Black Hair Matters: My journey of growing out my natural hair.

I have been on a journey with my natural hair every since I did the “Big Chop” (term for cutting off the chemically- straightened hair) of my hair when I was in my early 20’s. I have always kept it close cropped which is the look you all have seen for the past three decades. Lately, I have been growing it out and it’s more than just a length choice. It’s a commitment and has become a cultural movement.

What’s the big deal you ask? It’s just hair. Everyone changes their hair. Lot’s of people hate their natural hair texture, but I put it to you this way: Imagine an entire race (mainly the Female half) being indoctrinated to hate their natural hair’s texture and appearance for hundreds of years. We have changed it, manipulated it and made it appear more “manageable” thus more beautiful to fit a concept of beauty that is in direct opposition of its natural state.

Most of us have grown up with the concept of “good hair” which meant straight, less kink, no nap. It was hard to grow your hair long because Lord knows after all of the hot combs and chemical straighteners our poor hair didn’t have a chance. I don’t remember hearing about the importance of moisture and conditioning when I was growing up. I remember hair grease and ointments that were put directly onto the scalp to “promote growth and shine” because after all that heat and chemicals our hair was left dry and dull. I remember water was like Kryptonite to straightened Black hair. No swimming for little Black girls because all those hours and money spent in the beauty shop were wasted once water hit our hair. It reverted back to nap. Little did we know as we grabbed our jars of Ultra Sheen off the counters to apply generously to our scalps and hair, that we were in fact suffocating and weighing our hair down. If you were lucky enough to have long hair you never cut it. It took too damn long to grow out!

When I first cut my hair, I never experienced any panic or anxiety. I was sick of the nightly chore of setting and sleeping with my hair in rollers, the hours of stinky and often burning chemical relaxers, the blow drying – the whole mess was getting on my last nerve. And then there was the allegiance to my roots – and I don’t mean the roots of my hair. I was making a statement. I truly believed that going natural was a statement of pride in my culture – my Blackness – and I never went back. BUT, being a lazy girl I also kept it short and easy. My short cut meant almost zero maintenance. I kept it short cropped because I always felt messy when any amount of length of my natural hair was on top of my head. I felt that having all those naps on top of my head with no rhyme or reason looked unfinished – unkempt – just nasty. I decided back in the 90’s to let my hair loc naturally but it was just too much of a commitment for me. I never asked or sought help in the maintenance of my hair then and mostly tied it back with a scarf. I bow down to the girls who loc their hair. Honestly, though, I don’t think there was that much of a conversation about – nor products for – Black natural hair back then. I was just winging it.

Fast forward to the last couple of years and I began to notice that some folks were wearing their natural hair free, not shaped into a symmetrical coiffed afro that I associated with Angela Davis and her big puffy 70’s fro, but sticking out all over the place. It looked pretty cool but I thought: That’s not for me. Meanwhile I was applying an Aveda styling product that “activated” the natural curl and wave pattern in my close-cropped hair and loving it.

Then I began noticing that more and more women were wearing their hair in longer kinky, curly lengths and it looked beautiful. These women were letting the texture show, they were allowing the sculptural nature of our hair stand on it’s own as the style and because our hair is super flexible, they could wear it in a straight look with some non-harmful styling. I had no idea of the routine it took to create these looks. I thought these styles were just, well, natural. It wasn’t until a friend started growing out her hair and keeping me abreast of her progress that I became aware that there is a method to the madness. She kept mentioning videos about 4a-b and c- type hair and bantu knots and “twist outs.” Say what?

I was curious but it wasn’t until I went online myself that I discovered that my Sistas had started a movement and they were documenting and sharing it with the world! And now an entirely new industry has been created for Black hair. And it wasn’t the industry of relaxers and pomades that I grew up with. The terms “soft and silky” were replaced with words like “kinky, coils and curls.” Nappy hair is everywhere! You see it in the media, on TV, in movies and on the streets. Blogs and websites have sprung up with names like “nappy girl,” “curly nikki” and “kinky Curly girl” that have hundreds of thousands of followers, the bloggers themselves have become celebs and motivators. All of these women have been set free because they have freed their hair!

And I’m in!!!

I have started using products by Carol’s Daughter, a small Black-owned line of hair and body products especially for natural hair (she has since sold the line to L”Oreal) that I had heard about for several years – Jada Pinkett was an early fan. Carol’s Daughter boasts an all-natural, sulfate-free line of shampoos and conditioners. I purchased the products and after studying many online how-to videos on YouTube, I did my hair and the results were AMAZING! Now I am hooked! There is a lot of trial and error, not every product or technique works for every person, but it wasn’t long before I got my regimen down and there’s still so much to learn! I purchased a blow dryer with a diffuser, rollers, wide toothed comb, bands and all kinds of accoutrement and I AM LOVING IT!

What happened to the girl who hated all the work of “doing my hair?”

I can honestly say that I love this process of discovery of my natural hair after all of these years. I love the styling and applying products. I bought a great hooded dryer and I love sitting under it as I watch Star Trek. I love when my hair is wet and the curl pattern emerges. Water is my best friend when it comes to detangling my hair! I love that I can apply a styling butter and then brush it straight if I want to. It’s fun!

Who knows how long this love affair with growing out my natural hair will last? I may cut it all off tomorrow, but then again: it’s just hair.