I’ve been on my natural hair journey for six years (although it feels like 20 years), and I still don’t have it figured out. In the beginning, when the Big Chop movement started, I can honestly say that I jumped on the band wagon because I did not know what else to do with my over processed, constantly breaking, stunted growth, relaxed hair. I said to myself, “Why am I paying money to pour acid on my perfectly fine strands just to look like a white woman? What was wrong with my own hair? “Though the idea was honorable, I quickly realized why my mom had opted to give me a relaxer very early on. Thus was the struggles of my natural hair journey.
I found myself transitioning longer so that my big chop would produce longer, ready-to-curl strands. That did not work out, because handling the two textures was difficult. After finally cutting my hair, I was still unsure about the new look. So the research began, down the blackhole of YouTube video tutorials. I tried wash and go, twist, finger curly, cornrows, braid outs, etc.
Let’s not forget about the science projects in my bathroom and kitchen sinks. I learned about hair types, porosity and density, types of oils, and an unimaginable list of products and brands to choose from. It was overwhelming! Some months I would see growth, and others, the hair would stay the same length. This consistent struggle on my natural hair journey had me thinking, what was I doing wrong? Why does it have to be so hard? I grew tired, so I tried a different approach: wigs, braids, and extensions. For a while, that worked for me, but I still wondered: What was I doing wrong? I finally found the answer; I was doing too much!
Ever wonder why people in the jungle or the Rastafarians have long hair? What about when men grow their hair out? It’s because their hair is not a science project. They wash it, comb it, and leave it alone! Simple! Now, I’m not here to say that you shouldn’t find the products that work for you or spend time treating your hair to a spa day. Because in actuality, it is your Crown, and just like a Queen, the crown needs shining every now and then, but when not in use, the queen puts it away safely to be touched only when she needs it again. I choosing to no longer see it as struggles of my natural hair journey, but the enlightment. Here, let’s talk about how to worship our Crown while also knowing how to protect it from ourselves.
See how I’ve managed To find a hairstyle that works for me in this related post.