All-Natural: Finally

As of November 17, I am no longer the girl my family and friends know with the long, chemically relaxed locks that have adorned my face since I was at least two years old. Over time I may have gone with a chin-length bob and twice even shorter but this is the first time I have ever seen my hair at 2 maybe 3 inches in length. To top it off it's curly so most of that length is coiled atop my head.

In mid-August I decided to do away with relaxers for good. I was tired of being on my hair's timetable of every 8 weeks having to have my new inch or so of growth straightened to match the length that fell past my shoulders. I was sick of doing one of two styles: ponytail or flat-ironed, and after losing 50 pounds (over time) and being relieved of the gray cloud of depression I was ready for something new.

My plan was to work with my new growth and hang on to my relaxed length until March or May. Whenever I felt the most brave. Come November my new growth seemed to have a growth spurt making it virtually impossible to manage the two textures.

"Dear God, when it's time for me to cut it, please make it okay with me and for me. Amen." I prayed one Saturday morning. That same day I felt a wave of peace flow over me and I immediately called my mom, aka "my stylist", to have her get ready for my big chop. I was excited, anxious, nervous, thrilled all at the same time.

Some days I was more nervous, others more thrilled, but when I had to set aside 30 minutes to work with my hair before I could leave the house I knew it was time. I don't spend more than 30 minutes getting ready period, let alone 30 minutes on my top piece!

That Saturday came and I woke early to make the trek to my mom's house and salon where I'd watch several inches of my hair fall to the floor. I expected to leave a puddle of tears along with that hair, instead I felt relief....joy....freedom.

"I don't know why any black woman wants natural hair," my mom said.

But what the chemically altered hair covered was a head full of beautiful, soft curls. I couldn't believe what I saw...I loved it!

"Wow look at how it curls up!" mom said sliding a coil between her fingers and watching it spring back. "It's so pretty!"

I didn't know what would work for my new 'do (I'm still working that part out) but I was willing to figure it out. It was me under all of that relaxed hair. Me, untainted, curly, beautiful. Me, naturally.