Shake writes:
Hi Nikki,
I have a question for all of the natural birds out there!
My mother just sent me a picture of her latest twist out attempt and I’m so amped because it looks great! Though I feel she went natural only shorty after me, it’s only been very recently that she’s experimented with other styles besides her usual (but tried and true!) press, wet buns, or OCCASIONAL wash and go’s. I am so excited that she’s now embracing her natural hair in THIS way. It’s a great look for her and I hope she continues to gain confidence in the ferociousness of that gorgeous mane!
I’ve heard you and a few other naturals talk about how they’ve inspired their mothers to go natural and wanted to know if it is happening to any of your other readers.
Has the sheer awesomeness and clear freedom you’ve experienced in going natural touched your mom? Aunt, sister, cousin, grandmother?
It’s an awesome thing to be able to say that you’ve inspired mom (or another) to make such a significant change!
I have inspired 2 sisters, 6 friends, and one co-worker to go natural! It really is contagious 🙂
I have inspired my sister and two of my coworkers!!!
I have thus far inspired my mother,grandmother,aunt, and a few co workers…and counting. They all are loving their natural hair, and have a renewed confidence. GO Naturals!!!!
I inspired my mom to go natural. I celebrated my 2 years nappiversary Dec 2010, and she celebrated her 1 year nappiversary in Jan 2011.
Shake, this is a great subject. My daughter and two of my sisters inspired me to go natural. My sisters have been straightening for years; both with long hair. In the beginning of my daughter's journey, she encountered so much negativity it was unreal. I encouraged her and felt bad at the same time because we had agreed to do this together, however I backed out. Now people are admiring her hair and she is no longer dealing with negativity. I have been natural since May 2010 and do not regret it. Since then, I have inspired at least 2 people to become natural.
I have inspired my mom and two sisters, as well as a good friend to go natural! In my opinion, that is flattery at it's best. It also feels wonderful to know that you've been a positive example for others to "look up to" and look to for help, tips, and encouragement along their journey… 🙂
YAY for all of this inspiration!!! I have some friends who have inspired thier mothers and sisters as well. Spreading like a virus but it's one you wanna catch!!! Love it. @Keke: HEY COUSIN!!! LOVE YOU! Keep it growing beauties 🙂
My mom went natural one year after I did. She transitioned the whole time I was gone on my deployment, so by the time I came home she was fully natural. I was so proud of her!
I have inspired my sister and her daughter. My ssi will be a long term transitioner while my niece did the BC, she is more daring like myself. My sister always says my niece should have been my child. 🙂
I guess i did inspired my mom. I Called her one day and said i'm done with the relaxer no more for me. She was excited and asked if it would stick this time(not my first but my last time going natural) I said yes and haven't looked back. After the summer past my mom calls and says i'm done too. 10 months in and now my best friend ever (of 20 plus years) says shes thinking of going natural. Waiting on that call should be soon.
i'd have to say my 17 yr old daughter inspired me and her other sister(16) to go natural. I'm not a traditional natural – i havent done twistouts or wash n gos (yet), but seeing my daughters rock those styles, inspires me.
for sure my daughter. I hope I've inspired her in other ways as well…
I finally got my Mom to start her transition. She is in about her 8th month or so and her hair is looking great. She said she wants to be able to wear the styles that I wear because she loves my hair. Also seeing how healthy and long it has gotten in such a short amount of time helped too lol
I've also inspired a classmate, a close friend and a coworker. It feels awesome to hear someone tell you that they admire you and are inspired by your decision to wear your hair natural.
My mom bc'ed about 2 weeks ago! She had been drooling over my hair for quite some time and finnally took the plunge. My eldest sister BC'ed last year in the spring. Now i'm trying to get my older sister to conver =D lol. j/k. I am happy that the women in my life are seeing that wearing their natural hair is a great option
My mom says I inspired her, I feel really good about that, it's kinda neat! 😀
My 16 year sister and my mom. My little sister is very interested and now educates others. lol
It's amazing that my mom has been natural all of my life and I never appreciated it until I went natural (stopped perming in October 2007 and cut remaining relaxed ends off in Dec. 2008). Since going natural I've inspired my 2 sisters to go natural and a few friends, staff members, and church members. Approximately a total of 6 people all together. Natural hair is just awesome!
http://www.barbaranaturallyspeaking.com
My mom inspired me! She's been natural for at least 15 years. Looking back, I remembered when she faced so much opposition from my family, but she stayed true to herself. Not only did she inspire me, but she inspired my aunt to go natural too! I love my mommy 🙂
I pushed my mother to go natural when I was still rocking the relaxer and the weaves. She has been natural, rocking her TWA for years. I on the other hand have inspired quite a few women at my job to embrace their napturals. They actually come to me for inspiration and information even my doo is not looking so cool. I keep my head up and keep rocking with confidence. It makes me feel good.
I'm proud to say that my mother and sister went natural shortly after I did about 11 years ago. My other sister still relaxes her hair though. However, she also keeps a very short cut because she's petite with very thick hair and can't stand when it gets long. She has a beautiful natural texture though, but I don't think she'll ever go natural. My mom, like Courtnee's, had a jerri curl almost my entire like though! And, same thing here. She wasn't drippy, didn't keep activator around and also kept her hair short, shaved and tapered at the nape. However, when her hair would grow in at the nape, it was these pretty curls that looked better than the jerri curl curls. So, my sisters and I would constantly fuss at her about why she was getting the jerri curl when her own hair was a pretty curl. This was well before I went natural (I was in HS and didn't go natural until my mid-20s). I was soooo happy when she finally stopped getting the JC!
I also think I inspired a few women at work to go natural too. Most recently, one of my good friends did a mini big chop (shoulder blade or longer hair to a bob near her ears) to try and transition. She's gone without relaxers for long periods and has toyed with transitioning, but always goes back to the relaxer. However, I think this time it might stick=). So, I'm excited for her.
Shelli
My mom decided to transition about a year after I chopped and cut her hair off last October for her 55th birthday. She claims that she's too busy to check blogs and YouTube, so she uses me to distill all the info and advice for her. I'm like a natural hair tech support hotline! I've also encouraged my 12 yr old cousin to return to natural hair, as she noticed that after about a year of growth post-chop (I transitioned for about 8 months), my hair was shoulder-length and it's now the same length that it was pre-transition. She's also noticed that the hair that used to be down her back as a little girl is now barely shoulder-length. I'm encouraging her to utilize protective styles to minimize breakage and stay on the natural path!
I had inspiration both ways. One of my friends, inspired me to go natural through her embracing her own natural hair. Then as I transitioned to natural, I inspired one of my friends who takes a class with me to stop texturizing. The coolest thing was this weekend I sent pictures of some of my styles to my mom who I haven't seen since Christmas right after my big chop. She's natural but has been having problems with dryness. She saw how soft my hair was and asked me to send her all of the products I was using & she asked for my advice. Ha, like I'm an expert? I sent her to curlynikki.com along with the products. We're doing this thing together!!!
www.naturallynita.blogspot.com
Naw I don't think me being natural will inspire anyone until I am able to achieve an entire month of good looking natural hair – but I do get tons of compliments.
it's funny, because it seems like i inspired a lot of people at my university to grow out their relaxers. my friend has "gone natural" and so has her mom.
but my mom. oh no. she will not. which is funny because…no offense but her hair does not look good straight at all. a lot of people who have nice straight hair are the ones growing out the relaxers and saying no to the flat iron. my mom doesn't have a relaxer but she's always straightening it, even though she looks bad with it. she asks me why her hair doesn't grow and things i recommend like messaging her scalp with olive oil and cutting the damaged parts she won't do.
When I went natural, my mom and all three of my sisters went natural soon after. I also have a few aunts, a cousin and a friend that have gone natural (most of them have been featured on my blog at one time or another). I have a few other family members who have been asking questions about transitioning.
@FacingmyFears, your excitement is contagious!
Great question Shake!
Hi Shake,great question!and YES i'm "very proud" to say that I have inspired a cousin of mine (she even gave me the priveledge of doing her BC!Major right!!!;)! and recently a friend of mind and how can I not mention my beautiful daughter! Well she actully encouraged me first…then she reverted back…then I went natural…and encouraged her back to natural! lol anyways i've also given advice and information to many of curious women who were continplating the change! Can you tell how EXCITED I AM! 🙂 LOVE THIS POST!
by FacingmyFears
Actually Shake you can add one more to your list, because you were one my inspriations!!! Thanks Cousin, Keke R. : )
I inspired my sister, aunt, three of my best friends and my two cousins never thought it would happen lol
My mom went natural because of me and ended up cutting all of her relaxer out before me!!! : ) I have been transitioning for two years and my mom ended her transition nearly six months ago. A few of my friends have also fallen into my footsteps. I think the more the merrier and the support that we all give each other is great.
I haven't inspired anyone to "go" natural, but I have inspired my mother and sister to "stay" natural.
My mother had a jherri curl for more than 22 years (don't laugh lol, it wasn't dripping and she didn't need to carry activator…hers actually looked like it was her natural hair texture). She was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and lost all of her hair-this was around the time that I went natural. As her hair grew back, she was inspired by me to stay natural.
My sister on the other hand has always been natural. She's in 6th grade this year and pretty much ALL of the girls have relaxers and are ignorant (as I was at that time) about proper hair care. Some girls think that they "need" relaxers and one girl actually said that relaxers make your hair grow (even though her hair is barely at her chin). I could tell that my sister wanted straight hair like her classmates so I talked to her about loving her curls and the dangers of relaxers. She also loved my hair and told me that she wants to stay natural like me.
My mother is a Press-N-Curl natural… Having seen my "wild" hair she's come to appreciate and love the natural styles. She's currently undergoing Chemotherapy so she's loosing her hair. BUT just last weekend she asked if I would find her a wig that looked like my hair 🙂 …
Maybe when she's beat cancer's ass and her hair grows back she'll experiment with a twist out!
Keep my mom in your prayers!!
my mom went natural because of me. she loved my hair and wanted to do the same, been about 7 months now and she wants to keep it in a grace jones type twa. she looks cute and feels fly
2 cousins went natural and my best friend did too again 🙂
Vonnie
http://www.socialitedreams.com/
My mom won't go natural but she definitely wants to try some of the hair styles that I have done. And she comments on how much my hair has grown and how thick it is. So maybe I will get her to come on over sooner or later.
I have influenced my cousin to go natural. She saw my hair pics on my FB page and said she just had to try it because she loved how my hair is coming along. I was excited so we talk back and forth about hair all day 🙂