HairStory-Erin F

“JUST DO IT! Its just hair and you will love yourself so much more once you see the real, natural you” Erin on going natural

1. How long have you been natural?

3 months on 5/2 :-)

2. Why and how did you go natural? (Did you transition? What products and styles did you use?)

I transitioned for 6mos usually just straightening my hair everyday...and that got really tiring!

3. Did you transition long term or do the big chop? Why?

I transitioned for 6months then finally had enough and BC'd. i wanted to go longer without cutting it and do a gradual trim but I woke up one day and said enough is enough!

4. How would you describe this experience?

The experience has been very fun, hard, emotional, exciting, scary...pretty much every feeling I could imagine! I was very excited when I first walked into my beauticians house but after I saw the hair fall to the floor I think my stomach fell with it and all I could think was that this was a HUGE mistake. It took me a couple of weeks to really come to grips with what I had done and to realize that my hair doesnt define who I am (I had always been referred to as the girl with the long hair). But then I realized that the natural me is the most beautiful i can be! I wake up in the morning and dont have to worry about flat ironing my hair and I'm not scared by rain :-). Now the hardest part is just finding the products that work best on my hair...lots of trial and error!

5. What was others response to your naturality?

I have had very mixed reviews. All of my female friends love my hair and several have BC'd after seeing my pictures and hearing my story which really made me feel good! But you know guys seem to love long hair so I got some hate mail on Facebook (ok just sad stories about how beautiful my old hair was and that I shouldnt have cut it). But then there were a few guys who really loved the new cut! I know my new look isnt for everyone...but its for me and that is all that matters.

6. Who was your biggest influence/support?  How did they provide support during your natural hair transition?

One of my friends has been natural and growing locks for about 5 years now and she ultimately convinced me that i should just go for it...so I did! Although I had the thought for a long time she gave me the courage to just go for it...and since her hair is beautiful I thought...why not?! I had some friends that told me not to and that I probably wouldnt like it but they were still supportive of my decision.

7. What have you learned since being natural (about yourself, your hair and other people)?

It probably sounds cache but I have more of a sense of self and I feel more beautiful in my own skin. I feel like there are no lies about who I am or where I come from...when you see me you can see my roots...my nappy roots :-)

8. What advice would you give to those transitioning or concerning natural?

Honestly...JUST DO IT! Its just hair and you will love yourself so much more once you see the real, natural you...and if you don't like it there is always weave ;-)

Workin' It Out Did You Go Natural To Get Healthy

Naturalistas,

I found this video very interesting. I'm glad that many women are not letting their hair determine whether or not they work out but it concerns me that many view it as unprofessional in corporate America. What are your thoughts?


This post is courtesy of Bellasugar:

Story of the BiG ChOp!!!

I'm so proud of my progress...
For those going natural the unfamiliar is always scary at first. But everything God made is Good including your hair regardless of texture, grade or length...

In the Summer of 2006, I decided to grow my relaxer out or transition to natural. I usually went about 3 month without a relaxer so I figured I could go natural and look alright. So I transitioned for 5 months by wearing styles that masked the 2 or 3 different textures in my head such as roller sets, straighten with the flat iron and twist outs. The first 3 months was fairly easier. The 4th and 5th I started to notice a more visible difference between the 3-4 personalities in my head.

One night, I was watching "America's Next Top Model" Cycle 7 the makeover episode. Jaeda's makeover was one of the most dramatic. Her long bra strap hair was crop drastically to the short sexy Halle Berry cut. I loved it. She looked so gorgeous. So from there I said "I'm going to do it, I'm going to cut my hair". I finally had the nerve. I identified with Jaeda, we had similar lengths in hair and I related to her story. I too was always the "pretty girl with long hair". I wanted a change. I needed to know who I was absence of what others said I was. Define my own beauty.

The next day I called my hairdresser who then informed me she was moving, I figured I need to get it over with sooner than later. I couldn't let anyone else in my head with scissors.

I went to her apartment, so she could cut my hair. I wanted the Jaeda hairstyle. She made play sniffle sounds as she asked "are you sure about this? When I cut above the ear there's no going back? I replied "yeah doing it!" I looked at long strands of hair as they fall to the floor and thought I could've donated that.

After she finished, she said "Gurl, this stuff is curling up back here." I said "let me see" I walk to the bathroom mirror. "Oh my God, it's gone." That was my response. "I look a hot mess. What did I do." I was so terrified of my natural texture. It look NOTHING like Jaeda's cut. What was I going to do? Gentry, my stylist, smiling says "well, you wanted to go natural".

"But what am I going to do with this?" "I gotta run up the street to let my husband see?" If he doesn't like it I'm going to perm it. Ben, my husband, don't know I was getting my hair cut that day. He worked at a school about 10 minutes away.

I called him from the car. "Please come outside" I asked. He thought something was wrong. I was pouting and whining the words "Is it ok? 'Cause if not I'll relax it"

"No bay (cause we from down south so we say bay), its ok; its kind of funky, he reassured me.

Okay, my husband's ok with it. I had to get a second opinion. I had to ask Mrs. Greenwood, a friend I knew wouldn't lie to me.

I hid behind the door as I told my husband to ask her to step into the hall. She was like what's wrong, are you ok? Then she noticed "Oh! You cut your hair, Its cute Ms. Tamara. You did it! You really did it!" was the response I got.

I love my husband and Mrs. Greenwood but I know they were lying to me but it made me feel more confident anyway.

Here's a picture from the day after my BC. In photo: me and my husband, Ben. Oct. 2006

I wore straw set to hide some of the straight relaxed pieces... I was too scared to go any shorter.

I'm so proud of my progress...

For those going natural the unfamiliar is always scary at first. But everything God made is Good including your hair regardless of texture, grade and length...

Be Encouraged...