture and quality. Genuine curls and waves become more defined and vibrant, and straight hair becomes shiny and healthy.
Healthy skin – The skin can heal from aggressive products, revealing its natural glow. I had allergies to some products that caused redness and itching. However, some of my family members had permanent consequences from using chemical products such as hyperpigmentation and continuous acne breakouts. Our skin is too gentle for heavy chemicals and using them for long terms, despite our skin’s ability to regenerate, can damage it permanently.
Premature aging – Certain chemicals and heat treatments can accelerate skin aging, leading to premature wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Keeping your skin moisturized with natural ingredients will prevent you from premature aging.
Cultural Significance and Identity of Natural Looks
Hair and skin texture hold profound cultural significance across the globe, serving as aspects of individual identity, history, and heritage. In many cultures, these physical attributes represent ties to ancestry, societal norms, and even resistance against cultural erasure or assimilation.
In Africa, hair is a powerful symbol of identity and freedom. Historical accounts reveal that hairstyles were used to share messages, maintain social status, and even guide enslaved Africans to freedom. Today, movements like the Natural Hair Movement demonstrate pride among Black individuals, encouraging them to love and accept their curls.
In Indigenous cultures around the world, hair holds significant spiritual and cultural meanings. For many Indigenous people, hair is seen as an extension of the self and a connection to the Earth. The act of cutting it can carry deep symbolic weight, often associated with periods of mourning or significant life changes.
In East Asian cultures, the historical preference for fair skin has roots in social and economic status indicators, with paler skin historically associated with wealth and nobility. However, there’s a growing movement among young Asians to challenge this norm by celebrating their genuine skin tones.
Latin America presents various hair and skin textures, reflecting its diverse ethnic backgrounds. Here, the concept of pelo malo (“bad hair”) has been challenged by individuals aiming to break the stigmas related to curly hair.
The Future of Beauty Standards
As the natural beauty movement gains popularity and acceptance, the future of beauty standards appears to be going toward inclusivity and diversity. The increasing acceptance of genuine hair and skin textures is not just a trend but a shift in social attitudes toward beauty. This transition looks like we will be moving forward to a variety of appearances, moving away from rigid, one-size-fits-all standards to celebrate individual uniqueness.
The potential for this shift is big, as many individuals grow awareness of genuine beauty. Also, the internet gives us the ability to educate ourselves on what is good and bad for us. Based on future demands, brands will continue to expand their product lines to cater to diverse needs and social media are expected to feature a broader spectrum of beauty, including sizes, shapes, colors, and textures. This transition towards inclusivity will not only change the products we see on shelves but also the stories and images that shape our understanding of beauty.
