Side Puff Tutorial!

Here's a really quick, cute natural hairstyle...

5 Month Natural Hair Update

I big chopped on Feb. 22, 2011. Therefore, at the end of July, I've been natural 5 months. Here are some updates... Length check is 5 1/2 inches. I started out with about a half inch so that's about an inch of growth per month. (That's good!) Here are some pics...

To Big Chop or Not to Big Chop? That's the question...

I've always been used to having long hair, so when I began the transition, I'd convinced myself that I would successfully transition for at least a year (until I had new growth that was shoulder length) before I'd chop all the relaxed ends off. I was tooooo scared to big chop. However, as my transition process continued, I began to get really annoyed with the 2 different hair textures. My roots were really pretty and curly. But they were weighed down by my fried and dyed relaxed ends. Also, as my new growth came in, I grew excited at the potential of having a head full of hair that was completely free of any chemicals.

One morning (about 3 1/2 months into my transition), I woke up and was sick of the 2 hair textures. I went in the bathroom and just started cutting! I had researched online about the "line of demarcation" (the line where your new growth meets your permed hair). So, I knew to wash my hair, take sections, hold them up loosely and you can clearly see where your natural hair ends. That's where you cut. I began cutting and never looked back. :)

Be prepared for some resistance from family and friends (especially if you've always had long hair). My brothers and husband hated my big chop. They constantly teased me about my head or told me how ridiculous it looked. I don't know why, but most of the black men I know prefer long hair, but whatever! Something happened when I cut my hair off. I had NEVER had hair that short. I felt new. I felt sexy. I felt exotic. It was like I'd created an alter ego. My alter ego didn't care what anyone thought. She had so much confidence that she readily embraced her natural hair and vowed never to relax again.

I immediately began shopping for girly accessories to "glam up" my boyish short cut. I bought big earrings, eyeliner, lipgloss and mascara. So even though my husband hated it and my son wanted to know why I had "boy hair", I loved it. So begins my natural journey... February 2011

Transition Tips!

Once you decide to transition to natural, here are a few tips that worked well for me:

1. No heat (blow dryers, flat irons, etc.). Although you may think it helps to blend the 2 different hair textures, it actually destroys the natural curl pattern that's trying to come in. 
2. Treat your entire hair as if it's natural. I co-washed my hair daily. Cowash = washing with conditioner only. During cold months, I'd co-wash my hair at night, add leave in conditioner, twist it, roll the twists and let it air dry until bedtime. At bedtime, I'd put on a satin scarf, go to sleep and take out the twists in the morning. Depending on your preference, leave it out, put it in a bun, rock a headband, etc.
3. Go to the salon to have your ends trimmed monthly. The monthly trim will create the illusion that your hair is staying the same length. As new growth grows in, the stylist is clipping relaxed hair off the ends. Continue to do this until there is no longer any relaxed hair OR do the Big Chop! Big Chop (BC) is when you cut off all of your relaxed hair and are left with an extremely short TWA (teeny weeny afro).

**The pics below show 2 - 3 months of transition time.** (Notice there's a distinct difference between the new growth and the relaxed ends).

Going Natural?? Why?

I never thought I'd have to answer this question, but now that I think of it, it's a very good one. Why did I go natural? For me, I didn't have an "ethnic experience" in which I decided I wanted to "go back to my roots". I didn't say, "Whew, perms are too expensive." Unfortunately, my decision making process was less elaborate, but once I started, it was so liberating, I knew I'd never go back.

See, I've always had what most black people would call "good hair". That's a relative term because although my hair was wavy and everyone thought it was "nice", I hated my hair growing up. It was long and extremely frizzy. At that time, I'd give anything to get my hair to lay flat! :) But it wouldn't, so I wore ponytails and corn-braids until 10th grade (16 years old). I was working (shout out to Brooklyn's Summer Youth Employment program) so I had some money saved. I snuck out of the house (is "snuck" a word?) one morning, said I was going to my friend Asa's house and came back with a PERM! I was so happy. Woo hooooooo! The stylist cut "chinese bangs" across the front of my face and it was long in the back. Finally, my hair laid flat and I was officially addicted to the creamy crack!

Fast forward to my 30th birthday. Although my hair was still very long, I was getting bored with it. I decided to get a curly weave (Indian Remy) to add some spice in my life! lol It was the first time I'd gotten a weave. It was also the first time my husband called my hair "sexy". What? Maybe I'm guilty of over-analyzing that compliment but it's been 2 years and I still haven't forgotten it. Anyway, one year later (when I was 31), I sat down thinking about that compliment. A light bulb went off... Before I started perming my hair, it used to look very similar to that Indian Remy hair that cost me over $500 the previous summer. That's when I decided to transition to natural. It was more-so a challenge for myself to see if I could get my hair to go back to how it was before. 

So, in November 2010, I decided that I would not get anymore perms. The transition process began...