242Naturalista: January 2013

My hair story

Hey guys, I'm back with another post. Happy New year to everyone.

The Back story
I got my first relaxer around 6/7 years old, not because my mom wanted to do it but because she didn't know how to handle my hair. After speaking with my mom she told me that my hair was really thick and coily especially in the middle. Prior to my relaxer, one of her friends would keep my hair braided down. So the cycle began, 2 week braided, lose out and wash and then braided again. Even with the relaxer my hair thrived because my hair kept treated and the braids were a low manipulation style. The only problem my mom found was that my hair was a bit dry. My stylist at the time was into hair care and she made sure that she cared for my locks.

In my teens, my hair was always bsl (bra strap length). I made sure that my hair was trimmed regularly and my stylists (one in particular) made sure I had hydration treatments to ensure that my hair was well cared for. I also began styling my own hair in my teens. I would wear buns but my hair was mostly wrapped. From time to time I would braid the front of my hair. After switching stylists twice, I noticed my hair dropped a bit because they used different products but I kept up with regular treatments. In high school I got my hair cut in a bob at the nape of my neck twice. I used heat (blow dryers, curling irons and flat irons) quite a bit in the last years of high school, but in my mind I would always balance it by braiding the front of my hair and rocking a bun (Lol). When getting my hair styled, I always opted to be put under the dry for roller sets or wraps, even though they took a long while, my hair really like them and I did not like the heat from the blow dryer.

My last relaxer

After having my last relaxer in April, I decided to transition the first week of May to Natural hair. I made this choice because I couldn't stand the headaches I got before a relaxer (that's one way I would gauge when I needed to get my hair relaxed). I also didn't like the scalp burns and flakes that were a result of them. I also got really curious about my curly hair and wanted to embrace my roots (my God given roots). My friends all had mixed emotions even though a number of them were natural. Everyone was so used to seeing my with long relaxed hair but I didn't buy into the nay say. However, after I began styling my transitioning hair, the majority of them embraced it. A couple of my friends would really dog me about bad hair days, which were few and far between but did happen sometimes when I was either gearing up for a wash day or was studying for a major test. My mom and aunts were also opposed at first but I won them over and guess what? my mom is now transitioning.

Somewhere deep down I knew I was making the right decision and that this decision was for myself and not anyone else. Transitioning has not been the easiest but I know the results will pay off.

So far during this transition process I've learned to take better care of my hair as well as my body. I guess that's the benefits of being a Naturalista.