Myth Busters!
I am a black woman with relaxed hair. Granted, my hair has always only been relaxed every 6 months compared to 6 weeks but still. relaxed. I decided to go natural a couple of months ago. I was too scared to do the “Big Chop” and got braids instead. When I took them out, my hair seemed…better(?) I can’t articulate it. My hair just about had a vacation with the braids and it seemed more calm (or was that me giving up fighting my hair?)
After having the braids removed, I thought I wanted locs. Then I started working with my hair and using some natural products from neosoul essentials. What can I say? I don’t want locs anymore! My hair now has new growth and relaxed ends. I wear it curly or blow it out straight. As it grows and I give myself regular trims, I expect to see even more growth than what I have now (shoulder length).
The other thing I have noticed on my hair journey are the myths I have encountered. I came across this Natural Hair Myth Buster on MotownGirl’s website and wanted to share it with you.
This picture is of me in Spring 2008; April or so.
This was me with braids from July to September 2008
This was me right after I took out the braids early September 2008.
And this is me as of September 22, 2008.
Let me know what you think of the progress!
on September 24th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Well I think all those looks are good. Which one is really the least amount of work? Time is more valuable to me than my hair. Um, that kinda shows nowadays. That could also be a middle-aged attitude.
on September 24th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I think your hair looks fabulous. And it will look better and better because you’re not relaxing it so much. It gets to “rest” and not be fried into submission by the chemicals.
on September 24th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I’m frustrated now because it is still relaxed and won’t curl and kink! I never thought I would have said anything like that! But I am liking the freedom!
on September 24th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
You know, Julia. it’s actually more work to have natural hair. The reason being is that we are so pre-conditioned as to what we think looks good. Our normal, kinky hair is seen as “bad” so we “relax” it to control it. Then we just have limp, stringy hair hanging down. The 3rd and 4th pictures are very easy for me. I just roll up my hair at night, comb it out in the morning and go. When my relaxer is completely gone from my hair (a good few years from now) then I will have learned how to style and maintain my natural hair. Seems sill that I have to learn how to style and maintain my hair.
on September 25th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I’ve been natural so long that it is more work for me to deal with straightened hair. If you keep at it and discover what works for your hair, eventually your natural hair will seem 1st nature to you. So even if you are wearing it straightened and it gets wet, you don’t worry because you know what your hair does and how to just switch to another style.
Let’s face it, even with relaxed hair, you still have an occasional bad hair day. You will still have them somethings with natural hair. Just blame the day, not the hair texture. LOL!