Dear Pennies & Pens,
In todayās post, Iād like to walk you through my natural hair journey. Over the years, Iāve talked about my natural hair with family and friends as well as mentioning it every now and again online but today, I wanted to tell you about why and how I went natural. Through the coming months, youāll see de la Pen…All Pen Everything featuring more natural hair products so as the Editor & Publisher, I think itās important that I first talk about my own natural hair journey.
My hair like most Black women has been the most controversial part of my life. Itās not naturally straight. Itās the curly, kinky type. The naturalistas have a name for it 4b or 2Z or whatever. I just say itās nappy, and Iām happy that itās nappy. Canāt get a comb through it when itās dry. But I still love it tho.
As a child, it was all about the press & curl. Either my Mom or my hairstylist would first wash my fair, blow dry it, press it straight, then theyād curl it. The process took hours and the style lasted about 10 minutes. The Cincy heat and my tomboyishness wouldnāt allow the curls to stand the test of time. And so Mama would whoop or ground me for messing up my hair.
Finally as I started high school, I was old enough to get the coveted āpermā aka relaxer. A relaxer straightens a Black womanās hair and after years of press & curls and being burned by hotcombs, I was too ready for a perm. My sister told me not to get one but I wouldnāt listen. If everyone insisted that I straighten my hair, I wanted the process to be easy.
Iāll never forget getting my first perm. I thought I was too flyy. I just knew I was going to bring all the boys to the yard. But no one showed up. I still kept that perm fresh, going back every six weeks for a touch up. In between perms, I rocked braids because those were easier to maintain. I was an athlete all throughout high school so it was important to have a hairstyle that could keep between practices and games.
After graduating from high school, I headed off to Hampton University. Hampton is an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) in Virginia. HBCUs were built after the Civil War for the purpose of educating African Americans (freed slaves). While away at school, I started getting my hair done at the local dorm salons. Basically, I was letting my homegirls do my hair for cheap. It helped them earn extra money and I didnāt have to pay for a salon but got the same results.
However, the Summer before my junior year one of my best friends and soon to be roommate decided to go natural. She told me that her stylist told her being natural would make her hair healthier since it meant eliminating the harsh chemicals found in perms. I thought this was really cool and started to think about going natural as well. But for me, it was more than healthy hair. It was about embracing my blackness and no longer seeking to fit someone elseās standard of beauty.
So that Summer, I did the big chop. Ironically, my stylist at the time was a friend from high school who is white. But she did a great job cutting and styling my hair. I was sooo insecure about it when I first cut it. I thought I looked like a boy and refused to leave the house. My BFF wasnāt having this and she made me leave the house so we could go out and party. And thatās when it happened.
A guy hit on me. He told me he loved my hair and wanted to get my number. Now I know, my existence shouldnāt be validated by a man but the attention was nice. It made me feel good. Like damn, guys still think Iām sexy so idk why Iām running around acting all insecure. And from that point forward, my insecurity just seemed to disappear.
There is nothing like rocking your short natural hair. Itās like taking the mask off. Letting your man see you with no makeup. Itās fuckin liberating dude. I love it and Iāll never go back. Thatās why I havenāt straightened my hair or worn a weave since Iāve been natural. And itās been ten years.
After 10 years, I have finally found products that work on my hair and a process that has made my hair the healthiest itās ever been. Sooner than later, I will be sharing my natural hair process and the products I use with you. So stay tuned because this is going to be some dope ass content.
Love, peace, and hair grease
Penny
