L. Nicole, thanks for being a part of both of my blogs…to improve your hair and body are such big goals, but we can do it! I loved reading your story, it’s very inspiring. You are tres chic with your natural hair!!
Kcurly,
I am a part of your challenge on runninginafatsuit, so I thought I would share my natural hair story with you as well. I had previously been natural 2003-2005. I relaxed my hair in 2005 because I was going to NYC and thought a perm would be easier to deal with during the trip in August when it was beyond hot. I regretted it every day after that. So, for two years I did the perm thing. I had my last relaxer in November 2007. This time I had not planned to go natural, it just sort of happened. I had my hair braided in January 2008, right when it was time to touch-up my relaxer. I took the braids out in late February and realized I had a lot of breakage. At the spur of a moment I called a co-worker that was previously a stylist. She was hesitant and tried to talk me out of it, but I left her house with a BIG CHOP!! I only had about two months of new growth, so it was really short.
My co-workers the next day were stunned. Everyone was starring and they had lots of questions. I work in higher education so it’s not uncommon to see natural hair styles througout the campus, but I don’t believe it was something they saw me doing. Most that worked there when I started natural in the past had moved on. My grandmother was not pleased. She thinks everyone should always have a perm and there is no changing her thoughts on it.
I can’t really explain what happened that I felt the need to do it so abruptly but I felt like such a load had been lifted with the cut. For a while I just wore my hair as is with leave-in conditioner on it. May 2008 I had comb twists done. These lasted about 4 weeks, so it was very convenient. September 2008 I started to wear two-strand twists. May 2009 I had my hair flat-ironed for the first time and I could not believe the length.
I am still researching and trying products but I do enjoy Miss Jessie’s shampoo and conditioners. I also use the Curly Meringue on my twist-outs. I wear twist-outs about 85% of the time. Carol’s Daughter’s Healthy Hair Butter is also something I use on a regular basis. I learned about banding from your blog so it’s been added to my options as of late. I purchased a Denman brush this past weekend and it worked fabulously with the banding. That is until it rained. I struggle with the humidity I face living on the Mississippi River. My greatest challenge is the amount of shrinkage I have to deal with. I am not comfortable with my hair as is, so I always have to do something to get the length and looseness I desire. That makes being natural a real chore.
Attached are pics of me w/ perm, comb twists, afro and straightened.
Relaxed
Big Chop
Comb Coils
Fro
Flat Ironed
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I love it! You’re beautiful in all of your naturalness!…and I love your freckles
Natural hair suits your face. Looks lovely on you!
Thanks for sharing your story. I am three weeks away from my BC. I wonder how my co-workers will react to the new/real me. See you in the other blog for Fitness-Friday.
i looove the fro! and the freckles are such an added cuteness, lol.
Love it! You give me such inspiration. I am new to this
and I just did the BC on 12/24/09. What exactly is banding and where do I get the Denman brush? Thanks a bunch!
Yor fro is beautiful.
Thanks for all the positive reinforcement. I am so in love with my natural hair these days!!!
Novella,
I got my Denman Brush from Sally’s Beauty Supply, around $10. Youtube has a few tutorials on banding, it’s basically scrunchies down the entire hair shaft. Kcurly also has it on here in the Regimen section I believe.