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.