HAIR SO FAR…

Back in November 2012 (about 37 weeks pregnant) I was ready to pop and started thinking about the style of hair I would have on to deliver my baby. I don’t tolerate pain very well so to avoid looking like miss piggy I knew having a full face of makeup on that day was a no-no.

Eventually decided on leaving my “natural” hair, I say “natural” because when I had relaxed hair (chemically-straightened) having nothing attached to my hair meant I had my natural hair out however fast-forward to today and natural hair means a completely different thing to me.

Back to the story… my baby came out with a full head of hair which got me panicking about how to care for her hair, I was not familiar with my so-called “nappy” natural roots and memories brought me back to sitting on a small wooden stool, facing an old woman who also sat on the stool (picture that) yanking at my fragile hair while I cried. Just so my daughter does not have similar experience I decided to stop using the relaxer cream in solidarity with her.

I decided not to “big-chop” as I had done that 2 years back which my husband didn’t fancy too much, intention was different at the time – tried to grow my edges back. So I endured the process of transitioning, researching all things natural hair, learning about my hair type, products to use, the standard LOC method and support from friends I knew who were either going through the process too or were fully natural. Transitioning was pretty easy though, I was in weaves with closure and braids through the year with summertime being the exception; this is when I reveal my natural hair, I would give my hair some TLC. With gradual trimming my hair had fully transitioned to natural by summer of 2014.

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Remember the reason to transition? ah solidarity with my little madam! that hasn’t turned out as smoothly as I assumed and I’m constantly online probing for ways to help manage her thick mane. Initially I was able to get her to sit through a session with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse playing and a few treats until she was about 18 months but then we moved to London and the crying became unbearable (brought me right back to my humble beginnings), if I even try to touch her head she says “No mummy”. Sometimes I wish I could just leave the hair as is or chop it all off but her hair length reminds me of the sweat and effort we have both put into it so I persevere and figure out a way to style it quickly.

Last picture was taken in March 2015 just before I applied baby texturiser (they call it baby but it’s as pungent as an adult relaxer), I actually cried as I was applying the cream because the whole foundation of me turning natural was her hair so it felt like a betrayal. She still whinges but no extreme tears like before but I’m still searching so if anyone out there has similar issues please holla!

Until next time when I update this space on our hair journey, the struggle continues hahaha

xoxo

Temi

Oh the joys of motherhood!