Thank God I'm Natural- A Review

About the book:

Written by a Harvard graduate, Thank God I’m Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair is a must-read for any black woman who has suffered hair loss or breakage caused by relaxers — or has grown tired of spending thousands of dollars and her Saturday afternoons frying her kinky tresses into submission. Featuring the advice of celebrity stylists for Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, and Erykah Badu (among others), Thank God I’m Natural offers up-to-date information — and a plethora of tips to help women break free from wigs, weaves, and damaging chemical processes. Thank God I’m Natural also highlights the perspectives of every day woman from all walks of life, as well, as the author’s own personal experiences (both funny and sad) — working in corporate America with a kinky mane. While there is no shortage of information on this topic to be found on the Internet, Thank God I’m Natural is the most comprehensive natural hair guide on the market today, and the book black women need now more than ever before.

My Thoughts:

I have to admit, when I first heard about this book, I was sceptical. I wondered what I could possibly learn from it that I didn't already know. Boy was I in for a surprise!

TGIN is written in a clear and relatable style that will make the reader feel right at home. I quickly got the sense that the writer is a normal woman like the rest of us and has dealt with the same struggles with her hair and come out on the other side smiling. She shares information openly and does not condescend to or patronize the reader. I felt that the author genuinely wanted to help her readers.

When I first started reading, I skimmed through the book thinking I wouldn't get much from it, but as I got into it, I realised that the book had a lot to offer. I received insights on many aspects of natural hair including the history of our hair and why hair politics is in the state it is now. I think this is an important thing for everyone contemplating going natural to know. the book also gives professional advice on everything from dying to loc'ing natural hair. There is a section that explains the potential harm that relaxers can cause and gives real examples of people that have suffered as a result of relaxers. My favourite section is the one that gives detailed recipes for hair products that you can make using things in your kitchen. You may never have to buy a drugstore brand again!

I did have one small issue with the book. While it gave ideas for cute hairstyles to do on loc'd or loose hair, there were no instructions or tutorials. It did however give information on how to get detailed instructions for the styles.

My Verdict:

Overall, I would recommend this book to everyone, veterans, newbies and those in between. There is so much to learn from this book, you might find yourself rethinking your hair practices and looking deeper into why you went natural. I also recommend this book to anyone thinking of going natural. It will answer pretty much every question you have and help smoothe your journey.

For more information about Thank God I’m Natural, please visit www.thankgodimnatural.com. The book is now available in the UK at Waterstone’s Bookstore or online at www.amazon.co.uk