I’m 14 months into my natural hair journey, and I’m still working on getting used to the new me.
Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE being natural. My hair is healthy, strong, beautiful- and I feel liberated from the world of perms and mandatory weaves. But after wearing weaves for 12+ years, non stop (yikes!), I am still adjusting to seeing the new me- and getting used to being just as glam in my fro, as I was in my long Kim Kardashian weaves.
October 2011- before my BC
It is so easy for me to look at the pic above and say, this girl is so much prettier than the girl with the short (albeit sassy) Afro. Part of that is what society tells me (long hair is gorgeous), and part of that is what I’m used too.
All of it is a lie though.
Whenever the thought that I looked prettier in a weave with a relaxer enters my head, I remind myself that weaves and relaxers are an illusion. It’s not the REAL me. When that relaxer starts growing in, and that weave starts looking ratty, I’ll be back to this:
Nov 2011- My BC!
A girl with no edges, damaged hair, and a year away from truly enjoying her natural hair. This is the real me that I faced between every weave, and when I accepted that I could move past this, and be beautiful in my own skin, that’s when I really found the new me:
And she is fab, and only getting better- no additives necessary!
-N.
Naturals, what did it take to love the ‘new you?’
For me it mostly took time. After being natural for awhile I started to notice that all of the things I disliked about my hair (inconsistent curl pattern, overall frizz and texture, etc) were only present because I wasn’t properly taking care if it! Ever since I started listening to my tendrils, we’re having a much better relationship!
What a lovely story, Cdubs!
I’m glad you learned to love your curly tendrils- though I’m certain those around you thought they were beautiful the whole time! Thanks for visiting, Curlfriend!
I know what you mean, but when my hair was short short, I loved it and thought it was cute now my hair left in its natural state is look about the same length of the last (bottom) pic maybe longer, but blown out its shoulder length w/ I won’t do yet. I wear lace fronts (long and short ones) and keep my hair cornrowed b/c I’m not happy w/ this in between length.
I hear you! Nothing is more annoying than the weird ‘in between’ length. Not quite long enough for cute pinup updos, or short enough to be sassy (and easy to detangle!). I used a LOT of wigs, and that’s when I discovered Crochet braids! After keeping my hair covered for 3 months to get through the weird phase- it was winter! And I had to cover it up again! Lol. Thanks for sharing your story- you have great insight, please share again soon!