The Period before my big-chop
Frustration is the first word I think of when I look back at my natural hair journey. I come from several generations of thick and curly hair. Ever since I was a kid, I have had a lot of kinks and coils and an impressive full head of hair.
The societal standards from the generation I grew up in considered natural hair an embarrassment and something that should be 'taken cared of,' something to be ashamed of.
Problems I faced before becoming a Natural
The answer to your shame was the 'all-mighty relaxers.' It's sad but true, and that belief still lives in some of us even today. We called it 'growth': the one thing you hated seeing on your hair.
At some point, I thought growth was my hair reverting to its original form after the relaxer wore off. It wasn't until later that I realized it was new curly hair growing out of my scalp hence the name 'growth.' I know, "how could I have not seen such an obvious fact?" But I was clueless back then. I laugh at myself sometimes because it's ridiculous how many dumb moments I've had over the years.
For so many years through primary and high school, and a few years after, I was still using relaxers, straighteners, blowouts, and excessive heat with hair dryers. Cutting my hair - three or four times, if not more - whenever it got too damaged basically got me stuck in this vicious cycle.
The Final Decision
The year of my big chop, I had finally had it! I had had enough. I saw ads and social media blowing up with people growing out their curls, and I thought, "Why can't that be me? Why is my hair so short, shriveled, and all but dead?" So, I watched the entire content on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. I googled everything I could possibly find to try to salvage and maybe turn my hair curly like the ones I was seeing.
What I found scared me. I did not want to cut my hair. I wanted to have long, curly, and fluffy hair. What I kept seeing was big chop this and big chop that. I almost gave up until I heard about transitioning and thought I should try it.
I tried it for months, from the beginning of the year until around September that year, when I thought it was time I did the deed. I tried all sorts of treatments to revive my hair, but the damage had gone on for too long, so on October 12, 2019, I finally gathered my courage and chopped off all those stringy locks. I was excited, really I was, but the journey ahead was a new unknown that terrified me.
Final Thoughts
Three years into the journey and I am still going strong. If I could kiss my past self for making that decision, I would 100%. I love where I am now. I love knowing that my hair is healthy and growing strong. I never want to go back to those days.
Sure relaxed hair was easy to comb and style. But with the right products, technique, and the ease of familiarity that practice gives you, getting your natural hair dolled can be fun and easy.
Should You go Natural?
The answer is entirely up to you. No one can or should force you to go natural. You decide what you want and when you want it. Maybe going natural is a future goal, then that's fine.
Going on a natural hair journey isn't for you? That's okay too. Remember to boost your hair with treatments to keep it strong and not neglect it. Maybe you're on the fence, and that's fine too, don't decide in a hurry. Seriously think about it before you commit. Maybe if you want to go natural right now, and are sure you are ready for it, then do it.
My advice is to be prepared to work for your curls, and don't expect it to be sunshine and roses all the time. Sometimes, it can get so hard that you wonder why you chose this path in the first place. What keeps me going is the knowledge that I am one step closer to my dream - to have waist-length natural hair - than I was yesterday.
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Stay True. Stay Fabulous.
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