On the Couch With Sh-nee

Meet Sh-nee… transitioning for the second time and feeling comfortable in her own skin!

Hi Nikki!
First I want to say I LOVE this site so much. It really inspires and encourages me to go forth with my hair journey : ) My name is Sh-nee and I am 20 years old. I went natural for a year ( 2006- 2007). I began to perm my hair after that, because I saw how much my hair grew and I wanted to keep it that way. But of course, because I had also colored my hair for prom it broke off.

Now I’m at it again. Its been 9 months now and I am so excited. I love my natural hair… it is thick 4a curls. My reason for going natural in 2006 was simply to have healthy hair and for growth reasons (I missed my long hair, and I realized that continued relaxers would result in breakage). My reasons now are quite different. I still realize that natural hair is healthier and my hair does grow faster without chemicals. But also, I just did not feel comfortable in my own skin anymore. I like straight hair but I feel that straight hair should be a STYLE not a way of living. I got so tired of getting a perm every 8 weeks and feeling the chemicals work on my hair. That is not how God made me and I think it’s unhealthy to disguise who we really are. This is not to say that I will never straighten my hair because I will (as a style), but it is to say that I do not want to be defined by straight hair. I just felt like I was not my own person. I want to be able to wear my hair curly/kinky, wear two strand twists, afro puff, whatever I am feeling I want to be able to show through my hair. When I don’t feel comfortable in my own skin, it feels like there is something missing. Something you want to express but can’t, and it brings you down. I’m still transitioning… I opt for a long transition because as I’ve mentioned, I do like the length.
Well that’s my story and I hope it was helpful to someone : )

PICS:

1st pic- senior prom (hair is colored and straightened ’07 very long)
2nd pic- my best friend and I, I had two-strand twists and I curled them…loved it! (’07)
3rd pic- hair straightened on a regular day in October ’09
4th pic- Thanksgiving ’09, flexi rod set, pinned up in the back. my fave!
5th pic- ME! I have many hair inspirations but one of them is my younger self. Because this shows me that this natural length can be obtained and that I am at my best…naturally ; )