We don’t go ‘Natural’, we return. Natural is where it all began- Anonymous
Hello darlings, it’s Friday! And it’s definitely going to be a long weekend. One weekend I am super excited about as it’s forever going to be a reminder about one of the best decisions I took in my life.
Everyone who knows me, will know I am super obsessed about my hair! Yes I am that petty about little things.
I remember mentioning to my mom before I chopped off my hair about my intentions and her response was hilarious and strange. She told me only widows cut their hair and I was like, “Ah, thank God I’m not married yet, so I still can while I can.” Then she became personal and emotional about it. Telling me how beautiful my hair was and how awful I’d look if I cut it.
Fast forward to 4 months later, I sat down in my room in front of my mirror and start cutting off with a scissors. I could have gone to the barber’s shop before then but I wasn’t ready to listen to any ‘Word of Encouragement’ so I made my own decision with my own hands.
Before I cut this hair though, I stopped using relaxer on my hair for about 5 months. This is called transition period. When I was satisfied of the desired length after cutting at home, I visited a barber’s shop and trim all to an equal length and I was happy and free!
A number of people called me out, wondering why I had to, they don’t understand and may never do. Some salute my courage, while some asked if I was ill.
What actually made me cut my hair was because my chemical hair wasn’t just growing anymore and the way it fall off, you’d think I was dying. I just got tired and my edges was becoming a mess! I just wanted to be different, feel different, and do what people say I can never do! I just knew I had had enough and I had to start all over again.
I started reading every article on natural hair blogs. I joined several natural hair channels on BBM and even watched YouTube videos of natural hair styles and how to make them.
A number of people have called me to tell me they love my hair and how I have been able to keep it, grow it and it’s still so full. Okay, naturally I have a very full hair. But I never realized how full it was until I became natural and my hair is a 4c hair so you can imagine how easily my edges get laid and wavy!
One thing I did not realize on time is how dangerous it is to visit salons that have zero knowledge about natural hair. They only care about making your hair the same way they’d make chemical hair. The first 6 months, my hair was a mess. They comb it like their lives depend on it, they use heat on it all the time to make sure it’s soft enough to plait and the way they pull my edges, you’d think it’s a farmland they are plowing!
Protective Styles: Crotchet Braid
I almost returned back to my relaxer. My hair kept cutting and shedding and I was sad. Until I read somewhere that we have Naturalistas Salon and all I did was google for one close to me and that was the end. Although, they could be pricey but it’s worth it.
On days when I cannot afford them, I wig my hair!
Girls with kinks, still get winks
I remember some days when I would be sad because I felt my hair wasnt growing…some of you will laugh…but we do go through this phase but trust me, natural hair grows.
Have you read, Grow The Fro
Let me share some of my regimen with you and tips to growing and maintaining my hair:
- Identify your hair type
- Avoid styles that are too tight
- Install more of crotchet if you love braids
- Please wash your hair often, natural hair won’t survive around dirt
- Never ever go out without hydrating and moisturizing your hair
- Keep a bottle of mixed coconut oil and water in your bag at all times
- Stay away from sulfate filled product- I mostly use Argan and Cantu products
- Have wigs please! It saves you on days when you don’t wanna wash and go and you are tired of protective styles…
- Get a satin bonnet and ditch the regular hair net
- Wash and Go ain’t bad ideas
- Read everything readable on Natural hair
- Maintain a regiment that best work for you…could even be just water and coconut oil
- …lastly, love your hair as you love yourself, it’s the best gift ever
There you have it fellow naturalistas, I hope it was fun reading as it was fun for me writing this. If you have more questions, feel free to email me on …let’s chat.
You can also send your Natural Hair journey to us, we would love to read and post on the blog.
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P.S: My mom just got to know that I eventually cut my hair hair last week, after 17months! You need to see the shock on her face but she loves it now…hehehehe!
Awwwnnn! I’m loving my natural hair journey! I remember the look on my mom’s face when I dived in the scissors 5 months ago after 7 months of transitioning without treatment (ikr!). . . took me a lot of courage to get there and today I just decided to start growing the hair via protective styling after 5 solid months of rocking the TWA! thanks for sharing that number 3 tip! ???
Author
Mothers always find it hard to swallow?? I wonder why tho? Braids can damage natural hair! Thanks for reading and leaving a comment, darling??
My very pleasure darling! Lemme go and look for a crochet to install or should I just get a pixie cut? . . . it AF
Well.
Author
That pixie cut is bae too tho! I really dunno what to do to my hair this weekend too
Pixie cut it is then.
Women and hair trouble. Men sometimes barely know the difference these days cos y’all have made wigs, weaves etc permanent fixtures.
Author
??? That’s why you gotta appreciate a woman on natural hair when you see one. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment
I’m definitely slacking on the satin bonnet thing at night. Loool I need to step up my natural game up! I also don’t have very full hair and it’s at an awkward length so a lot of styles just look weird now. It’s definitely a journey, but I will never change a thing! I will love my hair at any length or stage or thickness!
Great post!
Pearl || thepearlylife.wordpress.com
Author
Yaaaaas! That’s the spirit girl??? Thanks for reading, Pearl??
I’ve been wanting to but my mom! I’m so tempted though! Great one!
Author
Take your time, dear ? And mothers though ?♀️
Boy!!! I love your hair. Started my natural hair journey a year ago, didn’t bother going to the salon too just dived the scissors and trimmed it all off to a veryyy low cut. I’m enjoying it now though. It’s cute watching your natural hair grow.
I don’t get notifications of your post in my feeds again. Dunno what’s happening
Author
Aw, you could try subscribing with your email. Guess that should work but I’d look into it.
Author
Natural hair is bae, dear ?? It’s super cute watching it grow. My best days are wash days…? that feeling is ‘heaven’??
Wash days ain’t fun for me, once water touches my hair, it’s all soft and nice. Wait till it dries, it shrinks and becomes even stronger and harder to comb
Author
Aw, it happens to all of us but you could get fabulous products to make it softer and then, you don’t really need to comb your hair all the time. I hardly do except need be-
Wash days ain’t fun for me. It’s all soft and nice after washing. Wait till it’s dry, it shrinks and becomes even stronger and harder to comb