Good Hair

Although it doesn’t often look like it, I’m invested in my hair.  I mentioned previously that, at one point in my life, I wanted to be a pediatrician that did hair on the weekends.  I could spend hours on the weekend microbraiding my doll’s hair just for fun.  I perfected the side ponytail and would use my curling iron to “press” my new growth between relaxers.  Baby, I was all about my hair.

When I started my professional career in 2007, I decided it was time to go natural.  I attempted to transition for about four months.  And when I say attempted, I really mean that I didn’t get a relaxer because people in Georgia were charging $60, and that wasn’t what I wanted to spend.

In 2010, I got serious about letting go of my relaxed hair.  I would say that I transitioned for probably about 6 months.  That’s a long time to go without a relaxer.  Dealing with two different textures of hair was no picnic, but I didn’t want to be out in the streets bald.  It just didn’t seem like a good look for me.

My mom did my big chop when I came home for the summer.  Let me tell you.  She was NOT on board with this decision.  Which is why it took her FOREVER to cut all the relaxed ends off.  We wet my hair.  You could clearly tell the natural from the relaxed, but I promise it took her an hour to perform this task.

Then I was stuck with the decision I made.  I had time to adjust while at home in Arkansas.  At that time, I didn’t see many other women wearing their natural hair.  I stood out, and it made me uncomfortable.

But can I tell you something?  I loved my hair.  I didn’t like the length, but I loved my hair.  It was nothing like I imagined it would be.  It was better.  Back in those days, there were not a lot of natural hair care lines out.  So, I went from hair store to hair store in Houston gathering ingredients for my hair concoctions.  I became a mixologist and researcher.

Eventually, I found the products that worked well for my hair.  Eventually, my mom got so on board with my new style that she crossed over to the natural life.  Eventually, I got into a great routine with the hair that had been growing out of my head all along.

I had to embrace who God made me, and that’s something I’m still working on.  When I reflect on how far He has brought me, I’m grateful.  I wasted so much money and time over the years trying to “correct” my hair.  Instead of appreciating what God gave me.  #wepreach