My decision to go natural forced me to develop a sense of tough skin. From the opposition coming from my loved ones to the constant struggle with learning and accepting the hair that grows from my scalp, I couldn’t help but to stay strong on the journey. All of which, however, has definitely boosted my self-confidence and I have developed an armor of self-love that just won’t falter.
Now a little over 2 years into my natural, I’ve noticed the same ones who questioned my natural hair journey, calling it just a phase and said that I would revert back to the creamy crack, have slowly decided to become, well, natural.
Take my mother for instance. She was the number one person against my decision. She just wasn’t feeling my curls, so I got comments of my hair being nappy and unkempt a lot during the first year and a half of my journey. We finally hit a breaking point within the last 6 months and I’ve shared with you guys before in a previous post how a simple comment of hair acceptance coming from her made all the difference in the world.
But recently after a lengthy conversation, she mentioned how she hasn’t had a relaxer in now almost a year! Wait what?! Wasn’t it you, mother, who said that we HAD to have our roots straighten to keep a professional look?!
Although she’s not wearing her hair curly and is currently in the “transitioning” phase I think it’s only a matter of time before she takes to her natural curl pattern with love and care.
My big sister has also decided to take the plunge and transition as well. She is constantly texting me for natural hair styling advice and sending me photos of her new do.
I think it’s great! But I can’t help but find the humor and irony in the fact that when I decided to give up relaxers a couple of years ago they were the ones who screamed the loudest and now they have done the same. Comment below if you have experienced the same thing with your family or friends?
It always turns out that way doesnt it? They were jealous from the start.
Yes!!! I may not say anything but I see you!
Its because now they see that they can be themselves, they don’t have to put up a front anymore.
Well my Mummy was against it until I let her plait it for me then she was all for it and she’s also growing out her natural hair instead of chopping it all off. My sister [also natural but at a different length as she started before me] and I had to point out to her that she no longer had the work excuse as she was retired. [Okay, just realised that wasn’t a good example]. The best example would be the rest of my family and even co-workers. I think it irks them that I didn’t break down and cry when they threw the hate my way, but most of them are holding onto the fantasy that straight is the way to go even if they can only achieve it with wigs or whatever. At least my Mummy and sister are okay with it and I am definitely okay with it … so screw everyone else.
Me too i was natural before it was a trend people kept saying i needed a perm
LOL
I had the same problem. When I went natural my family was against it. Telling me my hair is too nappy and unmanageable, etc. I’m glad I didn’t listen to them. I’m now going on almost 2yrs natural and loving it??
My mom who was against me being natural, has recently big chopped because her relaxed hair was thinning and breaking off terribly and now she’s fully natural and gaining some length.
Sometimes we just have to BE the example.
Yup! My mother also stopped relaxing her hair that’s the side eye I give her
I call it being smug!
Thankfully my family didn’t make blatant negative comments to me about my hair being natural; but what I have noticed is that now that I’m 2.5 years in they are telling me how great my hair looks, where before it would be no comment.
I’ve been natural for almost 6 years and I heard it all when I first transitioned and big chopped. I had friends tell me all kinds of disparaging comments. But I kept it moving. Now one of them tells me she hopes her hair turns out “full and thick” like mine…. Go figure.
It’s conditioning. We’re conditioned to think straight hair is the only beautiful hair.
Who hated her hair? Side eye
That was jealousy, not dislike.
I would remind them every time I saw them cuz I’m #petty
Yup!