Sunday, July 15, 2012

Big Chop = Big Step

transitioning to natural hair big chop day
My Big Chop Hair
Like myself, many of you reading this have transitioned to natural by taking care of your hair and letting it grow until you were ready to cut off the relaxed ends. 

Others may have simply cut off their hair with very little to no transitioning time and rocked a low fade or TWA.

Whatever the case may be, Big Chop=Big Step. 

I transitioned for a total of 15 months. This time frame worked for me. I didn't have a goal date set as to when I would cut my hair. I just wanted to transition until I got to a length that I was comfortable with or until I felt ready to cut. At 15 months post relaxer, I was comfortable with the length AND I felt ready. I haven't looked back since. 

You Tube and Hairlista have become my ultimate hair resource. What I mean by this is that these sites are places where you can find real people sharing their real hair stories. However, while I was transitioning I realized something. I realized that I could sit and search for BC stories all I wanted and get advise on how to BC, when to BC, how I should feel about BC'ing, how others may react to my BC, etc. but I had to take it just for what it was, advice. No matter how much or how little, how good or bad, it was all advise. At the end of the day, it was my choice, my hair, my decision. 

For those of you that are thinking of transitioning to natural, the best advise I have received and could give is this: You have to do what you feel is right for you. You have to know that you are comfortable with yourself no matter what you do to your hair. Cutting your hair will not hide any insecurities you have, more than likely it will bring them out. 

While I was transitioning I had to worked through my insecurities because if I wasn't comfortable with me, others wouldn't be either. I had to work through all the "what if's", doubts, and fears. It's a good idea to write down what you are feeling and how you plan to deal with the emotions that come with this decision. This way you have an idea of how you are going to respond when things come up after you cut your hair. Because cutting your hair is a Big Step.

I never understood why people would transition to the point where they only had 2 inches of relaxed ends left but struggled with the idea of cutting it off. That was UNTIL IT WAS MY HAIR!. Then I could relate. So much of who we are is tied up in the image of our hair. So for most of us, it doesn't matter how much or how little we have left to cut off. It's still a Big Step. 

Yes, BC for some may be, "I shaved my head" but for others it may be, "I finally cut off those last 2 inches." The BC is different for everyone who experiences it no matter how "BIG" the Big Chop or how "little" the Big Chop. It's still a BIG STEP! 

Have an opinion on the matter? Comment.

Yours Truly~Freedom

Friday, July 6, 2012

I Wonder...Why?

Have You Ever Wondered...

Part I



photo by: Jalal Volker

Have you ever wondered
why the death of one person can 
shatter so many lives,
why love that was so hard to find 
is so easily lost,
why a single event can
alter the path of your future,
Have you ever wondered why?

Have you ever wondered
why little girls dream of their prince charming
only to find that love is not a fairytale,
why little boys feel invincible only to find that 
 the world is not theirs alone to conquer,
why mommies and daddies find it hard to let
their little ones make mistakes of their own,
Have you ever wondered why?

Have you ever wondered
why their is so much lack in a world 
 that's filled with plenty,
why the easy way out is the way 
most often chosen,
why the values of honesty and love are
overrated but deciet and disappointment are expected,
Have your ever wondered why?

Sometimes I Wonder...... Why?


Yours Truly~Freedom


Tuesday, July 3, 2012

3 Months Natural Update

So its been 3 months and I have already had to tweak my regimen to fit my hair needs. Click on my regimen to check out the changes. The journey continues to be pleasant and I'm still enjoying every minute of it! Here are just a few photos of the journey up to this point. To view my entire hair journey from relaxed to natural find me on hairlista click here My Hairlista Page  Yours Truly~Freedom
Braid out

Braid out


Braid out

Wash day-my hair before washing
Wash day-my hair before washing
top length
Wash day-my hair before washing
Side length
Side nape area

Back length (at the 4)

Another back length (at the 4)
Front length






Sunday, June 24, 2012

1 Month Natural Update

My one month naturalversary was on April 18, 2012. Here are a few pics of how my hair was progressing. I'm a little late with this post but better late than never. Enjoy. Yours Truly~Freedom

chunky twist out with front braided back

side view

side view

impromptu length check

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Newly Natural Hair Regimen


Figuring out what works for my natural hair has been as interesting as the journey itself. Besides the so true adage that "moisture is a natural's best friend". Here are a few things that I've learned about my hair so far:
1) I'm a head of many textures but predominately 4b (i think)
2) my natural hair acts nothing like my transitioning hair
3) shea butter works much better as a sealant than oil on my hair
4) sweet almond oil gives my hair a nice sheen and is best on my hair when applied a day or two after wash day
5) I don't have to totally abandon products I used while transitioning and relaxed (just some tweaking needed)

So without further ado:

Natural Hair Regimen~March 2012-Present
Regimen Overview:
Water
Shampoo and Condition 1x per week
Deep Condition 1x per week
Put in Leave in After Washing and Conditioning 
Air Dry only (to about 80%) 
Apply Modified Kimmaytube Leave in
Apply Shea Butter Mix
No Heat Styles

For a detailed look at my regimen, click on the "My Regimen" tab on the home page.
Yours Truly~Freedom

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Big Chop Photos

Preparation 
Here are a few photos of my big chop. For photos of my journey you can find me on hairlista (www.hairlista.com)


Quick recap:
Last relaxer December 2010
Transitioned for 15 months 
Big chop March 2012 happy0155 Free Emoticons   Happy
Yours Truly~Freedom


   
Stringy relaxed ends
I was so excited.I originally thought that I would go to the salon to BC but I ended up doing it myself. Not to mentioned it was on a Sunday and I was ready. 





Working on this section
OMG! almost done
Yep, I'm keeping it.



Look at my hair!

Friday, April 6, 2012

Family

My Girls during a tour of
the Capital of Florida
Family is a very important aspect of my life. I enjoy every moment spent with my girls and Hubby (well almost every moment; motherhood & wifely duties can be a bit draining at times; 1 of me 4 of them but I wouldn't change it for the world). In any case, they are my rocks. They are there when I need them and they help me to remember what's really important in this life. We have one life to live. Let's make the most of it by enjoying ourselves while cherishing our families. Shout out to all the families that are making things  happen in their lives and in the lives of those they cherish most. 
Yours Truly~Freedom

2011 High School Grad
middle daughter, hubby, oldest,
me, and youngest
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