Raniesaj– A Story of Transition

Raniesaj writes:

Hi Nikki!!!

OMG!!! You have no idea how your site has helped me become FREE!!!! LOL!!! I love it!!!!

CN: you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
Initially, I was planning on transitioning for a year by keeping my hair braided, but after 3 months in braids, I just could not take it anymore!!! I have no patience for taking braids out and I got bored with the styles fast.

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
I BC’d recently, December 30, 2009!!!! YAY!!! It was amazing!!! I have never felt so free and beautiful, and confident and secure in my life!!! I will admit, when I first discovered this site and started reading the stories of the other ladies, I assumed they were exaggerating about how empowering doing a BC can be. I thought, how can a haircut do so much, but I now know with ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY what they mean!!! I was always stuck inside this little box that everyone else thought I should be in, but now, I’m FREE!!! I don’t feel like I need to please anyone anymore. I began to feel more and more confident and secure in myself with every snip of my beautician’s scissors.

CN: How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?
It surprised everyone!!! They knew I was talking about doing it, but didn’t think that I actually would. Once they realized I was serious, EVERYONE tried to talk me out of it. I have never gotten so much style advice in my life!! LOL!!! Everyone had an opinion, one person pulled me aside for almost an hour trying to convince me that I would hate it and that it would not be a wise idea. But once they saw it….I’ve not had a complaint!!! I went on my lunch break from work, so it shocked my co-workers. But everyone loved it!!!

CN: What was your transition routine (products included)?
I only transitioned for about 3 months… The first month I did braid-outs and cornrows because I was still trying to learn as much as I could about natural hair. But the last two months I had micros.

CN: How did you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
I didn’t think I needed to moisturize my hair because it was in braids, but when I took the micros out a few days before I BC’d, I had A LOT of breakage!!! But I had already decided to cut it by then, so I didn’t stress about it at all.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
For my daughter. I don’t allow any type of chemicals in her hair and I don’t allow her to have extensions either. She and I were talking and she said that she hated her nappy hair because it was ugly and wished she had pretty straight hair like mine. At that moment, I saw the years of low self-esteem that I battled because I wanted to fit in with all the others girls with straight hair, but could never get it just right. I want my daughter to see how beautiful she is naturally by seeing that beauty in me. This site has also helped me better care for her hair as well. It has given me the confidence to do something that I would have never done. I want my daughter to see herself the way I see her and God sees, perfect just the way she is-no relaxers, no weaves, just her.

Thank you so much for creating this site!!! Just reading the testimonials from other natural women encouraged me soo much. I log on everyday not only to learn more about how to care for my hair, but to get encouragement from other women who may being going through similar circumstances!! Keep up the good work!!! Be Blessed!!!

Pics
1st Pic: Christmas Day (micros)
2nd Pic: Relaxed hair last summer (I curled myself)
3rd Pic: Mommy and me at my birthday dinner in October (transitioning, braid-out)
4th Pic: Leaving the salon after my BC!!!! YAY!!!