Nellboogie- A Story of Transition

Meet Nellboogie–a diva on a mission for blond bangs, turns all natural!

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
N: I think I was a rather long-term transitioner as my motives for going natural this time around (I had previously done so in 2004/2005 but alas, that “Halle Berry” haircut began to “call” me so, I was once again a slave to the “lye”…LOL!) were not of the best intentions for the health of my hair. I simply wanted to have blond bangs. I knew that my hair would not be able to handle both bleaching and relaxer, so I chose to go natural instead. I bleached my hair about 2 months into an 8-month transition. I planned on being a really long-term transitioner (like 2 years) but the blond bangs fell out of my head like pine needles off an old Christmas tree. LOL! I knew then my BC would be sooner than previously anticipated.

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
N: I BC’d April of 2009. I washed my hair and I was dreading the blow-drying and flat-ironing process, so I wore a hat that day. I got home and one, little curl was peeking out the back of my hat…that is when I decided that that day was as good as any to do a Big Chop. My hubby was out of town, so I cut a huge plug out of the top of my head and sat down and ate a sandwich for lunch. I figure that was the only way I would do it for sure. : D My reaction to my natural hair was shock and instant love. When I was natural a few years back, I never wore my curls. I went to the shop once a week to have my hair straightened. I thought that working in a professional environment would not allow such freedom of expression. A few years later and equipped with a lot more knowledge, thanks to sites like CN, I have a new found appreciation for the beautiful textures that grow from our heads!

CN: What was your transition routine?
N: Flat-ironing and micro-braids were my styles during transition. I used all of the natural “staples”…shea butter, evoo, honey, aloe, and a leave in conditioner without “cones” I mixed Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey with my shea butter for extra moisture and I love the way it smells.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
N: The breakage from the hair color was the catalyst for my choosing to go natural, but that little curl that day literally demanded to be seen and I finally decided to let my hair dictate what it was capable of. Some days are rough but the journey is awesome! My hair is different today than it was 5 months ago. I am truly proud to say that I am happy to be nappy, coily, curly, and wavy. I am even content with that patch at the top of my head that does absolutely nothing. As the saying goes, “Whatever it is, let it be”.

Pic #1–Naturally pressed and curled 2005
Pic # 2–The day I BC’d (April 2009)
Pic # 3–Wash and go-with coils (September 2009)