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Roundabout the same time Toni Braxton came on the scene with her short, sleek hair; I was obsessed with having straight hair and relaxed my hair at least once a week even though I frequently got sores on my scalp.
But the very last time I relaxed my hair, it was a horrific experience and I vowed to never get a relaxer again.
I remember going to a nightclub that evening and didn't want my hair to frizz up so I let my friend’s mom do my hair.
The following morning my pillow was full of blood and I couldn't even touch my scalp. That’s how painful it was.
I went to the doctor immediately. When he touched my hair it fell out, leaving bald patches behind. Day after day, I would cry. I resorted to wearing wigs, hats and caps to hide the little hair I had left.
My hair eventually grew out, but my new obsession was blonde hair. I believed that this suited my complexion, personality and style.
My hair was breaking off, but I didn't care. I went full-on blonde. I would just clip in my hair extensions or half wigs to make my hair appear fuller.
The majority of my friends had straight hair and I didn't want to feel left out. Although I secretly wanted to go natural, I tried very hard to blend in.
I just didn't have the courage and sometimes, but because I seemed to lack the time to spend doing my hair, I often wore it in its natural state.
Many people didn't like it and told me that I look more beautiful with straight hair.
While expecting my first baby in 2012, I decided to go natural. My family and friends didn't understand why at first and discouraged me, but I refused.
During my pregnancy my hair flourished it was full and lovely. But after giving birth, my hair line started receding. At the time I could handle it, as I have been through worse hair times in the past.
Hair dye is the only chemical I now use on my hair, say once every 3 months to hide the grey hairs.
Being natural might sound like a lazy option, but it's not. It takes plenty of consistent maintenance and dedication.
I would like us all to try embracing our natural, true self and become happy with exactly who we are.
-Gail
My hairdresser made me do it
After having all the hairstyles you can possibly imagine, I was fed up. I had dreadlocks for almost a decade. So, the one Sunday I found out the salon I had been going to for years had been closed. I asked people outside of the salon if they knew why, but they did not.
My hair was a mess, but because my dreads were long enough, I could just tie it up into a pony; and for the next week, I survived.
But the following week, I went back to the salon to get my hair done and I happened to ask the hairdresser what time they actually close. I informed her that I was there the previous Sunday, but found that they were closed.
To my surprise, she said, “Oh, we were inside. We saw you but we were closed.” They have the kind of glass doors where one cannot see from the outside in but only from the inside out.
So, they saw me and did not even bother to open up and inform me that they were closed. I was really pissed off. After going to them for many years, I expected better and I decided then and there that I am going to cut off all of my dreadlocks myself.
I am still rocking my afro and I’ve not been to a salon in more than 5 years.
I just wash it and blow dry it myself, then I'm good to go. I am so in love with my ‘fro.
-Thenji
These articles were readers responses to Natural hair care 101: the basics of going natural.
Did you find these hair stories interesting? Check out these:
"Can only pretty girls pull off short hair?"
I walked into a salon and told them to chop all my hair off
Joining the natural hair movement was important for my natural hair journey
"My natural hair gave me a self-understanding I wouldn't trade for anything"
Going natural: Dreadlocks, a shavathon and a blonde experiment
