This is how/why I went back to my natural mane

For as long as I can remember, my hair has never really been difficult to take care of. I vaguely remember images of myself as a child, getting my hair braided every weekend for the school week. I hated getting my hair braided because of the pain it left from the tight pulls of each braid. But I loved how it looked with my naturally long and poofy, but coily soft hair. I loved the way it looked the day I get it done. The following day always looks like I've had it done for about 2 weeks. Nonetheless, I loved how my natural hair looked.

Fast forward to my 12th birthday. I was living with my aunt and she loved taking care of my hair. It was at armpit length when dry and neck length when wet. It was very coily when wet, but dries partially straight. My aunt tried to hot comb my hair once for an event. The end product was me looking like a wet rat with very long hair. My hair stretched to mid back, but was very thin and greasy. I hated it! To make it worse, as soon as I stepped outside, my hair reverted to its poofy nature and just looked a hot mess! My aunt decided she's had enough with my unruly hair and decided that the only solution would be to perm my hair. I don't remember being excited about this as I was not entirely familiar with perms. I got my first perm at age 12 and boy did I love it!! My hair was long and blew with the wind. I could style it however, and it wont change! It was just amazing.
I really do not remember how my hair went from that to being just above should length AFTER perm in about 3 years. My hair was thin, short and uncontrollable. I glued in tracks to make my hair look fuller, I braided my hair with extensions, it was just not happening for my hair. But I kept with my perm!


My hair stayed short throughout high school. I completely forgot about ever having had longer healthier hair. In 2007, a friend of mine decided she wanted to color my hair, since we were both into experimenting with our hair. At this time, I hadn't permed my hair in about 6 months (not by choice, but by brokeness. lol). So I decided then and there that I am going to get a fab cut to go with this new colour. I went to First Choice Hair Cutters (yes, a black girl went to first choice!). The lady that cut my hair had never touched black hair before, let alone cut one. But she did an amazing job on my hair! My friend did the coloring that same night and then flat ironed and styled my hair 

I loved my cut and rocked it until the end of summer the next year. The hair at the back of my head had absolutely no perm, so when I did my first wash after the colouring, I noticed how much fuller that part was. I also noticed how beautiful my coils were. Luckily, I was still too broke to perm my hair, but I continued with the almost daily flat ironing.

At the end of that summer, I went into second year University and as the colour and perm grew out, I noticed how much fuller my new growth was. I was still unaware of the "transitioning phase" I was apparently going through. For a full year after my first cut, I stayed off perm and just weaved and braided my hair or flat ironed it if it was out. After my first cut, I had gotten addicted to "trimming" my hair. So before I knew it, all my permed ends were gone and I was left the natural hair that has been through too many flat irons. Needless to say, my hair was still quite damaged.

One summer, I got too lazy to flat iron or blow dry my hair and my boyfriend and I were heading out for ice cream. My hair was in a small curly fro with straight ends (my ends do not go back curly after flat ironing.). He took one look at me and said "I love your hair like that".

That right there, was my inspiration to go natural! I have been natural since 2007, but have had so many hair cuts and flat ironing that I will say I have only really been natural since March 2012 (my last flat iron). I cut off all my straight ends just a month ago (July 2012). So I am now fully natural and starting almost from scratch!

the day after my cut and rinse out colour

right after my cut... as I leave the salon.