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Friday, January 7, 2011

I'm Going Natural

This does NOT mean I won't shave my legs or armpits again. Or that I will walk outside without wearing deodorant. Or that I will shower without soap. Gross.
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It was 8 weeks after my last perm and I stared into the mirror at my new growth. It was time for a relaxer but instead of reaching right away for the creamy crack, this time around I became curious. Curious about the new growth that I have been hiding for so many years.


I first relaxed my hair at 12 years old. It was done regardless of my mom's objection. See. My mom has never relaxed her hair. We refer to her hair as Virgin Hair. I wish I had listened to my mom.


Not that relaxing my hair ruined my hair because it didn't or hasn't. I wish I had listened to my mom because I am 28 years young and I have NO idea how to take care of my natural hair texture.


How can that be? How can this feeling of absolute dread be taking over me? It's because I have no idea what to expect. I have no idea what works for my natural hair and I am petrified of making mistakes. I am scared of spending tons of money to try out products to find out what will work on my hair.


It would be so much easier to reach for the creamy crack and perm my hair because I know what works for me. With my natural hair, I am a stranger in a foreign land. I don't know the language and that freaks me out.


It has been 5+ months since my last perm and I would like to say it has been freeing. It hasn't. I am scared. I want to chop off all my relaxed ends but I think that would be drastic and the next day I know for certain I would freak out.


I will trim my relaxed ends little by little until none of it remains and all that remains is my natural hair. It's a big journey for me and I figured I would share pictures of me relaxed in the last few years, as an ode to the old me.











My natural hair might be like this:


like this:


like this:


or completely not like any of the pictures above.

I just hope I embrace whatever it may be and never change my mind, no matter how difficult it might become.

Lucky for me, the hubs is so excited for this change that it is rubbing into me just a little more each day.

{images via}

43 comments:

  1. Your natural hair will be beautiful! Good luck. :)

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  2. I decided to go natural back in August (I shaved off all of my hair)!

    I wish you luck on your natural journey. :)

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  3. You will love it, and love it more than you think. It is a great journey that I am glad I went through myself.

    To help with the transition I braided it all the time and that helped because you can wash and go.

    Now I have locs and I love my hair - it's what I've always wanted. My husband loves it too and keep telling me how beautiful I look in my hairstyles.

    It was scary at first but you will enjoy and your hubby will love it too :)!

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  4. I don't think anyone will be looking at your hair regardless, miss hot body ;)

    But I think you will be gorgeous with natural hair!!!

    I've been looking into it for a while now. I am still on the fence about it! I am for sure going to wait until I move back stateside where I will have a bigger choice of salons, because I am crap at hair. For instance, I gave myself a Moni Love do this morning from clipping my ends?!! hehe. I am chopping all my hair of anyway really soon!

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  5. I'm jealous! I tried the natural route last year but my hair completely has a mind of it's own. It was not pretty. I look forward to seeing the new natural you!

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  6. Oh Faith, you will be beautiful NO MATTER WHAT!!! Just go to a professional and ask them what they recommend you do to care for your hair. Ask tons of questions!! That's what they are there for!!

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  7. I'm sure your natural hair will look awesome! :)

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  8. I'm so proud of you!! I can't wait to see what it looks like!! I'm positive that you will be beautiful!!

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  9. Good luck with this transition. I have been natural for a year and a few months and I am absolutely in love with my texture and how healthy my hair is. I've never done the big chop and honestly, I don't really plan to because for the most part, I keep my hair straight, especially during the winter months.

    Overall, you just have to learn what works best for you. Not everyone's regime will work. My hair grows and I don't do anything special to it besides protective styling.

    Again, good luck and welcome! =)

    www.est1987.net

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  10. I applaud you decision and though I'm sure it's a bit unnerving not knowing how it will look- continue to be confident and hold your head up high. That, my dear, is what makes you so beautiful to us in the first place.

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  11. There are so many online resources for natural hair these days that learning to take care of your natural hair is bound to be a fun journey for you! All the ladies I know who have gone natural are loving it!

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  12. I'm SO SO jealous! I've wished forever to have gorgeous curly hair like the ones in your last images...i've seriously been considering getting a perm! I think you're gonna look FAB!

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  13. Congratulations!! Just like any new thing, I am sure this is a bit intimidating but you'll get it. Just hang in there and give it a fair chance. Do your research and embrace it. So glad hubs is on board. Good luck and keep us updated!

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  14. Congratulations, you'll love it. I've been natural for 12 years now. I slowly chopped off my permed ends. If you ever want to go straight just press it. I did for the first 10 years but for the last year and a half I haven't put any heat in my hair and it's been so healthy. Good Luck.

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  15. All the best on the transition. I big chopped almost 2 years ago and I've been so happy ever since.

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  16. Hi Faith,
    I wish you much luck on your natural hair journey. I just celebrated one year into my journey. I do have a long way to go. My hairstylist says that it will take at least two full years in order for my perm to grow out completely. I've been keeping my ends trimmed but I don't have the guts to cut all the permed hair out yet. Welcome to the natural club! Lol! =)

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  17. you are so cute and little and fit to the MAX!! : ) Thank you for always stopping by my blog and leaving nice comments.

    your hair is very pretty, i'm on a hair journey myself...i've come a long way since i did the big chop in 07 lol i went natural for awhile after that (wearing microbraids or leaving my afro out) then i texlaxed and now i'm relaxed. i just get bored with my hair!

    i will say your hair will be stronger than ever, but it's not going to be a "wash and go" thing...you will still have to care for your hair. your natural hair will probably look like your moms! : )

    but if you'd like to see pictures and talk hair, hit me up! cuz i've done it all to my head and i'm a product junkie ; ) xo

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  18. Very cool! My mom went natural years ago and it's been a learning curve but she found some things that work for her. Me...probably won't ever happen. I enjoy the ease and look way too much.

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  19. Your natural hair is going to be awesome!! congrats on your journey. i have a blog www.longnaturalhair.info that may be able to offer you some help, ideas and advice.

    Enjoy your journey!!

    xo,
    Dani
    www.okdani.com

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  20. Ah. I hope your natural hair looks like that. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! Oh I cannot wait to see it!

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  21. I've often considered doing the chop for the past year. I love the way natural hair looks, but I'm also scared of how it would turn out. I tried going months w/o a perm and it was okay. I may try that again, friends turned out nicely just letting the perm grow out.

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  22. I am so excited for you! I permed my hair for the first time in 6th grade...so I remember my natural hair... though I rocked braids for the longest time. It's definitely a different experience but you'll enjoy it. Try using products your mom uses. Odds are they will work for you too. Matt is bugging me to do the same thing but I'm still in the scared mode. lol

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  23. Wow! I'm so excited for you! Hooray! Can't wait to hear more about your natural hair journey! I'm sure your hair will look absolutely beautiful! Have you seen Good Hair the movie? Good luck lady, I'm rooting for you!

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  24. Hi! I've been following your blog for some time and think it's great! Going natural is scary and life changing. I think you'll love the experience and how great that your hubby is on board. Good luck!

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  25. I was looking forward to this post! Yay, for you going natural! Good luck staying away from the "cream". Your hair is going to be so beautiful natural.

    P.S. I love all the pictures. You are sooo pretty! Beautiful smile :)

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  26. I tried it once, but did not complete the process. I must say I am addicted to the creamy crack. Good luck. I can not wait to see how you natural hair is.

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  27. I think you will look gorgeous with your natural hair, and it will feel so good! Anyone can have straight hair, but I try endlessly to get volume and curls... definitely embrace it girl! You are lucky!!

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  28. Faith,

    I like the "creamy crack" phrase. You'll love living in the natural. The transition is a little difficult – kind of like waiting for your hair to grow that one more inch to take you out of the “bad-hair” stage, but it is worth the freedom you’ll have and the control you’ll regain over your hair. It’s great Sean is supportive of the change. It always makes it easier when your husband agrees and goes along for the ride. I've been natural for more than ten years and just did a big chop right before Thanksgiving. If you have time, then take a look at Curly Nikki, which is a great support, care, and everything natural hair blog.

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  29. Girl you have some cute style! And i think your hair is going to look fabulous no matter what!

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  30. You are so pretty Faith! And I totally understand your fear. I had the same fear when I went natural. There was just pretty much nothing I could do about it because at the time I just could not afford to get relaxers anymore and I was not going to do them myself (I never did that great a job). I had my last relaxer in '06 and am just now, over the last few months, learning how to really take care of my hair. I've only done a couple of vlogs about it because I did nothing over the holidays. But there is a ton of support out there, and you've certainly got my support. At the end of the day, remember that it's just hair and you can do whatever you want with it because it is YOUR hair. Good luck!

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  31. aahh, the hate/love we have with our hair is endless. I always laugh when my friends say 'we looove your curly' hair. And I'm like, 'shut up,' you with your straight hair, no need to comb it for a week.

    Anyway, the rant is over and wishing you the best. Here is a great site by a fellow blogger, designer, fashionista who is the guru of anything to do with black women hair care + her journey to natural hair:

    http://moptopmaven.blogspot.com/

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  32. I haven't had a relaxer since last April, for broke reasons lol! But I sooo need one! You will be adorable with relaxer OR natural hair girl :)

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  33. I went natural almost 5 months ago. I transitioned for 3 months then just took the plunge and chopped off the relaxer. Might i add that i had thought and prayed about going natural for 1 year plus lol.....anyways.........chopping off my long hair seemed crazy to everyone but my mum and 1 natural friend. I am proud to say i have no regrets and my fro is coming along just fine. You will look hot regardless coz you just have what it takes to flaunt it! There are sooooo many resources out there for naturals.........I am willing to answer any questions you may have. All the best!

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  34. Your hair is going to be beautiful, how could it not be, its naturally a part of you and you are beautiful. Good luck on your hair journey. I begun mines 3months ago today....hasn't always been easy but it is fulfilling!

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  35. Looking forward to more updates on this! What a fun adventure for you! Good luck! Share your knowledge so I can pass it on to my sisters!

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  36. Yay!! that must be freeing :)
    Now you should totally listen to the song: I am not my hair by india ari (however that's spelled). :)

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  37. I just saw this post. Yay. I am happy and proud of you. I've been natural for a few years now and I wish I could say it was a walk in the park but it was tough. I can now say that I understand my natural hair and I love it. I did the "big chop." When I did it my goal wasn't necessarily to be natural I don't think. I guess I just wanted to do something different. So the day after I did it I totally freaked out and put in braids. Now I like wearing my hair free, braided, twists, and even sometimes straight (although I haven't used heat to my hair in over 7 months). Hehe!. Good luck on your journey. It took me a while to get to this point where I feel good about my hair. You will get there. Let me know how I can help in the process :)

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  38. Yay! Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to see your results. I'm a little over 4 months into my grow out and although I've been natural before, I'm still excited!

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  39. oh yeah and go on YouTube for help. There is soooo much on there you could even get overwhelmed!! But it's worth it :)

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  40. I've been perm free for six months. It is weird learning your new texture and how to care for it. You Tube has been a great help to me. Good luck.

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  41. Just wanted to let you know that I'm so proud of you! I BC'd a year and two months ago and I couldn't be happier! My 'fro is amazing... you're hair will be too! :D

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  42. Hi Faith, a.k.a. PW sis! Here's a YouTuber that I think you'll appreciate as you learn to care for your natural hair; she taught me that knowledge indeed is power!

    http://www.youtube.com/user/kimmaytube

    I went through perms at a young age, then braids, then cut it all off as a teenager after my hair got damaged, then grew a 'fro, then had more braids, then permed my hair again because I didn't know how to care for my natural hair once it got a big longer, then went back to natural, then I began going to a natural hair salon and locked my hair about 1.5 yrs ago... Yeah, my hair's been through stuff! But once I learned how to care for my natural hair, it got healthier and grew faster, and I grew happier. :-) Enjoy the journey and be patient. Smooches!

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