You know what people ask me about most? Whether they know me personally or not, whether the conversation is long or a quick one in passing- I always get questions or compliments on my hair.
Here is my hair story. November 2006, I shampooed and conditioned my natural hair. I had not had relaxer since a January 1999 and wore twists often. I decided to do a full head of small 2-strand twists and keep them in for rest of year as a low maintenance, protective style. I did not have the intent to loc my hair.
However, I found out I was pregnant not too long after and it was like as soon as I found out, I was horribly ill. Ill with the “all-day” morning sickness. I couldn’t hold much food down, not to mention hold my hands above my head to take my hair down. That’s when my loc journey began. I figured, instead of keeping my hair like this for rest of year, I would manage it like this til the baby came. At 7 weeks, Drs sent me for ultrasound because I was measuring big, and I found out that day that there were 2 monsters growing inside me hahaha. I actually enjoyed my full bodied hair the entire time- I was able to pin it up, or to side or headband it and I thought my locs were pretty cute as my hair truly began to lock up. I still didn’t intend to keep it, but about a month after the twins arrived, I decided I would keep my hair locked til they turned 2 years old because then surely I should have more time to myself. I don’t know what I was thinking with a 3-year old and a couple of newborns!!
Almost 12 years later and my hair is still locked. Actually now my daughter (one of the twins) has locs as well. It has been about 4 years since her locs began. The same as me, small 2-strand twists, no special product. A lot of the reason why I still have my locs, is because of my daughter. She was in kindergarten when she noticed some of her classmates and girls on TV shows had hair that was different than hers. They wore their hair down and it was straight. She was wearing ponytails, twists, braid outs and beads. I immediately began to remember when I had similar feelings as a young girl and all through my teens. I got my first perm (relaxer) at 5 years old. I wanted straight hair too! In fact, I didn’t really think there was any other option. It was a must for job interviews or any other place where you needed to be taken seriously. Even when I did let the perm go, I still remember getting to my corporate job early, so that I could spend about 30 mins each morning in the upstairs restroom, where no one would see me, re-twisting and smoothing out my twists. All so my natural hair wouldn’t turn so many heads because it was too “kinky.” I had to learn to love my natural hair as an adult.
I did not want my daughter to go through all those feelings and insecurities that I went through. My goal was to help her to see that her hair is beautiful just the way it is. One summer, she said she wanted hair like mine, which was a such a joy to hear. I started her locs that fall. Very similar to how I started mine- very small 2 strand twists. She loves her hair and I love that she is growing up loving her hair first!
What’s your hair story?
Lookout for our next hair story in the Pretty Hair series.
