The 10 Best (and Worst) #NaturalHair Instagram Memes of 2012

Warning: Some may find a bit of the language in this post offensive!

Oh, Instagram. The things I stumble upon on Instagram…

No one is spared when it comes to the memes that people create teasing different groups of people.  NO ONE. Not even us natural hair fanatics. I noticed that some people didn’t take the natural hair memes too well while others found them hilarious. But you know what? Sometimes we need to laugh at ourselves. (If you think that you are not capable of this, you might want to exit the premises now!)

Now before we get started, a couple of these are not aimed specifically at natural hair, buuuuuut they are close enough and I still consider them relevant. So I present to you, ten of the best (and worst!!!) natural hair-related Instagram memes to ever make their way across my timeline…

 TEN. “I’m 6 months natural!!!” This is the first natural hair-related meme I remember surfacing on Instagram. Some were outraged and began tweeting our digital protests while some of us almost spit our beverage across the table while having lunch with our mother because the laughter crept up on us. I will admit that I laughed. Sorry. The “ho” part aside, we all know how pressed we can be about tracking our growth (DON’T ACT LIKE YOU DON’T STAND IN THE MIRROR PULLING ON YOUR HANGTIME & POST RESULTS ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER!!!). Things just get to be a little bit of a joke when we start celebrating progress that only we would notice because we see ourselves every day. It’s ok, boo. We don’t need the daily and weekly reports. Disappear for a year and then shock us with your before & after growth shots LOL!

NINE. ”I’m going natural!!!” Okay. So we all know that this natural hair thing is not always glorious. Many ladies go through that rough stage where they are trying to figure out how to style their hair that is now in a state they have never experienced before. Others struggle through that awkward length where it is too long for the go-to teeny weeny afro but too short for a ponytail. Let’s just agree that the newly natural struggle list can get to be quite extensive. But I still can’t help but chuckle at this picture.

EIGHT. I know you ladies will feel me on this one. This has actually happened to me before. “Oh, no…sorry. I just put my hair up for the night so I’ll have to pass.” Yes, it is that serious. Unless you have some shake and go style in place, it’s a wrap. You want me to take down all of these twists I spent an hour putting in to set my hair for tomorrow? Just to go out with you? And come back home after I am exhausted and barely have the energy to put the twists back in again? Ain’t nobody got time fo’ dat!!!!!

SEVEN. “I miss my long hair!” Honey…darling…sweetheart…babycakes…You mean you miss when your hair was longER? LOL! This one is hilarious simply because who can’t admit they’re delusional about their hair length sometimes!

SIX. Some people take having natural hair a little more seriously than they should. When we start being condescending and attacking someone’s character and values because of their choice of hairstyle, it gets to be a bit much. This meme was SUPER controversial and even us kinky-haired ladies had to step in and say it went too far. At some point, yes, hair straightening was symbolic of self-hate and trying to conform to a European standard of beauty. Now, people just like what they like. Are there still individuals out there who relax their hair because of deeper rooted issues? Probably. But the implications of this meme aren’t fair to those who just like the look.

FIVE. Alrighty…last one teasing everyone for being obsessed with hair length! Promise! LOL

FOUR. “Can I touch your hair?” NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! People ask to touch my hair all of the time. But I must admit that I don’t really care and usually say “yes.” However, many natural ladies HATE when people ask to touch their hair and have expressed urges to just snap out whenever someone pops the question. My issue is more about people reaching out to touch my hair without permission. And it is usually COMPLETE STRANGERS. Just wild.

THREE. “I like your hair…is that a weave?” No, honey. This is allllllllll me! I’ve heard lots of ladies say that they’ve been asked if their hair is a weave, especially naturals with longer hair. Something about achieving that perfect twist-out has people in disbelief that you could grow something that spectacular yourself. Others still hold on to the myth that Black hair doesn’t grow long. Nope! It is totally possible!

TWO. “Your hair is not natural!!!” Everyone has their own definition as to what counts as being natural. That’s fine. But I can’t help but poke fun at the people who have a full-on spazzmentation whenever someone violates one of their personal guidelines for what natural hair really is. Note that I said PERSONAL. Your definition of “natural” is just that–YOURS–and you can share your point of view with others all you want, but don’t try to impose it onto them.

ONE. Call me biased, but I put this meme as numero uno simply because Idris is on it. Ladies, we all know how much split ends and single-strand knots suck. They can really ruin a hairstyle. While I would appreciate being free of them all, tell me you wouldn’t be a tad frightened that a man did this for you…while you were sleeping at that! I’d have to have the “I need space” talk with him because this would be a little obsessive and overly dedicated. I still find this meme hilarious, though…and pleasing to the eye =) Idris, my love–I just want you to be happy too (with me).

Any memes (good or bad) that you think should have made the list? Let me know!

Related posts:

1. The #HGKWW Natural Hair Photo Challenge on Instagram!
2. Do people censor themselves when using the #NaturalHair tag?
3. Instagram Giveaway: Win the Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum!
4. Showing My Roots’ 2012 Natural Hair Cruise
5. HairGetsKinky named as Blog To Follow in 2012 by Naturally Me! Media