It’s no secret to most of y’all that know me that I’m going through the transition from relaxed to natural hair. But unless I actually tell people, they have no idea. See, I’m one of THOSE chicks… …the ones that have a standing weekly salon appointment. My hair gets fried, dyed and laid to the side ev-uh-ree Wednesday.
In fact, going natural happened on a fluke. I’d been contemplating it for years, but never found the right time. I will have been w/ my stylist for 9 years on my b-day. I’ve gone from bra-strap to Halle Berry Boomerang length hair and most recently the Victoria Beckham (aka the SoJo circa 1995). My stylist became ill right around New Year’s and had to take some time off. Since I didn’t trust just anyone putting in my relaxer, I chose to wait the 2 1/2 mnths until her return and by that time had gotten used to having my roots pressed.
Back in my early 20′s (when the time seemed so far, far away) I bragged that on my 35th b-day, I would loc my tresses. But as the time drew nearer (I’ll be 34 in a few weeks) , I began to punk out. As God would have it, I had the opportunity to watch my niece transition to natural during the 2 yrs that she lived with me. Her process seemed a lot less dramatic and a beautiful transition to observe. She and I share the same hair texture, so as I watched her already fast-growing hair turn into wildfire – I thought hmmmm…..
And so far, so good. I’ve noticed a few conversations in the blogosphere about the Hair Wars (natural vs. relaxed) and (men vs. women), but I’ve been blessed to not have those issues.
The most self-conscious I have been so far was when Kindred asked me to text him pictures of my hair while at the salon a while back. I remember getting into a mini-tiff w/ him because although I took the pics, I was too shy to send them. This was months ago, and I can tell how much I’ve grown because I’m willing to post one of the ones that I was SO anxious about here for you guys.
I have even let him come to the salon w/ me since then, which was a HUGE deal for me – since I live by the “don’t let a man see you lookin’ crazy TOO often” rule, which I have now renamed the Sweatpants and Birkenstocks Syndrome:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE-BlQT3ND8]
That day in the salon, my body froze a couple of times as he fixed his eyes on mine and he tilted his head to the side, but then he smiled with his eyes doing their usual twinkle/crinkle with amusement thing and I relaxed.
I’ve been encouraged by both real-life friends and bloggers *side-eyeing Serenity 23* to go for the BC (Big Chop), but while I’m not quite ready for all of that, I admit that my 35th b-day next year has me excited to see what my hairstyle will be….
I did the big chop about 6 months ago and I am so happy I did. I love being natural! Good luck on your journey.
Thanks! I’m enjoying every minute of it!
Not that my opinion matters, but I think you should listen to your 20′s self and loc it up. Naturally (pun!), I’m partial to them, but I think loc’d tresses fit your personality perfectly.
HA! You think you know me.
I still haven’t given up on that thought. I’ve been asking my loc’d friends a billion questions. I only recently found out that I don’t have to start from scratch, that I can loc at any length so we’ll definitely see!
I agree. Loc’d would be soooooooo her!
Been a fan of natural hair since my sister’s lion like main would block my view of the smurfs on saturday morning. Me & my brother called it, “the wild style.” Being where the wild things are buffs. BTW I saw the most georgeous mini fro this weekend. It was perfectly edged up off black. I mean it was so tight it looked like spray painted styrofoam. She was a looker too. N E way. Do you. A good friend of mine recently lopped off her seven year old luxuriously lovely locks. But natural hair ain’t leaving her M.O. Plus them marcel irons is the truth on a head.
I love seeing women w/ any type of hairstyle that’s flattering. Like S_23 said, you know your stuff!
Wudaman surely knows a lot about women’s hair! And I won’t say anything ~quietly screaming BC already~! Did your niece BC? What’s her hair look like now? I remember when I use to read blog arguments about natural vs. relaxed hair I wouldn’t even entertain them b/c I wasn’t giving up my perm for nobody, especially when I wore extra short haircuts. But I have to say I absolutely love my hair, even though I complain at least daily about all the time it takes to do twist outs, coils, etc. Hey, maybe the wind will blow one day and you’ll say “What the hell let me cut it off.” LOL
My niece didn’t BC. My stylist cut inches off every 6-8 wks like she’s doing mine. But when she moved to Savannah in August, she cut ALL of it off. Like I read in one of your posts, her main reason was because the constant pressing was messing up her natural curl pattern.
Everytime, I look at your pics, I get THAT much closer to wanting to. Your hair is AMAZING!! But then, I am so lazy and have gotten out of the habit of learning and styling it. That’s what stops me from doing it. Maybe this summer….
Have fun. Hair is not that serious. It keeps you warm in the cold and keeps the sun from baking your head in the heat.
Uh…yeah…I would tend to believe you really thought that except I remember on your old blogs your excitement over your blowout and the pics you posted. Your hair was beautiful and you were happy about more than just your hair keeping your head warm/protected. You liked the way it felt and how good you looked. o_O
My husband has started making my hair appointments and paying the woman so I can’t not go. I told him I have never been the type to fight my kinks. He told me I used to travel to L.A. to get my hair done and went regularly once I moved and that I liked getting it done. I remembered the travel but I said I liked L.A. and hair was a good excuse to visit. That seems so long ago.
Chica…I never did a big chop. I just kept cutting a little bit more than a trim off each time I went in to get some maintenance done on my hair. Eventually there was no relaxer left.
My reasons were just like yours though. I stopped going in to get my hair done when my stylist had to go to Florida to take care of her father for a while and by the time she came back I liked not having to keep an appointment. LOL
Good luck girl…it’s fun if you let it be.
Yeah, it’s a lot of fun. Everytime I go to the salon, it’s like remembering parts of my childhood that I’d forgotten. Looking in the mirror is like seeing the little girl version of me which I LOVE!
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