Can’t believe it’s really been 6 months since my big chop and 15 months since I started this hair journey. At this point you’d think this natural thing would be second nature right? While I won’t say that I’m an expert, I have learned a thing or two. The most important lessons being: There’s always something new to learn and Accept her exactly how she is.
Loves! It’s Monday, it’s May, and I’m back! I could start this post and go into where I’ve been this last week or so but I don’t even want to relive the craziness that was me waiting to pick up my Macbook from being repaired. It. Got. Real. I’d rather just jump right in and put all that behind me :). What better way to get back into things this week than with a beauty review! I’ve been trying and testing and trying some more and here it is finally! My first review of the Shea Moisture makeup line!
I still can’t believe we’re in the anniversary month of my natural hair journey. Man, what a difference a year makes! Don’t worry, I have a complete post with pictures, details, thoughts and more on this milestone. Y’all know I get deep when it comes to the crown so it’s only right ;). Coming up on 1 year since I began my journey got me thinking back and reflecting on those beginning stages. All the research, and blog stalking. The countless hours I spent trying to figure out the best way to go about it. Not to mention the abundance of hair products I consumed while trying to figure this whole thing out. The hardest part in the beginning was building a regimen that would work FOR ME. There are so many out there it was easy to get lost. I’m sure I not alone and I thought I’d to do a mini series on my regimen and really get into WHY I do what I do, use what I use, and the thought process behind it all.
*VINTAGE NATURAL post from This Brown Queen originally posted in June 2013*
As most of you know, I’m about 2 months into my journey of transitioning to natural hair and I have my good days and bad. I think it’s safe to assume that, anyone who has been on this journey experiences moments in the beginning where you’re just not sure. Not sure about a lot things. If you’re me, your unsureness would go something like: Am I using the right products? Will this leave in work? Did I do those twists right? Does this bantu knot look nice? Do I look crazy? Why am I doing this? Whatever the case may be, you go through it. This past weekend, I was having a particularly rough time with my twist out. I’m somewhere between the point where, I “like” my natural texture, but I still don’t really know how to handle it. I’m wishing that I could just NOT have the relaxed ends anymore because they make me frustrated. I find myself trying out styles and loving the natural curl pattern at the root and just being utterly disappointed at how my relaxed ends just don’t hold up. BUT I still can’t really grasp the idea of cutting it all off. It’s a catch 22 I tell ya.
Hello my lovely queens. So I’m about two weeks post big chop and the feelings of “what in the world did I just do” are finally subsiding. At the end of the day loves…it’s just hair. Or is it?
Chopping all your damn hair off is a pretty monumental moment. I mean, hair, as I referred to it in my last post, is your crown and glory. And people regard it as such. Not just for us naturals but for everyone. We spend millions on hair products whether it’s shea butter, relaxer, or brazilian remi, we take great pride in our hair. So to cut it…all…it’s a bold move. I had a come to Jesus moment staring at my reflection and kinky hair. There is no hiding at that moment queens. This is you.
What were my thoughts? Oh I touched on everything from what hashtag I can use on my instagram pics to dreaming of going to Africa. I’m weird like that though…my mind tends to wander. But in all honesty it got deep. Somewhere between what would people say, and I how I could explain my decision…I got to thinking. What am I defending? The natural hair that grows out of my head? My thinking that kinky hair is MY beautiful? I didn’t have to put chemicals in my hair, or iron it bone straight to fit a standard of beauty that was not me.
It got deeper though. I started to realize how crazy this whole thing really was. When I really started to think about it, it was upsetting. Why did brown women chemically relax and straighten our hair? Why was straight hair something to be admired and kinky hair frowned upon? Why are we changing who we are in order to feel beautiful? I thought about so many phrases and things people have said over my life in regards to hair. What’s “good” hair, and how to make your hair “look nice”. According to what standard though was the question. I concluded that it honestly didn’t matter. The hair that I was given WAS good. The way my hair grew from its roots LOOKED NICE. Period.
This is a journey, as you’ve probably heard many of us making the return to natural say. It’s a process that doesn’t end after you cut those last relaxed ends off. Honestly for me…it was actually just the beginning. Embracing my natural hair.
Peace, Love, & Blessings
~
**Stay Connected! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter & Instagram**
This Brown Queen 