Back then...
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. I never knew how to take care of my hair. I kept braids in most my life and my mom would relax it for me from time to time. It worked perfectly for me because growing up a tomboy, I didn't care if my hair looked cute, so long as it was done.However, as my mid twenties approached, the tomboy-ness in me started to fade (just a bit) and I was tired of braids. I wanted a change. I wanted healthy, long hair. So, I decided that my hair needed to be revamped. I transitioned from May 1st, 2010 to May 13th, 2011 (with some setbacks), Big Chopped May 13th, 2011, hung out with my hair all summer and fall, locked my hair up for a protective style challenge during the winter, had a medical emergency that caused my hair to fall out at the end of winter, and protected my hair once again.
This has been my routine for 5 years now: Fall and Winter, add extensions. Spring/Summer, let my hair loose.
Now...
Still stuck in the in-between stage for both hair and life, there are some things that I have learned and some things that I have to change. Here's what I learned about my hair:- Finely textured strands with medium density in the crown, sides, middle, and back. Low density in the Top front.
- Low porosity with the tendency to not be fully saturated with hair for at least 5 minutes. Too much water saturation also dries my hair out.
- Pen sized to pen spring sized and smaller coils throughout. A slightly looser coil in the top front and a looser curl in the back middle of my nape.
- Shrinkage about 85-90%.
- Silk textured hair in nape, afro textured all throughout.
- Hates color.
- Prone to split ends, tangles, and breakage. Strands are so fine that looking at them can cause breakage.
- Loves Protein and heat but will not stay heat styled. Flat irons and blow outs don't last long on my hair.
- Hates combs and brushes.
- Frizzy.
- Thickness and strength. Henna thickens the hair and strengthens it. Adding henna to my regular regimen should thicken it.
- Reduce low density/bald spots. The top front section of my hair is low density due to traction alopecia. While I've been down the road of trying to repair it medically with a Dr., I am now just looking to thicken the hair in the area and camouflage it.
- Length. I've had 5-8 inches of hair for 5 years now. 'Nuff said!
- Shape. This piggybacks off of length. I don't like the shape of my hair and would like to change it.
- Health. Not much more needed to explain this one.
