Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Struggling with Sameness
Of all the challenges I expected to face in my natural hair journey, boredom didn't make the list. But here I am, three months after the big chop, and every day has seen the same with this hair. Eighty-three days of teeny weeny Afros.
In fashion and retail, this is the time of year when winter lines are moved out and spring lines make their debut. Change is in the air! Change is not in my hair.
I like having options. I like trying new looks with my clothes, make up, jewelry and hair. I'm not really sure how I should feel or what I should do about it, because I wasn't prepared for this kind of doubt. I prepared myself for external pressures. I prepared myself for the ardent quest to find the "perfect" products for my hair.
The Internet is full of ideas for natural hair styles, right? Sure, the Internet is full of hair tutorials. Have I ever mentioned how inept I've always been at styling my own hair. Tutorials for bantu knots, twits, and the like are my DIY nightmare.
If I'm being honest with myself, I would admit that my dilemma could stem from unrealistic expectations I had about this journey at the onset. Although I knew that I would have to become acquainted with my natural hair texture over time, underneath it all I guess I expected my hair to be more manageable than it is right now. I didn't expect to have trouble keeping it moisturized throughout the day. I didn't expect that my headbands would give me headaches (at least the cute ones do).
The best I can do right now is just think about where I am in my journey. What have I learned in the last three months? What am I looking forward to? What do I do now?
In fashion and retail, this is the time of year when winter lines are moved out and spring lines make their debut. Change is in the air! Change is not in my hair.
I like having options. I like trying new looks with my clothes, make up, jewelry and hair. I'm not really sure how I should feel or what I should do about it, because I wasn't prepared for this kind of doubt. I prepared myself for external pressures. I prepared myself for the ardent quest to find the "perfect" products for my hair.The Internet is full of ideas for natural hair styles, right? Sure, the Internet is full of hair tutorials. Have I ever mentioned how inept I've always been at styling my own hair. Tutorials for bantu knots, twits, and the like are my DIY nightmare.
If I'm being honest with myself, I would admit that my dilemma could stem from unrealistic expectations I had about this journey at the onset. Although I knew that I would have to become acquainted with my natural hair texture over time, underneath it all I guess I expected my hair to be more manageable than it is right now. I didn't expect to have trouble keeping it moisturized throughout the day. I didn't expect that my headbands would give me headaches (at least the cute ones do).
The best I can do right now is just think about where I am in my journey. What have I learned in the last three months? What am I looking forward to? What do I do now?
Monday, January 2, 2012
I am Your Frobassador!
When I'm painting a picture of myself that I want people to believe, I say that I started this blog to share my natural hair journey and possibly inspire others. How spiritual of me!
If I am being totally honest, I have to admit that another (possibly greater reason) I started this blog was to make myself accountable to others and follow through on the journey once I began it. In the beginning, I wasn't sure I was cut out for this. I wasn't sure I was ready to accept the unknown. But, hear I am several months after beginning the journey and more than two months after the big chop.
And I find it interesting how many other people find my hair interesting.
I have become an ambassador of the Afro Nation - or Frobassador, for short. While people won't stare at my hair, I do find that my hair quickly becomes a topic of conversation when I meet someone new or run into a friend I haven't seen in a while. People want to know what it's like in my country where natural hair runs wild and free (at least metaphorically). How does one apply for permanent residency? Do you have to renounce your citizenship in Processed Hair Land?
Talking is one of the things I do best, and I never mind talking about what's going on in my life so I am happy to talk about my hair. It's interesting that people are more interesting in my hair now than they were when I relaxed it. The natural is novel. The processed is commonplace and, therefore less interesting. Even though I out more effort into my relaxed hair. When my hair was relaxed, I will admit, it usually looked pretty good. But it looked like so many other heads of hair. In it's natural state, there is no other hair like MY hair. And everyday, it's a little bit different.
So when people ask about my hair (How long have you worn it this way? How long does it take to style in the morning? Do you think you'll ever go back to relaxers?) and even touch my lovey lady locs, I'm happy to share. My hair is different, but not so different from anyone elses' hair. It's made from the same proteins and minerals. It's just has a different directive. It's nothing to fear.
I was fortunate to have to Frobassadors inspire me to take a leap: my sister Mary Dedeaux-Swinton and a dear friend Tosca Davis. Whether it's about hair or some other "great unknown," I hope I can inspire someone else to talk a flying leap!
Happy to be nappy!
If I am being totally honest, I have to admit that another (possibly greater reason) I started this blog was to make myself accountable to others and follow through on the journey once I began it. In the beginning, I wasn't sure I was cut out for this. I wasn't sure I was ready to accept the unknown. But, hear I am several months after beginning the journey and more than two months after the big chop.
And I find it interesting how many other people find my hair interesting.
 |
| November 2011 |
Talking is one of the things I do best, and I never mind talking about what's going on in my life so I am happy to talk about my hair. It's interesting that people are more interesting in my hair now than they were when I relaxed it. The natural is novel. The processed is commonplace and, therefore less interesting. Even though I out more effort into my relaxed hair. When my hair was relaxed, I will admit, it usually looked pretty good. But it looked like so many other heads of hair. In it's natural state, there is no other hair like MY hair. And everyday, it's a little bit different.
So when people ask about my hair (How long have you worn it this way? How long does it take to style in the morning? Do you think you'll ever go back to relaxers?) and even touch my lovey lady locs, I'm happy to share. My hair is different, but not so different from anyone elses' hair. It's made from the same proteins and minerals. It's just has a different directive. It's nothing to fear.
I was fortunate to have to Frobassadors inspire me to take a leap: my sister Mary Dedeaux-Swinton and a dear friend Tosca Davis. Whether it's about hair or some other "great unknown," I hope I can inspire someone else to talk a flying leap!
Happy to be nappy!
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