Monday, June 22, 2009

How it began for Nia

niapermstraitThe words "going natural" never came out of my mouth when I decided to cut my hair off. Never even crossed my mind really. I actually had every intention of getting a texturiser or a relaxer again. I was just frustrated. I'd been getting my hair relaxed off and on since I was 12 years old. I had more bad hair days than good, and I didn't have the state of mind to know better.

What pushed me over the edge was moving away from home. I had no hairdresser to tell me what to do, no good friends to reinforce the standard, and no time to maintain the perpetually curly mass on my head. Even with a relaxer, my hair would curl and puff and rebel at the slight suggestion of water. I had to straighten it after it'd been straightened, which took up to two hours. I was in college and working. I wore it "curly" most of the time. It looked crazy. It wasn't really curly, nor was it straight by any means. It was just there. It grew, and broke off, and grew again, etc... I braided it, pressed it, blew it out, got a touch up once in a while.


niapermwindOne day I just started cutting. I went to the hairdresser and had her cut out the last brand of relaxer that was on my ends, and I also got a touch up with her stuff. It was cute, until I washed it- then it was beyond crazy. It had no weight to pull it down, it was a confused straight curly fro with different textures from different relaxers and I didn't know what to do. All I did know is that I'd just gotten another touch up, with a new and horrible frizzy relaxer brand, so I had to grow that out no matter what. So I grew it out for about 5 months- which involved an awful combination of braids and strange roller sets, and one day in late August I walked to a Dominican barbershop and had them cut it all off. I knew I had to cut out the bad relaxer (and had every intention of going back to my old hairdresser at home and getting a "good" relaxer). I had him cut it all the way down, shape up the back and sides and had about 1" on the very top of my head- the longest point. He suggested I get a texturiser and come back to him, which irritated me, given that's exactly what I planned to do. I left with dry, freshly cut hair, feeling very strange, and wanting to wet it to see if it curled.

I had a wave of paranoia when I got home and really looked at myself. Did I look like a man, or ugly, or unfeminine? I wore big earrings, bright red lipstick, and a red skirt when I went out that night. However, to my relief, I got the normal level of attention and no strange looks. I felt alright. I felt better than alright the next day, then even better the days the followed. niabigchop1I became obsessed with my new little curls. Little circles would form automatically. I had to do absolutely nothing to maintain it. I felt ashamed for "dissing" my hair for so long. I felt proud that I could honestly accept compliments on my hair, compliments that now hit me as a person instead of just the aesthetic me. I felt different. I felt more me-like. It only took me a few days to decide that I would not be putting any chemicals in my hair. It took me weeks to realize that I'd "gone natural". Even then the idea of being natural did not come with other implications, such as eating differently or acting differently. However, I admit it did make me feel differently so much so that I did stop doing things I'd done for years. For example, I don't know when I last painted my nails, or when I last thought that I should. That desire just went away I suppose. I didn't even realize it'd gone until years later when one of my co-workers recommended her nail salon and I felt like she was speaking in an alien tongue.

There were other ideas that were slower to fade. I dyed my hair several times, in different commitment levels and colors. The last one was a black semi-permanent color that was excruciatingly slow to fade. I suppose I was just used to processing my hair in some way or other and so I felt the need to change my hair in some way. That too was many years ago and that desire also seems to have gone away. I missed the way my hair has slightly brown highlights at my temples, and varies from #4 brown to black. Subtly, slyly, interestingly. I also have about 5 blonde hairs on one side of my head that continue to puzzle me. Stress maybe. Interesting none the less. And mine. I'm enjoying it.

fro18 years ago, I cut my hair, so now it's back to the length it was before I started cutting. It's a big curly/kinky happy mass, with more of a helixy "S" pattern than a spiral. I've found gels that I like and that keep it smooth, and can even get it looking rather slick when I pull it back. I've found creams that keep it nice and soft, and some very easy styles I can do in minutes for work. I've figured out how to comb it out and when, and what to wash it with, and when. It's been a learning process that has been frustrating at times, at which times I think of either cutting or locking my hair- yet those times usually only last a day or two. I even had it pressed a few times, and was startled to see that it looks more healthy now, though the cut is a little odd because of the shape I must keep it in to wear it curly. But it can actually get very straight. I also know for sure that I don't like it that way... too much work!

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12 comments:

  1. The last photo is by: http://www.humanclayphotography520.com/

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  2. This is BEEAUUUTIFUL, i'm so glad I found your blog!

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  3. you are soooo beautiful and inspirational. I love your blog!

    BOOOKKKKMARKED!


    :D

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  4. CurlyChronicles from YT did a video about your blog. I'm currently reading you posts now. Your hair is amazing!! The video/pictures came out pretty good with your phone.

    I'm thinking about getting an iPhone, if I get the new position I applied for at work, is it really as freat as people say? Why do you like yours?

    God bless you!

    Monique
    http://springsoflove.typepad.com/my-blog/

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  5. I love your hair! I visited your site because of CurlyChronicles too! You seem to have mastered exactly what your hair needs to do what you want it to do. I am still fumbling around and trying new products to find what will work with my hair. It gets a little frustrating at times but I never want chemicals in my hair again...except dye. :) I'm going gray faster than I would like to......runs in the family! My hair has at least 3 textures from 3C-4b so it is very difficult to determine what works for me. What is working for my 3C hair is not working for my 4b. Do you have any suggestions?

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  6. Love your blog!Decided to check it our because CurlyChronicles recommended it. I am glad that I did. Thanks for all the tips, videos and pictures. Theya are really helpful.

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  7. @Monique Smile- I love, love, love my iPhone ♥♥♥ It's like an all in one device. Not even a phone. It's an email/camera/gps/browser/toy/alarm/tv/phone.

    @Angie- Mine too! I have 3b/c in my crown, 3c in my temples and very back. 4a on the top and sides- Hell I'd venture to say 4b on the very base-top of my skull. When I had a relaxer- that part was so resistant and would split and break. Twist-outs and wet sets blend it all pretty well. For wash and goes I apply the products strategically and sometimes will stretch the more shrunken areas a bit to match. If I'm wearing a tighter shrunken fro I'll pat down or tuck in the looser coils so they don't look longer than the rest. Shingling can get them to all uniformly clump together sometimes.

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  8. I love your HairStory! I learned about your blog through your mother. She is a customer at my health food store. As a naturally curly natural girl I always enjoy hearing about other peoples journey to living and loving their gorgeous spirals. Thanks!:)

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  9. AAAHHHH...beautiful!!! : ))))....i love your hair diary and reading your blog!

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  10. You have no idea how happy I am to have stumbled upon your wonderfully practical and brilliant blog!
    Gruß aus Deutschland/Greetings from Germany!

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  11. I've been going through your blog, but couldn't find how you maintain your styles over days. 2nd day hair is rarely an option for me. I cannot figure this part out, HELP!!

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  12. Love it. My hair has a very similar curl pattern. i also like the color of your hair. i would not dye it either. It is a nice brown with a hint of a lighter color underneath it.

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