Been in the Natural Game for a Minute

I will never forget this day. It was my sophomore year in college, the Winter of 2005 I decided to do the “big chop”. I remember this day like it was yesterday because I went into a salon, the lady was very welcoming. She herself had short hair. I sat in her chair and told her I wanted to cut all my relaxed hair off. I decided to stop relaxing my hair in August of 2004. I had about 5-6 months of hair growth and it was broken in so many areas. Have you ever had it where you knew it was time for a relaxer because your hair begins to shed? Well, this comes from that new hair being stronger than the relaxed hair and it sometimes pops(shed) where that new growth and relaxed hair meet. This usually happens around the 6-8 week period.

Coming from Detroit ,MI to Kalamazoo, MI. Everything was different. West Michigan is cold, the winters were harsher and the water on campus at WMU was full of minerals. Which took a toll on my hair and skin. I was super dry!

When I cut off my hair is was a scary moment. I cried, big girl tears. I think I cried the most because I was afraid of what people would think. I cried because I had always struggled with low self esteem and extensions, braids and other protective styles were my way to cope or mask my insecurities. But baby when you cut your hair you can’t hide anything. You are. Exposed. (well at least that’s how it felt) I see my full nose, my dark skin, my prominent lips, and my ears. My jawline and neckline were revealed but also trauma, from being teased in the 3rd grade came back to life. It was like my bandaid was ripped off my comforted wounds.

This journey to growing my hair back had taught me a lot about myself. I believe that it has helped to understand what my clients are going through. I believe every woman should experience this and whether young or old cutting your hair is a journey of self love and a reintroduction of self. It will bring out the good and sometimes stir up the things we let settle at the bottom.