Bracey's Transition to Natural

Some of my friends have taken the natural hair plunge along with me.  Each have had their own journey.  One of my friends, Bracey, has been wearing weaves for 13 years, of which I've known her 3.  Of the 3 years I've known her, I've only seen "her" hair once for a week.  Her intent at the time was not necessarily to go natural but she just enjoyed the styling options that weaves gave her as well as the thickness of it. She would get her weave maintained every 2 to 3 weeks and reinstalled every 3 months.   Another convenience was that due to her 5 day a week gym routine, she didn't have to sacrifice her health because of concerns of messing up her hair.  I and several others have been "gently" encouraging her to let go of her weave even temporarily to see what was beneath.  We even joked, YOUR hair is probably as long as the weave you're paying to get sewn in! She finally said she would give it 2 weeks.  I am happy to report she has been weave free for 2 months!  Because of the versatility of natural hair, her choice is to wear is straight styled. She is interested, however in learning how to style her hair in a curly state for a change from time to time.  I'll be glad to help her with that as well!  Once we successfully get it accomplished, I'll be sure to come back with pictures!  Check out her transformation in the video below.

Free slideshow generated with Smilebox Note:  Please note I am not anti- weave as I sometimes add hair to add fullness to my own natural hair.  However, this was a huge change for my friend & I wanted to celebrate that.

Why I Won't Flat Iron My Natural Hair

 

**Disclamer:  This is "my" personal opinion about heat styling for "my" head of natural hair.  I am not telling anyone to not do it or to do it.  I'm stating what my personal preference is for me. Nor am I saying that the results of heat styling will be the same for everyone.  My personal philosophy has always been, you have to do what makes you comfortable.  I judge no one for what they choose to do with their hair.**

During a conversation with some friends this weekend, someone asked me if I ever planned to straighten my hair.  It was even mentioned that people barely remember what I looked like when my hair was relaxed.  I showed this picture.

December 2009

I mentioned that my hair never got longer than this when it was relaxed and I was never happy with my relaxed hair.  I really wanted long hair and it wouldn't grow. As I shared during my transition post, my hair was extremely thin in the back.  Relaxers were taking my hair out.  Therefore, I don't have very positive memories of having straight hair.  As far as seeing my length goes, all I have to do is see a picture from when I had a TWA and I can see how much my hair has grown.  Just not that big of a deal to me to have to straighten it to see my exact length.  Plus, there are so many other ways to stretch natural hair to showcase its length.  A few examples of this are bantu knot outs, flexirods sets, banding the hair before styling, and even stretched twist outs like the one showcased at the very top.

January 2011

 Then, I am terrified of heat damage.  I just watched a video of one of my favorite Youtube vloggers, Glamazini, share her hair status after having it flat ironed once and wearing it straight for a month.  Now, she planned to cut her hair anyway, so the lack of reversion in some areas is not really a huge concern of hers.  But for me after transitioning and accomplishing the length I currently have to have to resort to cutting it because of heat damage, oh no ma'am!

Lastly, I LOVE (did I say love, love) my naturally curly hair!  I love it's versatility and I love how healthy it finally is.  I love the fact that it just compliments all of my other unique qualities.  After all these years, my hair is finally growing.  I was already standing out (and above, at my 6'1 height) when I walk into a room and now with this hair I really do.  I've embraced my curly hair and it's just fine by me.

But for all of you who want to get a glimpse of what my hair looks like now, sorta straight....I did a tension blow out on my hair.   My hair is not bone straight and it only stayed this way 2 days before I misted it with water and did a twist out on it.