May 1st, 2010 was my last relaxer. The entire year of 2010, I spent in braids. My entire life, my hair was in braids either box, french, or braided bun styles. Always with synthetic hair because my hair was short and broken off. It wasn't until about June/July 2010 that I decided no more relaxers.
It still wasn't until December 2010 that I decided that I wanted to go natural. Never even heard about this natural hair thing before I started researching how to take care of hair. Armed with my wealth of information, I was excited. Fast forward to May 13th, 2011. That Friday, I decided to cut off all my hair.
I didn’t know what to expect (you can see my reaction on Youtube somewhere under Dementedd118) but I knew that there was no going back. I twisted my newly chopped hair into two strand twists and began my journey into the unknown.
Little did I know that even with all the information I had, I still was clueless on my hair. While most newly naturals are wrapped up in what hair type they are and can figure out what their hair needs, my hair was in a different league.
It took me at least 5 years to figure out the main logistics of my hair (which I posted in the About the Coils section) but that still doesn’t mean I know it all about my hair. There is still more trial and error left to go.
I can say I did make some success. I went from this (Big Chop 2011):
To this (Wash and Go 2015):
We often compare ourselves to others, whether it be out of the goodness of our heart to improve ourselves or it be the green-eyed monster in us searching for the greener grass on the other side. It’s human nature to compare and want what we don’t have. I think a good way to combat this is by loving what you have but of course, that it not easy. So what’s the next best solution? Representation.
Before, during, and after transitioning to natural, I watched a million and one videos on natural hair, read every blog there was, and joined every forum to gather as much research as I could. But even with all the representations of what curls and coils could be, I felt left out because I couldn’t find any like mine. It would be wrong of me to say that I didn’t envy the luscious locks of any and all of the beautiful ladies I watched on Youtube. It took me five years to come to terms that my hair will never be thick, might never be long, will never have a shine or sheen, will never have large coils or curls that are visible with the naked eye, and will never be another color (without heavy damage). But that’s okay. I’m fine with that.
What I’m not fine with is the lack of representation of coily heads like myself. Before you say, “There are plenty out there.” Let me show you what makes me different:
Coils the size of pen springs or smaller.
That’s it. That’s the magic ticket that separates me from everyone else. And while there may be many of us out there, we are definitely not represented like other sized coils and curls. But that’s not all this is about. It is the main reason but there is more to it.
I’ve been natural for 5 years now and have only retained about 2 inches of hair (even less in the front). I have been through the gambit of dyeing, straightening, blow-drying, extensions, and more and through it all, my hair has probably hated be for it. Hell, I haven’t even been that nice to my body in the past 5 years (if you can call it nice). So here I am, the rebel/other natural trying to make a difference. Not just for my coiled life. But for all the other naturals out there who find themselves stuck, just like me.
