I can still remember the day, Sunday October 25th, 2003: The day I got my first relaxer.
For me, {and I'm sure many others} getting a relaxer was a right of passage. It was the logical next step and being nearly 13 years old I was getting "too old" to wear my hair natural.
When I was twelve years and hit puberty my hair got coarser. You see, I was always a very tender-headed child so people were never too keen on doing my hair. I also get very moody when I'm getting my hair done {worse than PMS moody, is this wierd?} My older sister and cousin, the two people who would braid my hair, were getting older and busier and no longer had time to deal with my hair or my crying. My mother was sick and tired of putting up with my attitude and I was sick and tired of having her do my hair. This is why my hair was in a perpetual afro puff ponytail, and a horrible one at that. I had no idea of how to deal with my own hair so I would rock my afro puff ponytail and go days without combing it. Not cute!
So, alas on that autumn afternoon, I did what I had to do {right?}, if anything to salvage the deteriorating relationship with my mother. My mother bought two {not one, but two!} boxes of PCJ relaxer to tame my hair. My sister was on guard with a paper towel just in case any chemicals fell on my skin. My father pleaded with me not to do it but I had to explain to him that it was time, his little girl was growing up.
Around this time my neck was also suffering a rash from my eczema. When that relaxer fell on my neck, Whoo child! I could just feel it burning. I screamed to my sister,WIPE it OFF! And we kept on with the process, beauty is pain, I reminded myself.
The next day @ school, people oohed and aahed, others let me know it was about time. I smiled, loved the attention and tried not to think about what was going on with my neck.
Six + years later, I miss my nappy hair! The decision to go natural has forced me to evaluate my decision to get a relaxer in the first place. Why did a relaxer equate to growing up in my mind? Today, I know that maturity cannot come as a result of some chemicals.
I'm wearing micro braids right now and I can't wait to take them out so I can see my new growth. I'm excited about this journey but I know reality will hit me when I start dealing w/the two textures.
Enjoy! |
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