Whoo-Wee!!! If
someone had told me that going from a relaxer to natural hair would have been
like this, I would have just said, “Yeah, never mind.” This transition is definitely for the strong,
not the weak.
From 1998 through 2001, my hair was short and natural and I loved it, but I also loved the creamy crack. Since that time, I have tried this transition on two or three separate
occasions, but each time the creamy crack has called me back. This time I plan to hang in there and do what
I must to be natural. Now, I am the
first to admit that my sister, Wendy, was the first to inspire me to make this
transition. If I mention this is
too difficult, she tells me that she does not want to hear it and she keeps it
moving. My sister, Heather, is natural
too, she does not say anything to me about it, but I can tell when she looks at
my relaxed head she is thinking, “Ree, let that go.” My cousin, Lisa, is all-natural, has been for a long time and she loves
it. My girlfriend, Deborah, is natural
with an occasional kinky twists or braids, but her hair is natural. The bestie, Melissa, has locs and they are
downright beautiful. Pamela is all-natural,
but is struggling with the frizz factor.
Tunisia, Marsha, LaKisha, Kimmie, Edna and several of my other friends are
natural. Their hair is beautiful--whether flat-iron straight, natural curls, or loc'd, and they absolutely love it. Of course, my mini
me, Danielle, is natural because her Mommy (that would be me) said, “You will
not have that creamy crack in your hair because your hair is beautiful.”
However, Houston, we have a problem. I am fighting with my hair about the correct
hair products to use. As I am in
transition, I have natural and relaxed hair on my head. I also have what one would call “Curly Hair
3-C” (Yep, there is a chart to rank your hair).
What this means is I have an S shape or sometimes a Z shape curl. My hair type is full bodied, climate
dependent (humidity = frizz, yes, Lawd), and damage prone. I have so many different hair products and a
mixture of those for African American and Caucasian hair, because of the
texture of my hair. Therefore, Ms.
Jessie’s, Carol’s Daughter, Beautiful Textures, Mango and Lime, Garnier
Fructis, Paul Mitchell, Paul Sebastian, just to name a few, have found their
way in my bathroom. Trust me this is overwhelming.
Additionally, I am wrestling with “is my hairstyle
professional” as I make this transition. I have found a new stylist, Brian, who is awesome, but I cannot get in the shop every week (my money is not that long and the Triple Threat are in college). I thought about micro-braids, but decided that I will do two strand flat twist then wear my hair
out when I shampoo. I have received several compliments
on this style, but if it is humid or rainy, my hair will frizz up and I look
like a curly cotton ball (remember half natural, half relaxed on the head). To make matters more complicated, I have to
twist it EVERY night!!! Umm, what is the
purpose of having natural hair if you have to “fix it” EVERY night? Therefore, many days the hair is in a
ponytail, which is sooooo ridiculous. Nope,
I will not be doing the “Big Chop” no matter what people say…And, Pamela said I
don’t have to if I don’t want to!!
Thanks, Pam the Glam.
Although, I am having my struggles, I can say that going
natural is so liberating. It is setting
me free and allowing me to be me. I have
no regrets as I make this journey. I am
going natural and loving it. My hair is
natural and beautiful, this is who I am, this is whom God created, and I am
going to flaunt it.
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