Hair Drama

My last blog was about  me and my natural hair. This week I had another thought on hair when I read a friend-sister-in-Chirist's  Facebook status update. Yaya was relating how she went to campus and felt she looked HOT and made a comment that "it must be the straight hair." Now that got me thinking... Did she feel hot coz she was hot or was the fact that she straightened her hair what was making her feel hot? It made me think of myself too because, to be honest, when my hair is straight I feel I look good as opposed to when it is in its Afro state. My husband likes it long and straight as well even though he won't say. My son definitely likes it. He can't stop playing with it. That got me thinking... Am I brainwashed into thinking straight hair = beauty? Or... Is it just a preference?

I spent a whole month not being able to wash my hair. I literally had it tied in a bun the entire month. I didn't even comb it. In fact, I couldn't comb it because it was thick and tangled. I couldn't handle it anymore. At the end of last week I eventually washed it. Now, what usually takes two hours to do took me two days. TWO days! That's because I have a little one as I said before. I tried to get my neighbour to plait it but our schedules clashed. Eventually yesterday I asked my other neighbour  if she could please just flat iron it for me because it would make my life a whole lot easier. So she did and this is what it looked like yesterday.

                                  

Of course it felt so light and all and all and all, and combing it today took like less than 5min. Do you know how GOOD that felt?! Then I started thinking again... Do I stop being me now coz my hair is flat ironed? Have I stopped being natural? I haven't added chemical or anything but I have added heat. Am I no longer naturally me?

As my neighbour was doing my hair yesterday her husband was saying how back in the day black people would iron their hair to make it straight to look more white therefore more accepted. Is that what I was doing?

What is natural? Some people say in its most natural uncombed state. Some say that is untidy you should comb it out. Some say plaited like cornrows. Some say dreadlocks or sister locks. What do you say? More importantly though, above what people may think or say is what God thinks or says of me... In having my hair like his have I moved away from Him?

Eish, this whole hair thing is soooooo tough! I would love to write more, I really would, but my son just woke up and if I don't post this now I never will...

And so the hair drama continues... Until next time...

                                 

Naturally Me

I love braids! I really do... They're the perfect get up and go type hairstyle for me, especially with having a baby and all. I've never really been good with hair, even when I had relaxed hair (Americans say perm) and so managing an Afro is a nightmare. Well, this wasn't a problem when I lived in the southern suburbs because my friend Jane would know exactly what to do with my hair and she would do it for free. If she wasn't around then my hairdresser Evelyn would do my hair and she was great!  Until she quit her job at the hair salon... Now she's busy coz she's studying and probably has side jobs somewhere... So you see my dilemma.

So I found someone who can braid hair (I won't say who coz it's not a good story) and  it looked GREAT. The only problem is that I was in pain for almost a week after the braids were put in. A week! Then to make things worse the braids fell out WITH MY HAIR! Guess where... Yup! Right in front... Great! Anyway, I got over it, that's not what this blog is about. What I do want to talk about though is how much hair falls out after removing braids. Am I the only one who experiences this?

And that's just what fell out in the bath tub. Nevermind the hair in the toilet or in the plastic bag... But in all this I learned I have a lot of hair! Lol! So after this experience I'm thinking maybe I won't braid my hair again. Hubby doesn't like braids anyway. So even though I look fab with braids he never compliments me coz it's not my hair... Oh the joys! I considered doing dreadlocks but hubby doesn't like those either. I like to twist my hair but hubby doesn't like that either coz he says when I do it myself it looks like dreadlocks so I must get a "professional" to do it. Talk about being picky! So I SERIOUSLY need to learn how to take care of my fro and  I need to do that fast. And I need to learn what hairstyles I can do coz I've had my hair in one style all week.

Yes... Boring... I know. And don't think I took it out... No, no, no... It's literally been tied like that all week and maybe brushing the front and the back so that the hair lies flat... THAT'S how BAD it is folks... I REALLY don't know what to do... My trusted friend Google is quite helpful... Now if only I had the time. If you have any ideas, please do share. For now I guess this will have to do. At least for Sabbath I don't have to worry coz I have to cover my head anyway... That helps... No stressing over hair! But as difficult as all this is I think I like the idea of staying naturally me!