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Curly Nikki

On the Couch With Lori

By January 27th, 202120 Comments
Meet Lori… a confident natural that no longer feels the need to hide behind ‘manufactured hair’.

On the Couch With Lori
“What do you call it?” That was the question that a young woman of color asked me about my hair a few years ago. “What do you call it?” I replied simply, “my hair.” And she asked, but what do you do to it? I replied smugly, “I wash it.” She prodded about how it got to be so curly, and asked if I was mixed with something? I, in the midst of my sarcastic mind said yes, my mother and my father, but being that I was at a nice dinner with colleagues, through all of my aggravation, replied, “It’s natural. I don’t have a perm. It’s just my hair.” Whilst my white colleagues laughed and mocked, “what do you call it?” My fiancé and I were thoroughly annoyed. I thought: how is it, that a black woman doesn’t know that our hair textures are as diverse as our skin tones? Was she so thwarted in thought, by society’s image of beauty, that she had never explored the magnificence of natural black hair? Was perming her hair ritualistic? More commonplace than dental cleanings? Had she grown into adulthood not knowing that perms are not the natural state of black hair? I was perplexed and aggravated, insulted and bruised. Not by her words, but by her ignorance. Yet and still I was strangely invigorated by my conscious decision to be how God made me, rather how man wanted me.

Initially, when I contemplated “going natural,” I was living in Atlanta. I was only perming bout every six months or so. I continued to allow my perm to grow out and wore my hair in a wavy wash and go. But, while caught up in some emotional related low-self esteem moment, that summer I decided to cut, color and perm my shoulder length hair. Then I moved to Houston, and I was among a large population of natural women. Again, I was inspired. I cut my hair even shorter, but kept it permed. When I decided to let it grow out, I went to a “nappy” shop to get a two-strand twist. The owner had these beautiful golden blond, shoulder length sister locs. One of the girls in the shop did them. I was sold. I continued to wear two-strands and braids until one day, I had an epiphany-I wanted to revert, completely to my natural state, the way God intended me to be. As I cut my braids out, I got happy. I knew any remnant of perm that I had would be gone. I went back to the “nappy” shop and got another two-strand the following week. I had made up my mind that when they came out, I would make my loc appointment. I kept them for about two months and when they came down and I washed my hair, I was so taken by how wavy and curly my hair was. I thought, well I can loc it anytime, let’s see how this curly thing goes. I went and got a line up in the back, and since then I’ve been happy to be nappy. I’ve only re-visited the thought of locs once sine then, but it was very short lived.

Now, admittedly, there were some rough times when bun wraps, two-strands, hats and even a kinky wig were my best friends. But as I came into my natural beauty, I let those things go. I realized that for years I had been hiding behind my manufactured hair. At times I had let it consume me. But as a natural, I was so free. I was able to be myself, in all my glory. When I returned to my hometown in 2004 after an 8 year absence, I made my debut at a local nightclub in a fully blown out fro. I was so confident and beautiful that night. It was amazing. In all my years living there, I had never been treated like I was that night (or those subsequent.) I was turning the heads of men that as boys in high school wouldn’t have given me the time of day. People came and asked if they could sit at my table. Some that I recognized had no idea who I was. I was refusing drinks left and right. What mutiny was this? They saw me as a different person. I believe with all of my heart, that had I not gone natural, when I returned I would have been the same ol’ meek lil’ Lori. Not the confident, self-assured woman that I had become.


In my natural state, I exude a confidence and self-worth that I would have never known hiding behind my processed hair. I have never felt as content, as I feel now. Through my transition, I learned to love me, all of me- no qualms, no guises, just me. When I achieved that self love, as cliché as it sounds, I was able to open up to another. 
I was rocking an uber-fro on the day that my best friend asked me to become more than just friends. He, now my husband, loves the fact that I am natural. He thinks that I am beautiful and sexy and vibrant and original. I attempted to wear genie locs, after 10 days, he told me that he missed my hair. When I took them out, he asked that I never, ever again as long as we are married wear my hair in any way than in its natural state. He loves my natural hair. He loves that I am me, un-edited. I thank God for allowing me to be who I am. I encourage all women to embrace themselves as they are, in all of their natural beauty. There’s nothing more beautiful than a confident, natural woman that knows her worth as an individual.

-Being me and loving it!!

20 Comments

  • battlekat says:

    I can really relate to your story. My husband was not really crazy about me cutting my hair but he is really enjoying my raised confidence level.

  • Notthecoolmom says:

    Absolutely love this

  • Unknown says:

    "He loves that I am me, un-edited." Love that! Great post, Lori. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.

  • Lori Mc says:

    Hello all!! Lori here. A big thank you to everyone for all of the compliments and kind words. My husband always asks when the movie is coming out. Every day it's some thing or another to ponder, laugh at or shake my head at. To this day when we go to that restaurant or whenever my hair looks extra big and curly, one of my colleagues, without fail asks me, "what do you call it?" Funny stuff! Anywho, I truly love our online community, many of us don't have the chance to talk to about the struggles and triumphs of being natural with someone that can relate them. So, thank you to everyone that makes up and subscribes to the online community; you all are the greatest sounding boards, cheerleaders and patters-on the back there are. I definitely want to thank you Nikki for this site and for the support that you give us all, you rock, girl!! And someone asked the name of the salon in Houston, I'm pretty sure it was Knappy by Nature, off of Scott, maybe? It's been a long time, but I think that's it…

  • Pamela Perry Anderson says:

    LORI! omG-I can not believe that you are all natural now. You look great- better than great- and what a beautiful head of hair. We used to work together at IPI/OSI in the Chuck. I am so happy for you. As I was reading your interview, I could HEAR you just like you were beside me. xoxo

  • JustTrena says:

    Wow! You have a wonderful way with words; for a few moments there, I honestly forgot I was on "Curlynikki" and not reading the beginning of a new novel! Great story!

  • Anonymous says:

    Your hair looks really good, do you have anymore pictures throughout your journey that you can add as well?

  • Kenya says:

    *APPLAUDES!!* wonderfully written 🙂
    the last line : " There’s nothing more beautiful than a confident, natural woman that knows her worth as an individual. "
    is the truth && not just speaking of african american women .

  • Takeya says:

    Wonderful story. I am so encouraged. Recently, my (newly) ex-boyfriend told me that he wasn't feeling this "natural look". That day, my hair was really big, curly, and I loved it! We didn't break up because of it but I must say that it stuck in my head and your story helped reinforce that if someone doesn't support me, they shouldn't be in my inner circle. Loving your confidence and the way your husband supports you!

    http://www.justtakeya.blogspot.com/

  • Anonymous says:

    I currently live in Houston, can you tell me the name of the "nappy" shop you went to? Also, what products do you use for your wash n go's?

  • Unknown says:

    Absolutely loved this story! Very inspirational and uplifting. Your hair is beautiful!

  • Anonymous says:

    Love your story, Lori! Really inspiring!! Congrats and thanks for sharing it!

  • modest-goddess says:

    Love your story. The weird questions both me to but I try to remember that they are coming from a place of ignorance and many are projecting their own negative feelings about their hair.

  • NikNette says:

    Wow! Thank you for sharing your inspirational story and for encouraging me at a time when I'm struggling with my hair identity.

  • beautywithcurls says:

    Nice Story, I'm Always Telling People I Wash My Hair When They Ask Me What I Put In It To Make It Curl, So Sad….I Get Very Annoyed At Times. Thank God I Don't Get Those Weird Questions When I Wear A Twist Out Or A Braid Out,LOL

  • Anonymous says:

    Inspirational story and beautifull hair. Thanks so much for sharing.

  • Gina says:

    What a lovely story! I'd love a product/regimen breakdown though! Her texture is really wonderful in that pic.

  • ChrLvsBks says:

    I totally relate to your story. Great read!

  • Zayna Daze says:

    This is a really inspiring story, a lot that I can relate too. Thanks for sharing!

    http://zaynadaze.blogspot.com

  • curlyq145 says:

    Beautiful story and I love the part about your b/f becoming your husband! Too cute! Gorgeous hair!

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