I get to the hairdresser and have her take a look at what is now an actual bird nest mixed with dreadlocks on my head. She attempts to detangle and I'm just like nah. I think it's a wrap. Let's just cut it. Fast forward - she cuts it all off. I don't feel any type of way. It's just hair right? It'll grow back. Women been natural since the beginning of time. She weaves me up and styles it. I pay $120 for the cut, a deep condition and new weave. That's $265 dollars I just spent on my hair. $265 can get me a flight deal to another country. But I just spent it on my hair. Unbelievable. Anyway, I carry on with life like normal. I told everyone I speak to regularly. Some of the reactions were like I had just been diagnosed with a terminally ill disease. Um ok... something wrong with yall but whatever. 3 weeks later, I go back to hairdresser to get weave removed. I want access to my scalp and don't want to be dependent on a hairdresser. I'm just not about that life. That making it rain in the hairdresser life. More props to those who are. I buy a wig and have her trim it. This is what I am wearing from now on.
Well that's what I told myself. Until I got tired of it - and I was like fuck this wig. And well here I am...
Adjusting. Embracing. Learning.
There are a few things I learned that I wish naturalistas would've kept it real about. Yall lied.
- Maintenance. Being natural is far from easy. Everyone swears out it is. I spend more time and money than I ever have on my hair. Those products cost a damn arm and a leg. Also, how you think your hair will look vs what it will actually look like is always completely different.
- Coconut oil. Coconut oil leaks everywhere. Be strategic when placing it in your scalp. It also doesn't smell good in my opinion. I don't know about you but I don't enjoy putting smelly things in my hair.
- People's comments/opinions. Everyone wants to comment on your hair or ask annoying questions like you are a science project. Hey guess what? I am still the same person, I just have a different hair style. I did not lose my hair in a fire or due to some illness. I chose to cut it off. LoL. If you weren't concerned about my hair growth pre-chop, no need to be concerned now.
- Natural hair aint created equal. Folks stay asking me if i can just wet my hair, put some lotion in it and it be curly. Nah bruh. There are various hair types. I have 4b/c hair. The kind that doesn't retain water well and is super coiled, coarse, and dry. Naturally. I have to do A LOT to achieve a certain look. The idea that everyone has type 2 or 3 hair and can wash and go is fraudulent. Aint no soft curls over here bih. See chart below if you don't know what I am talking about.
Three months into this transition, I now know what products work with my hair (I think), the proper procedures when removing braids and the required maintenance when I do have braids (conditioners, oils, etc). So there - yall can stop asking me 1,000 questions now. If you happen to have the same hair type as me or know someone who does, let me know. If not, just shutup. Thanks. *muah*
xoxo,
P