Cultivating the social side of kinks and coils with Meetup.com.

Therapeutically speaking, a support group is one of the key components to making a healthy transition from one state of being to another. From a social point of view, support groups can provide its members outlets to express their creativity to their peers and share informational resources in a casual setting. Women across the global have recognized the benefits of support groups for centuries and have relied on the power of numbers to help them cope, grow and learn. On a general level, church, school and even work environments are where many women band together in support of one another on such universal themes as motherhood, marriage and vocational advancement. But when it comes to natural hair, because the movement is still pretty much in its social toddlerhood stages with no set protocol for interaction among naturals, many women feel alienated when it comes to finding a face-to-face support network. Fortunately for natural newbies, Meetup.com provides a medium for social and supportive interaction to help make the transition from relaxed to natural a breeze.

Meetup.com is a Website that allows people from all walks of life to form collaborative networks with others based on a shared interest. In many ways it’s set up like any other social networking site, like Facebook or the Ning networks, by providing Webpages for local organizations to share information ideas. But where Meetup differs from its counterparts is in its emphasis on facilitating face-to-face interaction between its 6.1 million group members in lieu of simply posting one-dimensional text. In that aspect, it serves as an organizational hub for groups to coordinate events that are of value to its member base and its surrounding community as well. This is a great service for natural hair collectives because it allows women (and men too) to personally learn how to care for their natural hair and receive hands-on support that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

Naturally Me! is one of two Meetup groups available for Columbus naturals, and its members have nothing but good things to say about the experience.

“If you are a person who is natural, transitioning or thinking about it, joining this group allows you to interact with others who are on this same journey,” states Michelle who has been a Nappturally Me! member since August of last year. “[Members] can give you tips on what to do and what not to do to and/or with your hair. Sure you can probably find the information on the internet, but you get to see up close and personal what real napptural hair should/could look like - you can't do that online!”

Because so much can be lost in the translation of text communication when it comes to conveying emotion or adequate instruction, being able to physically meet can help drive the important elements involved in the natural hair movement home in a way that is realistic and relatable. Additionally, being a part of Meetup lends and air of credibility to your organization by “backing” your efforts up with a reputable and highly recognizable brand. This aspect can help to educate the general public about the positives surrounding natural hair which will go a long way toward dispelling the myths that fuel society’s apprehension to ethnic textures. After an educational lecture conducted by author and Nappturally Me! member M. Michelle George at Raisin Rack Natural Food Store in Westerville, Johnnie Enloe expressed gratitude at having learned more about textured hair than she ever had been exposed to before.

“I feel so fortunate to have been a part of this,” the department manager stated after an emotional retelling of a hair cutting mishap that left her feeling the way a lot of Black women feel about their hair in its natural state. “There is so much that I didn’t know and learned today. I will be happy to have more events like this in the future.”

The second Columbus natural hair Meetup group, Natural Sistas in Ohio, is relatively new having just been founded in February of this year. Organized by Columbus resident Carol Johnson, this group was created with a two-fold principle in mind. Not only will it help to educate members on the various aspects of transitioning to and growing out a healthy head of textured tresses, Natural Sistas in Ohio will serve as a social point for cultural edification.

“I want the group to be a totally Afrocentric experience,” states Johnson. “I want to create a group that allows members to get back to their ethnic foundations, starting with hair and moving on into other aspects like spirituality and other things that are unique to us.”

Natural hair Meetup events can be member specific events like the screening of Chris Rock's "Good Hair" Nappturally Me! sponsored earlier this year, or a group of representatives coming together at a local event like The Motherland Heritage & Unity Festival which several members of Natural Sistas in Ohio plans to attend on June 5th.  

With over 60, 000 local Meetup groups in existence, finding a natural hair group in your area is as easy as visiting the Website and plugging in “natural hair” and your location into the search fields. If there presently isn’t a group in your area, Meetup.com allows you to place yourself on a list to be alerted when one becomes organized, or gives you the option to create one yourself. Use of the Website as a group organizer is not free, however. Each group is assessed a fee billed to the group’s organizer to the tune of $72 for six months, $45 for three months or $19 for one month. This fee can be met by requesting dues or donations from your members, which may help weed out people who are serious about creating a meaningful group. While many see this as a risky expense for an idea that may not take flight, Meetup.com has a thirty day, no questions asked refund policy if your group is not successful.

Realistically, belonging to a Meetup.com group isn’t necessary to get your natural hair communing on. Anyone interested in forming a social support group to celebrate coiled strands could very well set up a page on Facebook or a group on Myspace and coordinate events via those mediums. However, with Meetup.com being a Website that is strictly focused on helping group coordinate interpersonal events, chances are better that the members who come to your group will be more sincere about helping you create an experience that is true to the principles of your natural hair vision.

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