Whether we choose to twist it, press it, Afro it or lock it, few topics ignite friendships or frictions among Black women faster than how we choose to wear our hair.

What’s usually a matter of preference or practicality for women of other ethnicities, the style choices of African-Americans are often a meld of the personal and political, a dynamic that TX native De Phillips Johnson was exploring when she cut off her own relaxed hair and sought local resources for products and beauticians. What resulted was Nappiology Inc., a non-profit organization that embraces the unique beauty and characteristics of African-American hair.

Former WFAA (Channel 8) anchor Rene Syler, now an author and commentator, will moderate the organization’s annual expo Nov. 3 in Hurst. “I’ve actually had the privilege of watching Nappiology Inc. take root, so to speak,” Ms. Syler said. “That’s what I personally get out of going to the expos, people saying that they love and embrace me with all of these coils and curls coming out of my head, just the way I am, and it’s so reaffirming.”

Up until four years ago, Ms. Syler straightened her hair every six weeks in a process known as ‘relaxing,’ which requires chemicals to be applied to the roots and scalp to loosen the kinks. After leaving the hospital after a battle with bronchitis, a subsequent trip to the salon for a re-touch ended up breaking all of her hair off.

“I will never go back the chemicals or anything else related to that entire drama,” she says. “I’m not one of those people who believes that everyone should be natural, because people should do what works for them, but I just came to a place where I decided, ‘you’re either going to like and accept me for who I am, including how my hair grows out of my head, or you’re not.’”

Seeing Ms. Johnson’s headful of curls is what pushed Ms. Syler to finally work with her own hair texture. “De started following my site http://www.goodenoughmother.com/ and when I saw her picture, I reached out to her and said ‘Please tell me what I need to do.’ We talked, I studied a lot of youtube videos, and best of all, learning about my hair helped me to take better care of my daughter’s too.”

Like most other African-American women who’ve eschewed straightening and for the natural state, Ms. Syler has had to deal with conflicting opinions and attitudes. “Years ago, a stylist at CBS always stressed to me, ‘Wear clothes that you’re comfortable in, otherwise they’re wearing you.’ And that philosophy is the best way to describe my hair transformation. People always say to me, ‘You never have a bad hair day,’ and I say ‘Well, that’s because I’m letting it do what it was supposed to do.’“

The way Ms. Syler describes it, the annual Nappiology expo is more than an abundance of information and support—it’s a cultural and spiritual sanctuary for those who want to spread the good news about going, or becoming, a natural woman (or man). “It’s about sharing the journey and providing education for people. It’ll do your soul and spirit good.”

DETAILS: Nappiology Expo, 1601 Campus Dr, Hurst, TX on Saturday, November 3, 2012. 8am to 7pm (register at the link below below)

http://www.nappiology.net/nappiology-expo-2012-save-the-date/