This has definitely been a year of the AWAKENING for me on several levels. However, I'll narrow this particular blog post down to my "natural hair" journey.
Before I touch on a recent reckoning, let me share a timeline of this path. Spring 2014 I went to my stylist and said BIG CHOP it! Returned home to my husband looking like WHAT! Leading up to the chop, I had already stop falling for the creamy crack. Also, knew when I big chopped... my plan was to eventually get dreads or sister locs. Yet, I wanted to first explore my hair in its natural state... afro, braided (without extensions), twists, blow outs, wet and curly (which many of us know that to be a wash-n-go) and so much more before committing to either dreads or sister locs. I even documented many of these stages early on via Tumblr. Sister locs had my attention over dreads. Reasons being, 1) I thought it would visually be a easier transition. Then 2, I thought sister locs would be more ideal for me in terms of maintenance. Point 1 (mainly) and 2, I quickly checked myself!
Fast forward, almost two years ago I landed a local stylist to loc my hair. She and I connected via social media and ended up being from the same city, Cleveland, OH (Carolina living). After continued research, I opted for dreads by way of finger coils. The stylist and I jokingly called them dread-lets for a longtime. One visit, she messed around and showed me how to re-twist my hair... hot dog! Basically, she was relocating and that "hike" to her new location was not suitable for me.
Anywho, moving into my recent awakening... OH, I Love the skin I am in! Living consciously, my natural hair journey has taught me a lot about my surroundings and myself. Ha, the amount of comments (and gestures) made by individuals goes to show how society trained "us" to think your expectations matter to the next being. And has limited "us" from being transparent or simply recognizing the beauty of one other without all the bells and whistles. Oh how I thank our higher power for VISION. I see beauty in the craziest things. I witness "ugly" in some of the most "prima-donna" attempts.
Question, does the way I wear my hair make me a better person or friend, (in the power words of India Arie).
Now loc'd, pass the dread-lets stage... I am loudly reminded that I am not my hair, I am NOT your expectations, no. I may add an exotic "wash-out" hair color (green, pink, purple or blue) over the weekend. I invite my platinum pieces to the huddle! May go weeks without re-twisting my crown or re-twist often. Ha, or even rock a hair scarf while others rock their hair accessory of choice. Saying this to say, when you wake up in the morning, unwilling to please your surroundings. But be pleasing to yourself... the morning hits different! Ha, morning world.
R.Newson
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