Natural Woman

So it's been about a year since I last had a relaxer and made the decision to transition to natural. I've pretty much been keeping my hair under wraps (and tracks and wigs and braids, etc.) for the past year as I let the chemicals grow out. This week I decided to wear my hair out in its natural state. It's been very liberating, frustrating, and irritating.

Liberating because it's stressful always trying to think of what to do next with my hair, and always feeling like I had to disguise what was really going on under my tracks, wig, or braids. It's great to just have it out and nappy, in all it's natural glory, for the world to see.

Frustrating because...natural, non-permed hair is a bit difficult to work with if you have a truly coarse and resistant grain of hair like I do. At times it can be painful, especially right after it's been washed and before it's been combed out, conditioned, and braided. It's also frustrating learning the tricks to getting my hair to be manageable and presentable, and learning what products to use and which ones are a total no-no.

Irritating because I hate having to explain to all my perm-having or non-African-American friends, coworkers, relatives, and nosey-posies why I made the decision about MY OWN HAIR to not put anymore chemicals in it. And I hate hearing their judgmental tones or watching their faces as I go through what is already a difficult enough process because they feel like my hair looks better "the other way". Who asked you??? lol.

But I continue to receive support from my girlfriends and relatives that have made the transition and love their kinky, curly, coiled, resistant, and sometimes non-resistant, or dare I say nappy, hair in all it's natural, chemical-less glory.

I'M SO HAPPY BEING NAPPY!