Today’s topic was given to me by my friend, TNT, who shared that she’s been natural almost 20 years, which reminded me that it’s been almost 20 years for me, too. When I told her that, she asked, “What’s your hair story?”
I got my first relaxer when I was 9 or 10, and I remember the stylist marveling that it was “bone straight.” And so it went until after I went to college and especially after I had my daughter. Then, I started waiting longer and longer between touch ups. I waffled quite a while between making the big chop and transitioning while wearing extensions.
Me being me and because this was before the natural hair care explosion on the internet, I used Let’s Talk Hair by Pamela Farrell and Good Hair by Lonnice Brittenum Bonner as my guides. (I found them by, of course, going to the library.)
Eventually, I decided to just do the big chop. So for years, I wore my hair cut close like Bianca from America’s Next Top Model.
Please note that I had the hairstyle first. I’m a natural hair hipster.
There was a period in grad school where I didn’t have anyone to cut my hair so I grew it out. I hated it. I HATE DOING MY HAIR. It is annoying and it takes too long. So I got it cut as soon as I possibly could.
And then I decided to grow it out. But see above re: hating to do my hair. So I, of course, decided to grow dreadlocks.
And that’s where we are now. I love my hair way more than I ever did when I wore it relaxed.
For the Blogging from A to Z Challenge this year, my theme is gratitude. Every day, I am going to post about something I am grateful for. Tune in tomorrow to see what I pick for V.
The Englishist 
I hate my hair. ‘Nuf said…
Calen~
Impromptu Promptlings
A to Z Challenge Letter U
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I like my curly/frizzy hair well enough. I used to have it cut short in an elevated wedge dealio, but I looked too much like a bland piece of broccoli to keep that style once I got older. Now it’s what they call a long layered look which, with a few barrettes, can look not too bad. And come to find out longer hair is easier to maintain than any short ‘do I ever had. Wish someone had told me that in my 20s.
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