I have worn my hair naturally for seven years. For the past decade, we have witnessed a revolution amongst many African women, or women all over the world of African descent, beginning to love, embrace, and proudly wear out their 4C hair, in all its kinky glory.
I decided to be part of the revolution because I wanted to see what my journey would be like. It’s been an amazing seven years of learning and loving my hair, but I feel like it’s time for a transition. This is the beginning of a new adventure and in this post, I’d like to share my hair journey and why I’m choosing to relax my hair going forward.
My Hair Story
I relaxed my hair when I was nine years old. I was so excited to do so because I felt like it was a right of passage and I wanted to look like those beautiful girls I saw on the relaxer box with straight, silky hair.
In my younger years, it was rare to see girls and even women around me wear out their hair in its natural state. Your hair was relaxed, plaited, braided, or had a weave.
I also rarely saw women in the TV shows and movies I watched, freely wearing their natural hair. I feel like the lack of representation of natural hair in both the media I consumed and what I saw in my world, created this notion in my mind that my hair, in its natural state, as kinky, coily, and ‘hard’ as it was, was not appealing. Therefore, to be presentable, I had to relax or plait it, because long, straight, and soft hair was beautiful to me at the time.
I vividly remember when I used to play with my friends and we would wear shawls on our heads, pretending it was our hair. You know, long and soft. I don’t blame us though because we weren’t taught to love our hair.
It must have been around 2012-2013 that the natural hair movement began to gain momentum. Women began to ditch the relaxers, blow drys, and straighteners and embrace their hair as it was. As they did, they learned their hair and in the midst of it all, they loved their hair.
I joined this movement in 2017, right after high school before joining campus.
This is how my hair looked when I was transitioning from relaxed hair to natural. I have very humble beginnings okay?!
Well, I kept going, and I learned to take good care of my hair. Before I knew it, it was healthy and thriving. Even more importantly, I loved it.
Fast forward to last year, in 2023, I installed artificial locs. The idea was to give my hair a break from constant manipulation and allow it to grow and thrive so that by the time I undid it, my hair would be strong, voluminous, and healthy enough to relax.
Well, that didn’t happen!
Well, that didn’t happen! When I undid the locs six months later, my hair was so damaged! I had lost a ton of volume and it didn’t feel healthy. Some of these ‘protective’ styles aren’t as protective as we thought.
I wanted to cry that day in the salon, but I consoled myself and said, ‘It’s hair, it will grow back’ 🙂
Therefore, I set out to take good care of my hair and nurse it back to health, the decision to relax it withstanding. I’d just have to wait a little bit longer to do so.
I am happy to say that I successfully nursed my hair back to health.
Shortly after this, I did box braids when on holiday to Diani. Since I wanted to swim and have fun in the water, I thought it best to keep my hair in braids. Then, once I undid them, I would relax my hair.
The beginning of my relaxed hair journey
True to my word, I undid the box braids and relaxed my hair. I used two boxes of Megagrowth Super Relaxer, which go for Ksh.550 each. The labor cost was Ksh. 1500. The lady who relaxed my hair has been taking care of my hair for more than a decade now. For her services, find her on 0720337670. – Jackie.
I am ecstatic with the result and my hair looks fantastic. I am so excited to rock my relaxed hair, this time being equipped with the knowledge to take good care of it and allow it to thrive even when relaxed.
So, after ALLLL that, WHY did I relax my hair?
- Having my hair natural for almost a decade allowed me to learn my hair. I have learned the best techniques, routines, and products that work for ME.
- I have learned to love my hair in whichever state. Relaxed or Natural. I love it.
- I had my time with natural hair. It was fun, I cherish that time, but it’s over and I’d like to see how this new experience will be.
- I have less time on my hands now because I am an adult and all. I can no longer afford to block out an entire day just for ‘hair wash day’ Those days are over for me haha.
If you’re on a similar journey or would like to embark on one, you can check out these two channels on YouTube. I have been binging their content and I think their tips are credible.
https://www.youtube.com/@HairliciousInc
https://www.youtube.com/@DenaJ
I’m excited about this new adventure and this is just the beginning, and I am bringing you along with you :).
Till next time,
Cheers!
Xoxo,
Miss Kambe.
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