Introduce yourself
I’m a wife and mom of two coily-haired girls ages 4 and 1. I’m also an avid end-times prophecy watchman (or watchwoman, if you prefer). Professionally, I’m an exercise physiologist and health promotion specialist turned freelance writer and editor. My three favorite topics are:
1. The Word
2. Wellness and
3. Hair
Talking about them makes me feel energized and satisfied.
When did you decide to go natural?
I’m an “accidental natural”. In Autumn of 2011, I kept forgetting to get a touch-up but I noticed that my hair was happier. That’s when I decided to permanently end my relationship with relaxers. Going natural turned out to be a very happy accident.
What was the reaction from friends/family when you went natural?
This topic is emotionally charged for me right now because I literally JUST got an email from my sister that read “I give into the creamy crack!” There was a pic attached with her freshly relaxed roots (she went 8 months without a relaxer, FYI)! I’m a little sad right now so bear with me, please. I replied, “*sigh* Okaaay.” I was going to let it go until she answered with “Couldn’t get the bouf under control for the corporate environment”. Natural hair in the workplace is a hot-button issue for me. Now that I know they “got” my sister I’m not too happy about it. The feeling is very “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”-ish.
She and some other family members decided to stop relaxing their hair after I did or they were already long-time naturals (my bestie’s been natural nine years). Others said things like “You can go natural because you have good hair, but my hair is not like yours.” [Whenever I hear statements like that I shudder and rebuke the Good-Hair demon with his lyin’ self. ALL healthy hair is good hair!] *looong sigh & pause*
Then there was also, “Uh uh, honey, I’m not going back to the press n’ curl days”. The last quote is my mom’s. She has agreed to try relaxer-free straightening but she’s still not 100% sold on it yet. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes. Are any of you dealing with this, too? At least I still have my transitioning sister-in-law on board. She also gets credit for planting the idea in my mind about a natural hair blog.
