Unlike some other naturals I had natural hair until the age of eighteen. My grandmother lovingly washed my hair weekly. I wore protective styles daily and my hair was pressed once a month or on special occasions. My hair was combed only when wet and was never pressed bone straight. I received trims regularly. I was known around town as Miss so and so's daughter...you know the one with the long hair. As a matter of fact I returned home recently and someone said I remember the two long ponytails that you wore, but she could not remember my name...LOL!
My grandmother fell ill when I was in high school and I took it upon myself to get a perm. I did promise myself while I was in the chair having the "creamy crack " applied that if I ever suffered any breakage, I would go natural and stay that way for the rest of my life. During that period of my life I went natural in May 2005 and boy did I go about it the wrong way!!!
I shampooed,conditioned and greased my hair to death and it looked a hot mess. Needless to say I permed my hair again in 2006 after nine months of being natural. What is so funny was at the time I was encouraging my best friend to go natural and she was transitioning at the time. When she did her big chop...I got a perm and we both emailed each other and said "Look at what I have done!!"
In 2008 I experienced breakage in the crown of my head and around my edges. That was the worse feeling! I was used to having a healthy head of hair permed or natural. Luckily I was blessed with a thick head of hair and was able to camoflouge the problem areas. I then promised myself that after I got married in January of 2009 I would go natural for good.
I had my last perm on the 2nd of January 2009. I did my big chop six weeks after my last perm and 2 mini chops a week later. This time I armed myself with a wealth of knowledge gathered from the internet. I realized a lot of my Grandmother's techniques were on point. So I am combining what I have learned from a host of other blogs and forums for curly hair and her techniques to ensure that I will have a healthy head of hair...naturally of course!!
As far as support my family does not particularly care for my natural hair simply because it is super short considering I have had below the shoulder to below the bra strap length hair for most of my life. I think once it grows and shows more length they will like it more. One of my friends I mention earlier has been natural for about a year and my other two friends are die hard permies. I think my permed friends would prefer that I perm again. My husband loves me when I love me but he did say he would not like to see my hair in locs.
I write all of that to say this...I LOVE MY HAIR IN ITS NATURAL STATE! I am now rocking the TWA(teenie weenie afro). I co-wash daily. I henna and deep condition weekly. In my next post I will go into detail about the products I use, and want to try.
