Standing out in a crowd

[tdillz]

Hi everyone! I was just wondering when you walk into a room (ie:club work church ect) when you first bc'ed how did it make you feel? What were people's reactions? Were u comfortable? Did u feel liberated? I guess I'm looking for stories and first reactions and inner confidence.

My story
I have been relaxed for the majority of my life. I'm only 24 but I've had virtually every hair style in the book. In the beginning of 2011 I decided I didn't want to get a relaxer anymore. In may of that year I got my last glue in weave and it was torture to take it out! My hair was sooo damaged it was Redic! For the summertime I decided to start wearing wigs and lace fronts to try to transition. I wasn't thinking about how i had to take care of my hair underneath the wigs. I just kept it under a cap with minimal manipulation and care. The more I wore them the more caps I ran through. My hair became very matted and tangled. I was heart broken because I knew I shoulda took better care of my tresses. Then on December 19th 2011 I went to Walmart with my mother and I decided to buy some shears and gel and I went home and did the big chop! But then I wore my lace front the next day because I was scared to reveal it! But my scalp was itching so much from the lace front that I said enough is enough.
I wore it to work and everyone loved it but I went to watch night service for new years eve at church and I got the death stare! Then to make things worse, I have to MC the program and I didn't even know! A first I was super uncomfortable because my church family was so used to seeing me with all the hair, wigs and weaves so I kinda felt naked and judged! But I sucked it up and did It and I felt amazing afterwards and I haven't wore a wig since.

When u have confidence with your twa nothing or noone can stop u!
Keep the confidence ladies!!!!!

 

[discodumpling]

I felt like a friggin QUEEN...so obviously "different" from the other chicks in the room. Men and women would stare and come up and give me compliments often in those early years of nappturality.

 

[Evolving78]

i stayed getting short hair cuts, relaxed or natural. but the first time i got a bald fade at the time i was in my early twenties. i felt free and had the confidence of a lioness. as soon as i got out of the barber's chair, i knew i was hot and all the men in the barber shop knew it too. one guy wanted to help me buy my first boar bristle brush! oh i went well dressed with makeup and earrings on too.

to be honest, when i know i put a lot of effort into my look, i always walk into the room thinking, "I got this thing on lock!" my swag is so serious!

The Men All Pause, When I Walk Into The Room, The Men All Pause! i'm tellin my age!

 

[tdillz]

i stayed getting short hair cuts, relaxed or natural. but the first time i got a bald fade at the time i was in my early twenties. i felt free and had the confidence of a lioness. as soon as i got out of the barber's chair, i knew i was hot and all the men in the barber shop knew it too. one guy wanted to help me buy my first boar bristle brush! oh i went well dressed with makeup and earrings on too.

to be honest, when i know i put a lot of effort into my look, i always walk into the room thinking, "I got this thing on lock!" my swag is so serious!

The Men All Pause, When I Walk Into The Room, The Men All Pause! i'm tellin my age!

U betta work! Isn't it a beautiful thing when u have confidence! It's the best feeling in the world!

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

When I bc'd for the first time in late Oct. 2010 I felt a little worried at first showing it to everyone, but SO very liberated, FREE, and confident! I felt like my TRUE authentic self for the first time in 18 years.

I rocked my twa like nobody's business! I would get so many compliments on my hair! I felt like a ANTM Model! I didn't really feel like I "stood out" too much, only because it seems a LOT of ladies in my area have gone natural over the past few years, so I'm not the only "natural" when I go to a party, or out w/friends, etc. A lot of girls in my group of friends are natural already, so I never really felt like I "stood out" to be honest. Maybe if I had bc'd about 10 years ago I would have DEFINITELY felt like the "odd ball" or would have definitely felt like I stood out more in my particular area. But here where I live....quite a few women are natural so it's not a shock to see. BUT...I did feel very "authentic", and confident in my skin.

The easy part was rocking my twa w/confidence. The HARD part for me (I'm finding) is actually being able to KEEP that confidence as my hair has grown longer and more challenging. I find now days that the "novelty" of the bc has worn off, and I need to do healthier things w/my hair. The COLD winter air makes it oh so hard though.

Confession: I find now that at times I don't feel as "sexy" as I did with straight hair, but I still feel NO regrets for bc'ing or going natural. I just think I'm in the awkward "in between stage" where my hair is not really "short" enough to rock a twa, but not really LONG enough to do other elaborate styles. I just wish my hair were a little longer. I think it would be easier to try more feminine styles.

But I don't regret going natural for one minute! Girl....you better WORK that twa!

 

[tdillz]

When I bc'd for the first time in late Oct. 2010 I felt a little worried at first showing it to everyone, but SO very liberated, FREE, and confident! I felt like my TRUE authentic self for the first time in 18 years.

I rocked my twa like nobody's business! I would get so many compliments on my hair! I felt like a ANTM Model! I didn't really feel like I "stood out" too much, only because it seems a LOT of ladies in my area have gone natural over the past few years, so I'm not the only "natural" when I go to a party, or out w/friends, etc. A lot of girls in my group of friends are natural already, so I never really felt like I "stood out" to be honest. Maybe if I had bc'd about 10 years ago I would have DEFINITELY felt like the "odd ball" or would have definitely felt like I stood out more in my particular area. But here where I live....quite a few women are natural so it's not a shock to see. BUT...I did feel very "authentic", and confident in my skin.

The easy part was rocking my twa w/confidence. The HARD part for me (I'm finding) is actually being able to KEEP that confidence as my hair has grown longer and more challenging. I find now days that the "novelty" of the bc has worn off, and I need to do healthier things w/my hair. The COLD winter air makes it oh so hard though.

Confession: I find now that at times I don't feel as "sexy" as I did with straight hair, but I still feel NO regrets for bc'ing or going natural. I just think I'm in the awkward "in between stage" where my hair is not really "short" enough to rock a twa, but not really LONG enough to do other elaborate styles. I just wish my hair were a little longer. I think it would be easier to try more feminine styles.

But I don't regret going natural for one minute! Girl....you better WORK that twa!

I feel u! Not many women in my area are natural but I have the support of a lot f family members and close friends that are natural or have been natural all their life and I'm thankful for it! I definitely feel like I'm in the "in between" stage because ill be 2 months natural and i can def tell its getting longer and thicker and wash and go's won't look that great soon lol but that's just my opinion.i am just enjoying the short hair because I know it's a real commitment as soon as it gets longer an I'm more than willing to learn and progress with my hair! Thanks for sharing your story and thoughts!

 

[kandiekj100]

It's so funny, the first time I bc'd I was in college and worked at Burger King and didn't give it much thought. I'm not really sure how folks took it.

The 2nd time I bc'd, I was out of school and working at a call center. I chopped off my hair over the weekend and was so worried how it would be taken. I didn't transition (didn't really transition before either) and only had maybe 3-4 months of new growth. I went to work the next day and actually got applause. They were mostly from the men, but hey applause is applause. And it was ginuine too.

And when I bc'd the last time, I shaved my head bald. Now, i was a little self-conscious about that one. I was in a business casual environment and surrounded by "others" so I was unsure what they'd think. I wore a wig for a month maybe, just until I no longer had the fade look and actually had a little bit of a curl. Again, it was received rather well.

I'm sure there were those who didn't care of each time, but no one really expressed their dislike and I never noticed any death stares ore scrunched up faces. Then again, I wasn't looking for those looks either.

 

[reeko43]

Didn't have a twa but my dry shrunken fro looked about 2 inches long the first week after my bc. First day of work I put my confidence cape on and went for it. I got mixed reviews. Many liked it especially non blacks and men. Others frowned up and asked why did I cut my hair. They then said thwy wouldn't have done it if they were me. I promptly told the that if they were me they would have cut it and be just as happy as I am to have done it. I have been feeling great, haven't put on a wig yet. As with any change, show your boldness and confidence. People react more positive to you then.

 

[10WordzOrLess]

Wearing a fade made me feel sexy and confident.

 

[tdillz]

Didn't have a twa but my dry shrunken fro looked about 2 inches long the first week after my bc. First day of work I put my confidence cape on and went for it. I got mixed reviews. Many liked it especially non blacks and men. Others frowned up and asked why did I cut my hair. They then said thwy wouldn't have done it if they were me. I promptly told the that if they were me they would have cut it and be just as happy as I am to have done it. I have been feeling great, haven't put on a wig yet. As with any change, show your boldness and confidence. People react more positive to you then.

I totally agree!