My return back to my natural hair was not an over-the-night, cold-turkey transition. I definitely didn’t ever contemplate doing the “big chop” and starting over with a whole new set of newly-grown locks. In fact, my transition was a deliberate and slow one over time.
It’s been years now since my last perm retouch treatment; and by now, I can safely say that all the perm dynamics should (for the most part) be non-existent. However, I still wonder if having a perm all those years has somewhat changed the natural make-up of the texture of my hair to-date. While I do believe that my hair has outgrown the perm by now, I can’t help but think that it changed my hair type permanently in some way. I could just be imagining that, but it’s a feeling that lingers around.
Anyway, I didn’t go through the “big chop” in my journey. Instead, I simply stopped getting the perm treatments once I made the decision to end my relationship with them. And what did I do once I ended the perms? Well, I simply replaced those perm treatments with hair presses. Now, pressing the hair got my hair straight momentarily but didn’t last long. Moisture added to a press was a point-of-no-return proposition. Because once wetness touches pressed hair, the straightening is all but forgotten. Nevertheless, hair presses were a viable option for straight hair, while letting my perm grow out. And so, I went with the press for some time before I opted to let my hair go completely natural.
Oh, and by the way, for those not familiar with the pressing of hair, it’s virtually taking a heated metal comb and combing your hair with it until you straighten out its natural curliness or kinkiness. Essentially, it’s adding heat to the hair to straighten it. And I’ll let you in on this little tidbit. I got scalp burn from the chemical treatments; and unfortunately, experienced scalp burn with the pressing process too. My poor scalp has been through a lot over the years. I talk more about my scalp issues in Back to Natural Basics: Back to My Natural Roots – Part 2.
So, while the pressing of the hair offered a less harsh processing of the hair, it was still changing the natural makeup and appearance of my hair. But, it was the answer for the day; and it was the best way I could think of to wean myself off of chemical hair straightening while still maintaining the straightening effect — until moisture got to it, of course.
During this transition time, I didn’t notice that my hair went through drastic changes, but I did notice the subtle ones. I had some hair loss of course, and I also regularly had my hair trimmed (ends cut) to reduce some of the damage at the ends. And, this probably decreased the length of my hair along with its falling out due to the toll of my transitioning process. Nevertheless, my hair definitely felt better — less dry and itchy and started to look fuller. Well, of course it looked fuller. I wasn’t getting those chemical perms anymore and my natural hair appearance was increasingly revealing itself, especially as I let more time pass between visits to my hair stylist.
I attempted to press my hair in between visits, but my presses were never as successful as a professional’s touch and I could recognizably see more and more of my natural hair peeking through. And then one day, I decided to let it go and not return to my hair stylist. Not because she’s not excellent as a hair professional, but because I had made the conscious decision to let myself be me. I was ready for a change.
I had the privilege of witnessing my daughter don her natural hair before me, and she did it successfully. Her hair was starting to grow back from the modified “big chop” that she did (not extreme but enough to feel like she was starting her on-going hair growth off to a new, natural start). I truly admired her efforts in taking care of her hair and she was reaping the benefits of her success — stronger hair, more voluminous hair, healthier hair . . .
And, I wanted to experience the same for myself. So, I eventually took the plunge to where I was no longer getting perms or presses. I remember thinking, “how am I going to pull off wearing my hair natural at work?” I wanted to maintain a professional-looking hair style for work, but I wasn’t quite sure how to do it day-in and day-out in an office setting, until I just stepped out and did it.
I patterned my office look after my daughter’s go-to style, which consisted of a wash and twist or a wash and then bantu-knot overnight and then untwist and unbraid the next day and tease the wavy curls that I was blessed to naturally carry off. I LOVED IT and people at work vibed with it as well. Then, on the days that I didn’t want to deal with braiding or knotting it up, I would pull my hair back in a bun or ponytail and put a little water and shea butter on the sides to keep them in check. Then, I’d add a headband for additional hair holding power. And, that was it.
I’ve also shared with you that I love to wear beanies and caps when I simply don’t feel like doing my hair at all. And now that I’m not working a regular 9-to-5 in the corporate world, I have some hair hooky flexibility on days when I either don’t feel like doing much with my hair or don’t need to get out of the house. Regardless of whether I do my do or simply let it go for the day, it’s all-natural. And I’m so happy that, in my middle-aged stage of life, I was able to finally get back to my natural roots. Never say never, and it’s never too late to change for the better.
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