Today's Háblame (Talk to Me) post comes to us from a NaturalChica reader, Nickye [ a 3 yr natural!]
Natural Chica: How long have you been natural/transitioning? And if you haven't been natural your whole life, what prompted you to make the change?
Nickye: I've been natural for over 3 years, but it was not a decision of my own choosing. I like to call it a "Hair Perfect Storm" (a combination of medical issues caused significant hair breakage in a 4-5 weeks) and the only way to deal with it was to cut it off. My decision to become natural was made in my stylists chair, and my transition to natural took all of 20 minutes. The terror was trying to find a way to style it, products, dealing with a full head of hair to near baldness, AND not having nary a chemical straightener to rely on. I had previously only looked at a computer to work, so I had no idea that there was a natural community at the time. So all this was done alone...and terrified! After much research, and product trial and error, I've found the products and routine that work for me. It varies for each person, and different hair types have different needs. Elasta QP Feels Like Silk, Curls, Oyin Handmade, and Kinky-Curly make up my main products.
I now have VERY strong, healthy, well moisturized, soft textured, 3c corkscrews with some 3b patches here and there. I started coloring my hair when I BC'd (it took 4-5 months to get to my current blonde) and have been this shade of blonde for 3 years. Going totally blonde was something I couldn't do with permed hair, and was the last color I hadn't tried! I would never have healthy hair like I do now if I'd continued to chemically straighten my hair.
Natural Chica: Did you have any stereotypes about natural hair or those with natural hair beforehand? If so, what were some of them and has your viewpoint changed?
Nickye: I never thought about natural hair beforehand. It was something I didn't think was an option to me because, well...imagine my surprise when it hit me that I had no earthly clue as to why I'd been perming the better part of my life. It was just what you did! Going out with unpermed hair was like going out in your underwear...you just don't don't do it!! I now see that not only was it de rigueur among the black community, but it was also an attempt by my mother to help with maintenance. I am a 3c/3b mix, and my sister is a 3b, and we both had long hair. I still remember my mother complaining of sore wrists!! It was not until my sister went to college in ATL, found a new stylist, and stopped relaxing her hair that the idea of going natural was even presented to me. She told me there was no need for to straighten my hair, but I never seriously considered it...until I had no choice. Looking back, I'm glad it happened as it did, regardless of how traumatizing it was at the time!!! I don't know if I would have done it otherwise.
Natural Chica:Do you feel that anything changed in your life (i.e. Boost in confidence)when you became all natural/started transitioning?
Nickye: Since I started perming, I felt better about myself because I wasn't chasing an ideal that I could never achieve.... straight hair!! I also feel obligated (as I always have) to do my part in sending the good hair/bad hair and "grades" of hair ridiculousness back from whence it came...the pits of hell!!!
Natural Chica: If you went through/going through a transition process, how did you care for your hair during that process styles...products you used, etc.) ?
Nickye: I didn't transition, and looking back, am glad I didn't. Transistioning can be a long process, and I really don't have the patience. BCing seems to me so much easier, no transitioning issues (breakage, shedding, etc.) to deal with.
Natural Chica:What do you love most about being natural/transitioning?
Nickye: Being able to do my own hair, not being afraid of the rain or humidity, keeping all my growth(breakage & split ends are a thing of the past for me!), having healthy hair that I love instead of fight with, being able to play with color in ways I couldn't with permed hair, and most of all...never having a bad hair day!!
Natural Chica: What words would you leave with someone who is thinking about going natural?
Nickye: Get support online. There are a number or natural hair groups and blogs to answer questions and get support. (nappturality.com, curlynikki.com, naturallycurly.com, etc.) It is essential to use quality products and learn how to care for you hair. (ex. www.curls.biz, www.oyinhandmade.com, www.kinky-curly.com) I learned the most at the Curls site. It has a forum where you can ask questions about hair care, hair typing, ingredients to avoid and look for in products, proper hair care, etc.
Natural Chica: Any sites where we can keep up with your journey: YouTube, fotki album, any other picture sharing site...etc.
Nickye: I can be reached at curlyebliss@hotmail.com
Thanks for sharing Nickye (Love the advice and the blonde hair too!)
Today's Háblame (Talk to Me) post comes to us from a NaturalChica reader, Nickye [ a 3 yr natural!]
Natural Chica: How long have you been natural/transitioning? And if you haven't been natural your whole life, what prompted you to make the change?
Nickye: I've been natural for over 3 years, but it was not a decision of my own choosing. I like to call it a "Hair Perfect Storm" (a combination of medical issues caused significant hair breakage in a 4-5 weeks) and the only way to deal with it was to cut it off. My decision to become natural was made in my stylists chair, and my transition to natural took all of 20 minutes. The terror was trying to find a way to style it, products, dealing with a full head of hair to near baldness, AND not having nary a chemical straightener to rely on. I had previously only looked at a computer to work, so I had no idea that there was a natural community at the time. So all this was done alone...and terrified! After much research, and product trial and error, I've found the products and routine that work for me. It varies for each person, and different hair types have different needs. Elasta QP Feels Like Silk, Curls, Oyin Handmade, and Kinky-Curly make up my main products.
I now have VERY strong, healthy, well moisturized, soft textured, 3c corkscrews with some 3b patches here and there. I started coloring my hair when I BC'd (it took 4-5 months to get to my current blonde) and have been this shade of blonde for 3 years. Going totally blonde was something I couldn't do with permed hair, and was the last color I hadn't tried! I would never have healthy hair like I do now if I'd continued to chemically straighten my hair.
Natural Chica: Did you have any stereotypes about natural hair or those with natural hair beforehand? If so, what were some of them and has your viewpoint changed?
Nickye: I never thought about natural hair beforehand. It was something I didn't think was an option to me because, well...imagine my surprise when it hit me that I had no earthly clue as to why I'd been perming the better part of my life. It was just what you did! Going out with unpermed hair was like going out in your underwear...you just don't don't do it!! I now see that not only was it de rigueur among the black community, but it was also an attempt by my mother to help with maintenance. I am a 3c/3b mix, and my sister is a 3b, and we both had long hair. I still remember my mother complaining of sore wrists!! It was not until my sister went to college in ATL, found a new stylist, and stopped relaxing her hair that the idea of going natural was even presented to me. She told me there was no need for to straighten my hair, but I never seriously considered it...until I had no choice. Looking back, I'm glad it happened as it did, regardless of how traumatizing it was at the time!!! I don't know if I would have done it otherwise.
Natural Chica:Do you feel that anything changed in your life (i.e. Boost in confidence)when you became all natural/started transitioning?
Nickye: Since I started perming, I felt better about myself because I wasn't chasing an ideal that I could never achieve.... straight hair!! I also feel obligated (as I always have) to do my part in sending the good hair/bad hair and "grades" of hair ridiculousness back from whence it came...the pits of hell!!!
Natural Chica: If you went through/going through a transition process, how did you care for your hair during that process styles...products you used, etc.) ?
Nickye: I didn't transition, and looking back, am glad I didn't. Transistioning can be a long process, and I really don't have the patience. BCing seems to me so much easier, no transitioning issues (breakage, shedding, etc.) to deal with.
Natural Chica:What do you love most about being natural/transitioning?
Nickye: Being able to do my own hair, not being afraid of the rain or humidity, keeping all my growth(breakage & split ends are a thing of the past for me!), having healthy hair that I love instead of fight with, being able to play with color in ways I couldn't with permed hair, and most of all...never having a bad hair day!!
Natural Chica: What words would you leave with someone who is thinking about going natural?
Nickye: Get support online. There are a number or natural hair groups and blogs to answer questions and get support. (nappturality.com, curlynikki.com, naturallycurly.com, etc.) It is essential to use quality products and learn how to care for you hair. (ex. www.curls.biz, www.oyinhandmade.com, www.kinky-curly.com) I learned the most at the Curls site. It has a forum where you can ask questions about hair care, hair typing, ingredients to avoid and look for in products, proper hair care, etc.
Natural Chica: Any sites where we can keep up with your journey: YouTube, fotki album, any other picture sharing site...etc.
Nickye: I can be reached at curlyebliss@hotmail.com
Thanks for sharing Nickye (Love the advice and the blonde hair too!)
