The Need to Try Something New

So for over 7yrs (1998-2005), I had worn a boycut hairstyle. For a few months, I dabbled in growning my hair out, but I quickly got tired of the maintenance, and cut it short again. While in Cincinnati, I faithful visited my barber Barnard every 2 weeks, and so looked forward to receiving my fresh cut.

Then in Oct 2005, my family and I got information that we would be relocating from Ohio to Kobe, Japan with my husbands company. Besides trying to figure out the basics (home, school, church), I was also trying to figure out who I would get to maintain my hair while in Japan. For a time, I used to cut my own hair, but after going to a barber for a number of year, my skill quickly vanished and I was no longer comfortable in cutting my own hair. And I knew that my husband did not have the skill or patience to cut my hair on a regular basis. We had some friends already living in Japan, so I remember contacting the wife and asking her various hair care questions. She immediately informed me that finding a black stylist/barber would be a bit difficult (no impossible, but difficult). She also told me that she got most of her hair products from the USA during home visits and she did her own hair. She also had 2 girls and did their hair also. Her husband wore his hair bald, so that was something he could maintain himself.

Initially the thought of growing my hair out didn't really entire my mind. It was something that I had tried previously and didn't like the maintenance, so it wasn't something I was trying to entertain. However, my husband informed me that it would be up to me to cut his hair since he wasn't comfortable cutting his own. His Father and Brother even took the time to teach me the art of a proper fade. But even though I knew that I would be cutting my husbands hair, the thought of cutting my own was something I just didn't want to deal with. So at that moment, I decided that once we left Ohio, I would not cut my hair again until we moved back to Ohio. So I officially received my last haircut from my barber Barnard on Nov 16, 2005, the start of my hair journey!!!

Making a Difference!!!

After I started sporting my BC, family members stated to take notice. My Dad didn't hesitate in letting me know that he preferred my big hair. My brother-in-law even made comments about how he would never let his girl cut her hair that short. My only comment was always, I love it and I am happy with my decision.

Well I guess others started to see the joy in my new found self. Both my Mother and Mother-in-law wore perms for years. Never in their minds did they think about going natural. However, after a few years of appreciating my BC, they both had their own boycuts done, and are still natural to this day. For my Mom is been 6yrs natural and for my Mother-in-Law is has been about 7-8yrs. They both look FABULOUS with their boycuts, and both have PROCLAIMED that they have no plans on ever perming again...Gotta love it when you can make a difference!!!

The Art of Discovering a Brand New "ME"

So after my BC, I was feeling really good about myself. However, I got it cut on a Saturday, and I was a bit nervous as to how others would receive my hair. Looking back, I wonder why I really cared so much, but I guess it all boils down to us all wanting to feel accepted. When I went to work, my co-workers were a bit shocked initially, but the majority of them gave me a positive reaction. However, 1 co-worker didn't hesitate to say, "What did you do to your hair?? I preferred it better the other way!!? OUCH!! I was hurt. I can't lie. I wanted everyone to think my new do was a fly as I did. But in that moment I realized that not everyone is going to like everything about you. And at the end of the day, does it really matter?? Nope!!!

Now it's time to tell my hair transformation story!!!

On Feb 9, 1998, I chopped off my SL permed hair. I had grown up in the South, where permed hair was the norm. Never in my mind did I ever think that I would wear my hair any other way besides straight. Then in 1997, I got married and relocated to the San Francisco area. While living there, I started to notice a lot of women of color sporting natural hairstyles. I remember thinking how courageous they were to not have a perm. At the time, the hair along my hairline was starting to thin, so the concept of becoming natural started to intrigue me more. I remember asking my husband if he would like me wearing a natural style, and he was beyond supportive. But at the time, I still wasn't ready to give up my straight hair. Then, something happened to make me take the plunge. I was calling around local salons in order to find out pricing for a wash, cut, and style. For years, I had done my own perms, and normally paid $25 for a wash, cut, and style. Well while calling, almost every salon quoted me a price of $85+ for what I was asking. I was literally in shock. I kept saying I don't need a perm. Their reply was always, the price is much higher with a perm. After calling about 4-5 salons and getting the same answer, I looked at it as a God sign, and at that moment decided to cut all of my hair off. The following week, I went to my husbands barber and told him to cut it all off. Initially he was a bit hesitant. I assured him that it was indeed what I wanted and needed him to do. My only stipulation was that he had to check my scalp for any hooks/bumps/ripples. I didn't want to be walking around with a jacked up head. So after telling me that I had a perfectly shaped head, he proceeded to cut off all of my permed hair. Initially when I was loosing my hair, I was a bit startled and was about to question my sanity. But then a freeing sensation came over me. I started to think...I can now swim without having to worry about my hair. I can now walk in the rain. I can now sleep in late and not have to worry about fixing my hair. I was not a SLAVE to my hair anymore. When he was all done, I looked at my new self and said, "That's YOU!!"