MY NATURAL HAIR JOURNEY
Published Apr 26, 2016
Updated Apr 26, 2017
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Keeping my natural hair is one of the most difficult things I have ever done. I went completely natural, two years ago. To tell you the truth, I’m still trying to understand how to care for my hair. Some days, I just want to rush to the store and buy perm to put on my hair. On other days, I want to show the whole world how beautiful my hair looks. Some days I question my sanity. I mean, why does anyone choose to keep such tough hair when there are other options? Then some days, I thank God for giving me such unique hair that is full of character. Let me take on my journey.
I cut my hair for the first time since high school, shortly after we moved to the United States. The braids I had on took away my baby hair and left me with mbamba (no baby hair). So I asked my nephew to chop off my hair because I wanted my hair to grow evenly. I didn’t want to look like a peacock with no hair at the front and long hair in the middle. My nephew chopped my hair but he didn’t completely take out the relaxed section as I requested. This is me rocking my short hair.
After some months, I decided to cut my hair even lower so I could get rid of all relaxed hair. I went to a barber’s chop and the white lady who gave me the haircut struggled because she said, my hair was too thick and curly. She had to leave instructions in the computer to help anyone who had to handle my hair in case I showed up again. Here is what I looked like after that. Errmm please just skip this picture to the next. *covers face*
The my hair grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with my mirror and hair products. Then I watched 1756 YouTube videos and started trying to style my hair. Here is one of my attempts: a fro puff.
As the hair kept growing, my combs and hair ties started breaking.
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| Meme from SOML Facebook |
I Kid.
But believe me when I say it became so difficult to handle. Some days, I would just leave my hair entangled and totally unappealing to the eyes. I was gradually becoming a sane mad woman. My girls noticed and one morning, girl number one said my hair was not beautiful and she sent her sister to get hair accessories so they could fix it. This is what they did.
Then I woke up one morning and declared it wash day…
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| Meme from SOML Facebook |
Okay, I didn’t use all of the above products but I used quite a few. I partitioned my hair into sections to make it easier to wash. I washed and styled following a YouTube video I had watched. Yay for YouTube natural hair vloggers! Here are the pics I took on that day:
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Then my brothers and sisters, I decided to do a bantu knot out after my hair had grown longer. The curls weren’t as defined as I expected but I was proud of myself and my kinky hair.
Here is another pic I took on the same day.
So far, my go-to style has been to make an attempt at combing my hair then putting it together in a high puff and laying the edges with some gel.
Extra virgin coconut oil and water are my hair’s best friends. This is what my hair looks like today.
It is much longer than it looks but with natural hair, shrinkage is real.
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| Meme from SOML, Facebook |
And that, my friends is the story of my natural hair. I’ll keep feeding it with coconut oil and water and keep trying new styles. Do you know what else I could do with my natural hair? Please let me know below.
“And isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering.”
`Wow! Beautiful hair. I cut off my hair in 2013. I keep short hair because the long hair was insanely painful. What brings me here is my daughter who has long natural African hair. She cries when we have to blow dry it she cries when we plait it. Will definitely get the oil and water and give it my best for he sake. Hope I can find organic oils!
And you have motivated me to grow my hair again!
So glad to motivate you, Lilian! the detangler should make your daughter’s hair easy to manage.
Thank u for sharing your natural hair journey.I want to go natural n i don’t know which products to use n how to even start but going through your blog am inspired. Can u please guide me with some of your new tips n hair products u use.i will be more than grateful.THANKS.And to add thanks for all the recipes n videos they do help me a lot in this Amelika.haha
Hi dear, you could use extra virgin olive oil instead. I know some people make their own coconut oil. I haven't tried it yet but if I do, I will share the process. Looking forward to hearing how the hair journey turns out for you.
i'm preparing to chop my locks at the end of the month, but all the products you are listing….hmmmm in Cameroon? extra virgin coconut oil? oh my search will be long
Thank you!
check http://natureslocks.to
Thanks darling!
Great post girl. Keep at it!
Yay, you finally dropped a comment! Thanks dear, I really appreciate that.
About that 'mbamba' I'll suggest you rub extra virgin coconut oil on it twice every day. Extra virgin coconut oil is excellent for hair growth. Hope this helps.
Wow. I was so interested in reading this that I made u modify your site. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I also went natural a year ago but I can not stand the front part of my hair. It looks so scanty ( mbamba) but the rest of it is full and beautiful. Please can you help me with any tips on how to grow the front evenly? It's difficult to go natural but I think it's worth it especially in the U.S. keep it up. Your hair looks beautiful.
Beautiful. I love your hair.
Wow. I was so interested in reading this that I made u modify your site. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I also went natural a year ago but I can not stand the front part of my hair. It looks so scanty ( mbamba) but the rest of it is full and beautiful. Please can you help me with any tips on how to grow the front evenly? It's difficult to go natural but I think it's worth it especially in the U.S. keep it up. Your hair looks beautiful.
Wow. I was so interested in reading this that I made u modify your site. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I also went natural a year ago but I can not stand the front part of my hair. It looks so scanty ( mbamba) but the rest of it is full and beautiful. Please can you help me with any tips on how to grow the front evenly? It's difficult to go natural but I think it's worth it especially in the U.S. keep it up. Your hair looks beautiful.
LOOL! @ what your kids did to your hair.
That really really me me smile. Stop relaxing my hair 9 months ago… Lets see how long my resolve lasts.
http://www.KacheeTee.com
Hopefully you get past the broken combs that will become a part of your life. Lol kidding.
Thanks for stopping by, KacheeTee.
17 inches long?! Wow! I'll start checking product labels to make sure those ingredients are absent. That deep conditioning recipe is loaded with natural goodness and those are things I have at home almost every time. I'll definitely be trying it. Anyi, thank you soooo much for your invaluable contribution!!! It goes a long way… I'm coming to your inbox…
Your hair looks great! I did my big chop two and a half years ago after struggling for about six months, I met a curly hair specialist and got some great tips. Presently, my hair is 17inches long. The very first thing I learned was to stay away from products with silicon, paraben and sulfate. I do my own deep conditioning on wash days consisting of banana(for strength), avocado, 1 egg, 2tbsp coconut oil, 2tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp olive oil. Put everything in a blender and apply after shampooing. Then leave in your hair for 45mins then wash off with lukewarm water to prevent the egg from cooking in your hair 🙂 Then use your regular conditioner and continue as usual. I apply jojoba oil and vegetable glycerine to my wet hair before styling.
Hope this helps. You can inbox me for more DIY tips if you are interested
I stop relaxing my hair may 2017. I only wash and roll under the drying,just to have nice braids afterwards. Pls instruct me how I can go about a nice natural journey, bcos my main problem is scanty front hair
Keeping natural hair can be tasking but once you begin to understand your hair I guess it gets easier. Thanks for stopping by dearie!
Your hair looks like its growing really well. I applaud you for taking on this step. I tried going natural hair and I could keep up with the things involved. But I always admire ladies like you who are dedicated to growing their natural hair.x
http://www.stephylately.com