Although I have been completely natural for only a short time (March '07), I haven't had a relaxer since June of last year. I retired from the Navy earlier that year and had been wearing braids off and on for 10 years to grow my hair for relaxer length. I finally had enough of the hassle when I went to my last hair appointment to remove braids they put in, and they went to wash it before de-tangling, turning my hair into one huge root ball. It took three hours to untangle and save, and another two hours of styling and sitting under the dryer.
I vowed then that I wouldn't do it any more to myself. I hadn't seen my natural hair since I was a little girl (I am 42), and wanted to be free of all chemicals on my scalp. Of course some of my good friends were big naysayers, commenting that the 'fro I wore while transitioning was cute, but that my hair was too "nappy" to go natural. My mother loves it, saying that I always had beautiful hair, and the men all love my natural.
Many women compliment me on the "Jill Scott" style and ask how I did it.
Although my most of my friends have relaxers and weaves, they seem to be enjoying my hair journey almost as much as I am. As a matter of fact, when
I was considering flat-ironing my hair, my friend said 'You've come so far, don't straighten it now!" All my Sisters are really showing me love!"
My hair journey has been as much spiritual as emotional, and I have decided to be purely positive and show true love for all women who may make the decision to go natural because of me! And I want to be able to show the article to her without causing her pain and reflect all the positive energy I feel now.
I look younger, feel liberated, and am more conscious of what I do to my hair and my body. I am enclosing before and after pics, and I couldn't be more proud. Thanks for all you do to make this journey wonderful!
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