Thinking back, I really wish I had known more about my hair. I knew I loved my hair. I just really didn’t know what it was capable of. We’ve had our times of confusion where I didn’t know what my hair was doing or what I should do with it. That’s probably when throwing it in a ponytail became my go-to hair style. I’m just saying.
I’m at a place now where I’m really in love with my hair and I am in awe of it. I love the way it curls and the freedom I feel just from letting my tendrils flow. My only beef is with myself. I’m mad that it took me so long to get here. Let me back up.
When I was younger, I was like many black girls. On the weekend, I was in my mom’s kitchen getting my hair pressed. The smell of hair burning as the hot comb hit the stove was just a part of the process. Once I stopped getting my hair pressed it was on to the Jheri curl. WHY??? Well, my cousins and friends had a Jheri curl and so I thought I had to have one too. It wasn’t my best look. At all. Eventually, I let that go (probably not soon enough) and moved on to the creamy crack aka relaxer. I kept a relaxer for years. I hadn’t even considered something different.
Making the Transition
Once I made my way to college the relaxers days were numbered. It wasn’t even intentional. I just forgot to touch up my relaxer. I figured if it was something I could forget about then maybe I didn’t need a relaxer. So, I stopped. I haven’t had a relaxer since. Instead, I kept hair appointments on the calendar to maintain my ends and flat ironed my hair. I kept that going up until the last almost six years or so. That’s when there was a big change for me.
Of course, it involves my kids. My babies were in daycare and everyone around them had long, straight hair. My son loved my hair. He always has. I started thinking of my daughter. Her hair has always been full of curls. I wanted her to see some curly hair other than hers. I wanted her to know that her hair is normal and beautiful. So, I started to explore wearing my curly hair on a regular basis. I have gone back to straight hair here and there, but I’m pretty committed to these curls.
I’m loving how I’m able to explore my hair and just let it be. I used to hate big hair and now the bigger it is, the better! My kids’ response to my hair has been the best. Both of them LOVE my curls. My daughter wants her hair to be just like mine. Her hair is so long and thick that it stays in ponytails and braids. I take her braids down sometimes and just let the waves flow. The girl is my hair crush.
It has definitely been a journey with my hair and I’m loving where we are now. I’m loving that there are so many options for naturalistas these days. From products to whole salons, it’s a new day. All of these options make it easier to love on my locks. The new song “My Hair, My Crown” by Kelly Rowland is showing love to all locks, no matter how we rock them.
The journey with my hair is about more than my hair in my eyes. It’s one more step in a self-love journey. Taking the time to learn, grow and love my hair as it grows out of my hair has given me a whole new appreciation for it. It’s made me think about other areas of my body that maybe I haven’t been paying attention to or showing love. The little tummy I sport after having two kids, deserves some love. While I’m actively working to reduce it, I still love it for what it represents. My babies were nurtured and grown in that belly. It’s a pretty amazing part of my body.
I’m taking a closer look at myself and showing gratitude to every part of me. From my head down to my toes, I’m grateful for this body and the spirit it carries. It’s serving me well.
Have you transitioned your hair from chemically treated to natural? What’s the biggest change you’ve made with your hair?
