Once upon a time, the thought of going natural literally terrified me. I had given up on my relaxed hair but couldn’t imagine doing any better with natural hair. I had mid-back length relaxed hair as a child but it was a completely different story as I got older. My hair was just completely over the damaging affects of relaxing. Wigs and weaves had became a part of my identity. I knew it was time for a major change. Being confident with natural hair was essential to ending the cycle of damage.
So while I sported my wigs, weaves, and braided styles, I decided to start transitioning to natural hair. I made the decision without giving it too much thought. It was actually liberating to cut away my relaxed hair. It also felt good not to have to go through the process of relaxing my new growth.
My natural hair has helped me embrace my uniqueness as a woman of color.
My transition was such a breeze because I didn’t have any goals in mind other than to get rid of my relaxed hair. I often forgot that I was even transitioning until I took out my installs every other month.
Fast forward a year and a half later I had cut off all of my relaxed hair. My hair had finally started to retain length. The thickness and volume I once viewed as a negative became what I love most about having natural hair. There’s something very regal about the volume of unprocessed hair.
I totally advocate for people doing whatever they would like with their hair. However, having natural hair has also surprisingly boosted my confidence level.
There’s something very regal about the volume of unprocessed hair.
My natural hair has helped me embrace my uniqueness as a woman of color. Black women already have distinctive features and attributes. In my opinion, natural hair is another part of our distinction that should be embraced. Natural hair is feminine, sexy, and beautiful.
Having natural hair is a part of my appearance that does not subtract from my beauty. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow and rock my natural hair with pride.
