MokahDeeLyte– A Story of Transition

Meet Mokah… BC’ed for the second time and loving it! She writes:

‘I would look at your site everyday and read the journey to natural stories to help motivate me and my decision. This is actually my second time doing this, but I know this time is for good. I did this for me.’

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?

I was definitely a long transitioner– I lasted 11 months and 2 weeks. I decided to wait nearly a year so that I’d have more hair to work with than last time (this is my second go round). I didn’t have many physical problems with dealing with the two textures, it was more of a mental thing for me. I had to get over my fear of thinking I wasn’t going to be accepted by other people.

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?

I BC’d on the 23rd of November! I loved it from the minute I chopped. I had actually been chopping away for the past week and then decided to go all the way that afternoon.

Well my mom, aunt and son really like the cut. I knew they would be happy with my decision especially since my mother and aunt have locs. My son (4) has a huge fro and he always tells me he wants my hair to look the same. It’s my hubby that it’s going to have to grow on. I knew that he wouldn’t like it right away, he’ll be fine though once he understands how much happier I am!

CN: What was your transition routine?

I co-washed faithfully every other day, no matter what style I had. If my hair was loose I would use thicker conditioners such as Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa, Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner, Oyin Honey Hemp Conditioner, Kenra Moisturizing Conditioner there is so much more depending on my mood and what I wanted to smell like. If I had twists in, I would use any variety of Suave or VO5 since they are much thinner conditioners. Then I would detangle with either Knot Today by Kinky Curly or Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee by Qhemet Biologics. Next, I would moisturize with Amla Olive Heavy Cream/ Olive Honey Hydrating Balm by Qhemet, Shescentit Leave in, Shea Amla by Afroveda or my own Shea Butter Leave in Conditioner (Aspire Naturals). Last, I seal with my Nourishing Hair and Scalp Oil (Aspire Naturals) or a touch of castor oil. I am a total product junkie.

My staple style was kinky twists. I call it my go to style. I am thankful I know how to do hair myself and was able to put them in effortlessly. They would give me a break for about a month and a half. I would do them both long and short. I wore three sets during this transition so I was twisted up for about five months!

CN: How did you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?

Every night I moisturized. When my hair was loose I moisturized with water based products, creams and then lastly oils. I think that helped considerably with my transition and I was able to retain my length… I just couldn’t stop cutting here and there, lol! When I had my twists in I would spritz my hair with a moisturizing mist such as my little dry weather combo mix— water, aloe vera juice, a touch of jojoba oil, silk amino acids and essential oils for smell. I would put it back in the fridge every night to make sure it wouldn’t spoil.

Initially, I said I was doing it for my daughter so she wouldn’t think she had to change for people to notice her. Then I realized, I was actually doing it for myself. I figure if my hair can really make someone not like me, I don’t need them in my life anyway. There is so much more to me that I have to share and offer. The one thing I have learned though this journey is to do what makes you happy, be it hair or anything else. Once you start doing that, people will see what positive energy you are radiating and may want to make that change in themselves too!