Let's Straighten It Out

Yesterday was my Naturalversary. I was pretty geeked about it, for those of you who don't know! Being reflective about it, I never could have imagined a year ago that I would have a head full of beautiful, thick, healthy natural hair on my head today, but I do!! Last year was a year for the books. I've definitely come out of some things a lot stronger and I definitely feel as if I have a better sense of who I am. I'm confident in who I am. Going through this natural hair journey played a small part in that.

I like to celebrate dates that have meaning to me (birthdays, anniversaries, naturalversaries, etc.). I needed a way to bring this Naturalversary in with a bang. The request was made to straighten my hair, so I was like..."what the heck?!"...lol!

I hadn't had my hair straightened since November (right before I did the big chop). I was very nervous about it. The last time I asked my cosmetologist to straighten it (which was around December) she told me no. She said, and I quote, "I don't want you walking around here looking like a mushroom!". When I went in this time and told her I wanted my hair straightened, she scrunched her face up and said she didn't know about it. This already put me on alarm. The first thing that came to mind was, I'm going to look like a mushroom!! She asked me to pull some strands of hair down (so she could see how long it was) then told me that she thought she could pull it off.

The whole time I'm getting shampooed I'm thinking "oh my goodness" because I was nervous about the length. I also knew that if she straightened it, she would have to trim it too...and I just wasn't ready for that (even though I know it's about that time).

What's funny is, there was a guy in the salon who was so fascinated with my curly afro just the way it was. He didn't think I needed to be at the salon at all right then. He heard me say I wanted it straightened and almost had a conniption. He went on for a good 5 minutes about it. I had to eventually tell him to relax and that it will curl back up!

I get in the chair and she begins the process for my blow out. I can't see anything, because she tries her hardest to keep me from being able to look in mirrors when I'm getting my hair done. She begins to flat iron and I feel each layer as she completes the style. All the other ladies were smiling, saying how much they liked it, and telling her how pretty it was! She completes the style, hands me a mirror and I am completely shocked!!

Finished Product

Of course I love the look. There's something about the straight hair look that draws me in...or maybe I like being able to just wrap it up at night and go!



My attempt at wrapping my hair!

Speaking of wrapping it up...that's a feat within itself! My hair is so flowy and airy that it moves like that wind...making it IMPOSSIBLE to wrap at night. My hair isn't quite long enough to catch on itself when I wrap it, so I had to fight with it just to get it around my head. I had the smart idea to use bobby pins to hold the loose ends up; I then wrapped it with a wrap cap; and put a bonnet on top. Here's that look...and don't laugh, it was much harder than you'd think!

I love, Love, LOVE my hair...in any shape, form, or fashion. I often wonder if I had found this salon when I was still relaxed, would I still be relaxed now? I guess when it's all said it done, things worked out like they did for a reason. I hope to see my hair grow down to my knees (but I don't know who's going to be washing and detangling it because it sure won't be me)!! In all honestly, I'm curious to see how long my hair will get now that the chemicals aren't stunting its growth.

 I'M NATURAL AND I LOVE IT!

I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is thinking about doing it. Each of us travels a different road to becoming natural, but as long as you're committed to it; able and willing to put the time in and be creative, then I think it's well worth the try!!