Honestly, I never really gave a whole lot of thought about going natural. I always thought I'd have relaxed hair. My hair was thriving with the relaxer. My hairdresser was into healthy hair and always took care of it. However, once I relocated not once but twice, I never found a hairdresser that could maintain my hair even though I was spending a lot of money sitting in their chairs once every week or two weeks.
I am now in the process of transitioning (29 weeks today since my last relaxer) and I am loving it. There were a combination of things that brought me to this decision.
One day, I was on LHCF admiring the hair of some of you ladies and it hit me from no where, just no where that I was going to stop relaxing. I felt excited -- didn't know what to expect, but felt genuinely happy with my decision.
My hair was broken in different spots and I was paying my hairdresser a lot of money for the phystospecific hair relaxer. I started thinking, why, why am I doing this? Why am I spending over $100.00 for a relaxer every six/seven weeks and my hair is still not looking healthy.
When I was a teenager, I went to a male hairdresser with my older sisters. He told me that I should go natural. That was 20 years ago. I thought, natural
he had to be nuts!!! Me? How? What would I do with my hair? He told me that he would love to care for my hair in its natural state -- that he would keep it well conditioned and blow dry it for me. Unfortunately, I didn't have the money at the time to even consider it, but that always stuck with me.
My girlfriend went natural four years ago, so she's been a big help. I often notice how healthy her hair looks. I noticed her lovely braids, twist outs, even blow dried hair always looks good.
I tell you, I don't know what it's going to be like when I take my braids out in a couple of weeks, but I am so, so happy that I made this decision.
I have made it because of all of you natural ladies on this website. Thank you so much for your encouragement and inspiration. I feel free!!!