I didnt really keep track of my natural hair journey because it didnt start out as a journey. I had always had a head full of thick hair as a child and relaxers always eventually caused breakage. My mom never relaxed my hair but she had it pressed and braided regularly because ..well, I was hard on her back. (I am still tenderheaded!) My sister granted my wish by giving me my first relaxer in time for my 8th grade graduation. At age 13, I really couldnt support a "relaxed" lifestyle but I would buy a $4.99 Soft And Beautiful box perm whenever I got the chance. My mom bought some Luster's Pink Oil Moisturizer and I would just plop it on my hair and style it when I couldn't get a touch-up. I think the Pink Oil saved my hair! In jr. high and highschool I was the boxed perm queen. I visited the salon only on special occasions. (homecoming, prom,etc.) While in jr. high school, I let my younger cousin perm my hair and it burned my scalp so bad that it hurt to comb it. I guess I was blessed with strong hair because it didnt fall out! But there was scab for days (ouch!). During high school I was also greatly influenced by one of my best friends. Her mother never allowed her to relax or press her hair. My friend wore braids throughout highchool. Her mom's beliefs would have a great impact on me..but not until much later. When I started college (1992), I was getting relaxed at the salon regularly and found ways to disguise new growth when the salon was out of the budget. I soon started to question my reasons behind "relaxing" especially when my budget was tight! I finally decided to stop chemically relaxing but I still visited my stylist to get my hair pressed. Around 1996-97, I was on my way to being chemical free. I grew my relaxer out by keeping the new growth pressed. I often wore the shake & go between pressings. The style and ease of the shake & go impressed me. After my hair had grown about 12-15 inches in late 99, I cut out the blond color that I had aquired and I'm sure any chemicals that were left on the ends. I was chemical free....but still pressing regularly. In 2000, when my stylist decided to retire, I vowed not to press my hair anymore. I started to experiment with twists and twist outs. I loved them and got many compliments. But when I got tired and frustrated over styling, I promplty rushed to the salon and got my hair pressed again. In 2001 I wore natural styles on a regular basis and pressed my hair probably only 3-5 times a year. My main style was the shake and go with a headband and I twisted my hair when time permitted. I also wore pony tails or pony puffs. In 2002, I wanted to fully embrace my natural hair. When I got the urge to press out of frustration, I logged onto the web and did a search under "natural hair care." I found helpful sights and other natural women on the web that have kept me on my journey to nappy happiness. And I will continue forever on my nappy journey because I got2Bme!!!! PEAcE AND BLeSSInGS |
| MY HAIR-RAISING JOURNEY |