Shantel-A Story of Transition

Meet Shantel…newly natural and loving every minute of it!

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
S: I was a short term transitioner–I transitioned for about 4 months. I initially wanted to transition for a year because I wanted some length. I have never worn my hair short and I was afraid of chopping it off…plus I didn’t know how my husband would react–he loves long hair. But as the process went on, I realized that trying to hold on to the permed ends just to have extra length was contradictory to my purpose of going natural. So I realized my transitioning phase was over.

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
S: I BC’ed on October 22, 2009. When I first saw myself it didn’t hit me, even while staring in the mirror, that I had cut my hair off (not until the next day). While I was sitting in the chair I was feeling so PROUD of myself. Every clip of the scissors I felt like a weight was being lifted off of my shoulders. Before the BC, I couldn’t grasp the freedom my fellow natural nubians expereinced…but now I can, I feel liberated! I really feel free.

CN: How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?
S: My family and friends were just in disbelief– they couldn’t believe that I would cut all of my hair off. Some said they LOVED it. Some said I looked flyy! Lol. My response was that my hair would grow back and that I was tired of the perms. They asked why I didn’t transition longer like I first said, and I told them they weren’t the ones who had to detangle all that mess. I’m soooooo over the long hair thing! My hair grows like a weed, it will grow back and I am a patient woman.

CN: What was your transition routine?
S: I didn’t really have that much of a routine when I was transitioning. I would co-wash about 3 times a week with HE Hello Hydration or Organix Nourishing Coconut milk conditioner. I didn’t use shampoo at all the entire time. I only detangled when I co-washed.

CN: What was your staple hair style during the transition?
S: I wore mostly very loose ponytails with my ends tucked in to prevent rubbing on my shirt collars. I also wore bantu knot-outs and braid-outs a few times.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
S: I chose to go natural mainly because I knew it was time for a change. My hair wasn’t breaking or anything from the perms, but I was tired of the hassle and tired of the same look. I wanted diversity. ALSO I saw how beautiful both of my daughters’ hair were. Especially my youngest daughter whose hair is thicker than my first and made me curious about how my hair would be naturally. I’m a young woman still trying to figure out who I am as a person. And I think loving who I am naturally and what HE gave me, is a great step in that process.

PICS:
-First Picture-Perm
-Second Picture- Length before the BC
-Third Picture- THE NEW ME!!