
CN: Were you a long-term or short-term transitioner, and why?
AM: I transitioned for 3 months because I spent the previous 5 years deciding whether or not I’d go natural. I would grow out my perm for 4 months at a time, and then chicken out and reach for the relaxer once more. I finally set a date to do my BC and stuck with it.
CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
AM: My BC anniversary is July 23, 2010. My initial reaction was, “Wow! I actually did it.” I was impressed with myself. It was at that moment I realized that my hair didn’t contribute to who I truly was, and that having short hair was fierce. The next morning I had second thoughts looking in the mirror, but I got over that.
CN: How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?
AM: My mom was really shocked when I gave her my chopped, permed hair in a plastic bag. She looked at me and said, “No, you didn’t,” and “Whose hair is this?” When I took off my satin scarf, she knew I had finally given in. My girlfriends were all very supportive especially since they are all naturalists. Some of my childhood acquaintances were shocked and could not understand why I did it. However, their opinions didn’t matter to me. After all, they were just acquaintances. At work, I received grandiose compliments which I still receive every time I change my hairstyle.
CN: What was your staple hair style during the transition?
AM: While transitioning, I often used flexi-rods to keep my hair in a tight curl mostly to hide my new growth. I also tried two-strand twists with added synthetic hair which was my least favorite transitioning style and frequently did a wash and blow dry.
CN: How did you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
AM: I would moisturize my scalp with blended oils to keep my new growth healthy and used deep conditioners often.
CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
AM: I chose to go natural because I felt like that was the healthiest option for my hair. I had a perm since I was 9 years old and never cared for my natural hair as an adult. I had always appreciated the natural look but was never sure if I would be able to start over. I gained the confidence to do my BC from my friends, YouTube Vloggers, and from blogs like curlynikki.com. I don’t regret my decision for one minute. Choosing to have natural hair makes a bold impression on people from every race, and I intend to continue inspiring and shocking the world with my decision.
Love what you said about inspiring and shocking the world with your decision. Cheers!
She handed her mother her relaxed ends in a plastic bag! Priceless!!