hairstorys

At this point in my life I can honestly say that I am confident in my hair. Between 2003-2009, I was trapped in the constant cycle of finding ways to hide the way my natural hair looked. Beginning in middle school the story of my hair was braids, braids and more braids. In highschool I wanted a more "grown up look" and was introduced to a black woman's most detrimental hair style, glued in tracks! I don't recommend to ANYONE. This and a combination of relaxing and not seeing the signs of ungrowing, tired, damaged hair drove me insane and made me hate my hair. This also damaged my self-confidence as a teenager. It made me envy girls who could wear their real hair (natural or relaxed) and not have to keep spending money on hair that wasn't theirs. Finally one day I began researching and looking up ways to wear natural hair. After 3months without a relaxer I began to see my beautiful wave pattern of new growth and fell in love with it. I became almost impatient to jump in to "going natural". I began to transition with much anxiety about the decision I was making. It was unheard of amongst my friends to "go natural" or "big chop" so I was making a decision FOR ME that I knew was best for ME.

Shortly after, I made the mistake of chemically dying my hair, frying it with heat and wearing unprofessional micros that ate my hair at the temple. While transitioning, I began wearing sewn in weaves to tuck my hair away to grow. After my second and last sew in, my hair was weave free to grow. I left my hair alone, literally. It was in serious recovery mode from years and years of poor maintenance. After 9 months of transitioning (April-December), by wearing scarves and loose ponytails, I began to look more into the big chop. I never thought so many women were in the same boat as me at some point. I felt overwhelming support and inspiration by these women who had great results ...that I WANTED! Dec. 12 2009 I did a little chop and then again Feb. 26 2010 I did the big and final chop that my hair needed to be 100% natural and healthy. Ever since that day my whole spirit has been uplifted! I have never felt more ME in my life! It was like before I was trying to be someone I was not, trying to adjust to the Westernized standard of beauty that I saw amongst me. Going natural is a life decision that has helped me become the woman that I am destined to be. I believe that women of African descent everywhere need to embrace themselves naturally and set an example of beauty for our youth.

Honestly, I initially decided to go natural not because my hair was damaged, or due to society's misconception of beauty, or because I hated relaxing. I didn't. It was because I admired those women that wore their natural texture with pride and with grace. I had serious hair envy! It was just something about that hair and I really wanted to do the same. One of my close friends inspired me to care for my hair naturally and she is the reason why I made my decision. Her hair is beautiful; so full and thick. The versatility of styling natural hair is really what sold me.

But as I began to embark on this journey, I realized it was more than just the "look". It was a major self-transformation from the inside out. It was a mental, emotional, and very personal decision, because I had to realize that I would be going against the norm. The world may not embrace this change and I may quickly become the "oddball". I had to question if I was truly ready. My relaxed hair was a little past my shoulders for most of my teenage/adult life. The spring of 2007 (May) I decided it was time to go natural. I researched, read blogs, watched youtube vids, and I was so excited to do it. I transitioned for about 5 months, panicked because I needed a style for my friend's wedding (Sept), and decided to relax. FAIL #1.

The summer of 2008 came around. I transitioned another 4 or 5 months, but then I saw a cute Gabrielle Union style I wanted to try. So in November, I cut my hair for my 30th birthday AND relaxed it AGAIN! I felt so guilty, because all my friends were anticipating my going natural. I felt like I truly let them and myself down. FAIL #2.

Not long after my cut, maybe 2-3 months later, I decided the 3rd time is a charm. I got my last relaxer in March 2009 and never looked back. I knew long term transitioning was not in the cards for me. My friend and I talked in May about cutting my hair off. The thought of super short hair kinda scared me, but she was rocking a 2" TWA at the time and she looked so good! So we made a pact. She instantly became my accountability partner. She even made the hair appointment for me. She constantly reminded me of the upcoming moment. LOL!!! I got more and more nervous, but excited the closer it got. I transitioned for 3 months. On June 13th, with the support of my two BFFs at my side, I did the big chop! It was a scary, nerve wrecking, but liberating experience. I went from a neck length bob to .5" of hair in a matter of hours. To have my face fully exposed and no way to cover it up was a bit overwhelming for me, at first. Soon after I big chopped I felt self-conscious. I wanted to run and hide in the house or go out and buy a wig. However, my friends encouraged me to love it and love myself. This was the real me. So they made me go out amongst the public soon after that. Clearly, I wasn't feeling it, but it helped me find comfort in walking around with a .5" TWA. The next day, I woke up, took another look in the mirror, and at that point, I started to like it. I loved my curls and how soft my hair felt. Then each day after that it became easier and easier to wear it and love even more.

Fast forward over a year later, Nina and I (my hair) are still going strong! I love my hair and I just enjoy the journey so much more! To witness each growth phase from month to month is simply amazing! My hair is much longer now than my relaxed hair was as of March 2009. My confidence, self-image, fashion, attitude and swag has changed tremendously and for the better. To be told I'm an inspiration to others truly humbles me. I'm pleased to have come this far and I look forward to what's ahead for Nina and I. I'm a natural woman, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I went natural in 2004 with a little bit of help from the internet. I really did not know what I was doing. I transitioned for about a 2 years until the last bit of relaxed hair was cut off. I spent the better part of my collegiate experience in braids and corn rows. I wore a wash in go style for about three months when I was unable to get my hair pressed. I used to get my hair pressed every two weeks. I could hold on to a press well. After college, I would get my hair pressed but I was no longer getting college prices. I went back putting my hair in corn rows and added kinky and Senegalese twists to the mix. In 2006, I vowed never to get individual braids again after it took me three days and nights to take the suckers out. In 2008, I got my first full sew-in net weave. I was in and out of weaves and twists until December 2009. It was time for me to save some money and deal with my own hair. It's grown and I've learned what my hair needs and doesn't need. It's been great.

My transition began in 2005. I decided to move to Atlanta, Georgia, from Houston, Texas, and wondered if I would be able to find someone to do my hair in Atlanta for a decent price. I was moving to Atlanta without a job and basically only had enough money to survive for three months. Getting my hair done didn't quite fall into that budget. I found myself angry that I HAD to get my hair done every month and a half, then stopped and realized that it was a choice that I made. I felt like I was being forced to get relaxers, when, in reality, it was a conscious decision. As I continued thinking, I also realized that the black culture is one of the only, if not THE only, culture that systematically puts chemicals in our hair on a regular basis just to change the texture. I questioned why we feel the need to cover up the hair that naturally grows from our scalp. Not only do we feel the need to do it, we feel like we have to do it. I decided that I had an option and was not going to do it anymore.

May 24, 2005, about three weeks before I moved to Atlanta, was the last day I got a relaxer. The first few months were rough, trying to deal with two textures of hair, interviewing for jobs, and trying to control my new growth to look presentable for interviews. I'd flat iron my hair, and it would look nice for a day or two, but then it got to the point where my natural hair was so much thicker than my relaxed hair, making the ends of my hair look thin. I kept growing it until it got about 3 inches, and went in for a hair consultation December 27, 2005. I was trying to wait until my birthday in January to chop it off, but when I went in, the lady asked if I wanted to go ahead and do it then. I decided, why wait?

The more she chopped, the more excited I got. She finished cutting and got the barber to edge me up and even it out. After it was all over, I looked in the mirror and loved it!

No turning back! Now, I'm waiting for January to start dreads.