Thank God I'm Natural by Chris-Tia Donaldson: Book Review

Longtime book staples like Let's Talk Hair by Pamela Farrell and Good Hair by the hilarious Lonnice Brittenum Bonner deserve a place on every hair lover's shelf, but make room for a recent publication, Thank God I'm Natural by Chris-Tia Donaldson. This in-depth look at wearing naturally textured tresses in today's world is a good resource for anyone making the leap from chemically-altered hair to a more natural style.

If you're completely new to the language of hair, and there are many women out there like this, this book will help to educate you. It's especially valuable to anyone seeking to make that change from relaxed locks to a natural mane. Sure, the Internet is useful for that, but if you like having a book in your hands (or on your nook or Kindle et al) that you can carry around and refer to whenever you like, a resource like this is just handy.

Sixteen chapters, plus a Frequently Asked Questions section, glossary, epilogue and more cover natural hair territory extremely well. You'll find any topic covered, from history to basic care to locs to making your own products. Plus, there are plenty of photos that readers can use for inspiration and motivation -- for those times when transitioning to or maintaining a natural look seems so difficult.

Ms. Donaldson begins the book with her own hair journey, complete with pictures, which showcase just how diverse and beautiful highly-textured locks are.

Maybe you're looking for an inspirational journal or you want to get your hands on as much information as possible. The most helpful books are easy for readers to connect with and understand -- Thank God I'm Natural does that and more. Each chapter ends with a "Key Points to Remember" section, which is a brief summary of the chapter. It's a nice touch for readers to see those points at a glance and to keep in mind the main topics of discussion.

It flows in a logical progression and is full of educational tips and advice. Even if you've worn natural styles for years or have never had a relaxer, you may find yourself learning something new.

Specific Topics

• A complete chapter on growing locs and maintaining them, with product suggestions
• Hair color, always a fave among women
• The anatomy of hair, or why black hair is the way it is
• Differentiating and categorizing your unique texture
• Homemade products
• Hair loss -- the why and what to do about it
• Product suggestions, according to hair type
• Salon directory, including both US and International businesses
• Plenty more!

My only complaint about the book is that it contains typos throughout. Depending on how much of a language/grammar stickler you are, this may or may not bother you or distract from the overall message and information found inside it. To me, the benefits of the type of knowledge gained do outweigh these minor typographical errors, but it never hurts to have a book edited thoroughly before it makes it to press.

This book is for the man or woman -- mother, father, guardian, grandparent, relative or friend -- who wants education about black hair along with styling. If you're looking for product recommendations, solutions for problems, tips on making it through difficult hair days, real information on relaxers and so forth, you'll find it here. Add it to your library of hair care books, from historical publications to style guides -- it'll fit right in.

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.