MY Nappily Ever After Story
"A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life" ~ Coco Chanel
That quote has always stuck with me. I have had MANY hairstyles through the years(Honey blonde, platinum blonde, short Toni Braxton cut, Janet Jackson poetic justice box braids etc) I love to change it up. even when I had a bad experience with a haircut I was optimistic and realized that pushed me to change. However, no matter how many times I would change up my hair I could never find a style that was just me. I have been getting my hair permed since I was 4 and I didn't know any better. I remember that when I got married I didn't know what to do with my hair so I permed it and my hair was starting to fall out. I was devastated and so I added some hair pieces in so I could feel beautiful on my wedding day. Looking back I feel so bad for that beautiful girl. I was so self-conscious about my hair.
You would think I would just cut it off and try again. It wasn't until SIX years later that I would actually look into wearing my hair in its natural state. My husband saw the frustration I had with perming and my hair falling out. The truth is that many of us are taught to perm out hair so it can be "managed" but few of us are taught how to take care of our hair. (permed or not). It was a combination of my husband having a client who happened to sell JBCO and me stumbling upon the natural hair community on youtube that saved me. I had transitioned and didn't even realize it. I was at the point in my hair journey that I would perm it a little so I could wear it in a curly state but have "manageable" curls
It was though tutorials on youtube I finally began learning how to do my natural hair and not depend on a product or chemical to make my hair the way I FELT it should be. The thing I loved most about my hair, once I took the time to learn about it was... I got what I got lol. I really couldn't tell others to love me the way I was and not take my own advice. I was determined to figure out what worked for my hair and help it flourish. When I wore my first straw set out to a wedding you couldn't tell me NOTHING!!! I still had some permed ends which I later cut off and started on my journey.
The year was 2011 and I haven't looked back. Over the years I have dyed my hair, I cut it into a cute tapered cut after my son was born, I have rocked protective style after protective style and even perfected my wash n go technique. I have embraced me in ways that I never have before. It's funny how even though we may say we are not our hair, the truth is that our hair is an expression of us. no matter how you wear it, its the first thing someone sees and its an outward representation of how you feel at that moment in your life. For me, my hair tells the world I am confident and not afraid of change. I am living my nappiliy ever after.
I was inspired to write this post because I am too excited to watch the new Netflix movie Napilly ever after. you can watch the trailer here. This trailer spoke to me because I think all of us have had that moment where we just needed to make a BIG change and what better way than to start with your hair.
