Unapologetically Natural

At the age of 8 years old in my grandmother's kitchen, I remember one of her friends combing my hair saying "Gosh her hair is thick and nappy! You haven't been scratching your scalp have you?". She carefully parted my hair and I felt her add cold and creamy product slowly. After she applied the product she told me to let her know if it started to burn. After about 5 mins I began to feel the burn, I let her know and she prepared to wash my hair in the same sink where I washed dishes daily. By the time she got my head under the lukewarm water my scalp was on fire! After it was all washed out she blow dried my hair and used a hot comb to style me. I then went into the bathroom and my hair was bone straight. I didn't realize that what the woman relaxed my hair with was a chemical that can literally dissolve soda cans. OUCH! It was silky, straight and so pretty!

After years of repeating this process, my hair stopped growing and I decided to chop it all off and start over. As my hair grew I noticed a texture that I wasn't familiar with and I hated it only because I didn't know how to style it! So I began my creamy crack ritual and before I knew it my hair was shedding AGAIN, I began breaking off and I once again had to cut it off. I had been straightening my hair for many years and I was brainwashed to believe that only straight hair was beautiful. I hadn't ever considered rocking my hair in its natural state.

As time went on I made one of the best decisions of my life by deciding to stop relaxing my hair. I was nervous and excited! I went into barber shop, had a barber chop it all off and I FELT GOOD! The barber added an oil and said to me "You're a beautiful black queen, this look fits you." I left feeling free and beautiful and at that moment I made a promise that I would allow myself to embrace the beautiful hair that God has given me.

Now that wasn't the end of my creamy crack addiction, I repeated this process over and over because I lacked knowledge on how to care for and style my natural hair and it was easier to go with what I knew. The very Last time I decided to relax my hair was because I was told that you can't move up in the professional world with natural hair. It was something that wasn't verbally said but is was sort of frowned upon. They told me that natural hair isn't acceptable in the professional field because it looked unkempt. Long story short, I relaxed my hair and regretted it the very next day! I chopped it all off one more time and that was the very last time! What I later found out was, there are so many styles that are professional and beautiful that are acceptable as you grow in your career. Also, don't allow anyone to tell you that men only like women who wear weaves and keep their hair processed. There are so many men who appreciate women who are comfortable with rocking their natural kinks.

I now rock my natural hair proudly with no regret! The women in the magazines, on the television and all around wear long straight weaves and it's disappointing. I personally would love to see more women of color rock natural styles. I know several ladies who say that they would love to return their natural state but they don't want to go through the ugly stage. I want to encourage the women who are afraid to take that risk to just go for it!There are so many transitional styles as you return to your natural state. Your scalp will thank you and there is freedom in being naturally you!

There is a process called transitioning that allows you to not have to cut all of you hair off. Some of the styles are braids, sew ins, wigs, and if you google it or search it n YouTube you will find many women who has transitioned their processed hair back to its natural texture.

If your courageous and adventurous I dare you to do the big chop and start completely over.

My favorite products that i use for my hair are listed below.

- Coconut oil

- Olive oil gel

- Shea Moisture products

- Argon oil edge control

- Cantu

Love Taylor J.