Going natural was about so much more than hair for me. It was almost like going BRAVE. It seriously gave me a boldness that I lacked before and that may seem like a large claim for something as simple as deciding to no longer perm my hair, but I’m being honest… it really did that for me.
Going natural placed me outside of the status quo and with that came attention. I went natural for the first time in 2010 during the summer. I literally just up and decided I was tired of being curious about what my hair would look like if I wasn’t constantly altering its texture. I kept catching glimpses of my cute little curls in between perms so, eventually, I gave in. Since I am not big on slow changes (I’m more of a “let’s do it now” type chick), I decided to do the big chop and get it over with.
I feel like I showed myself so much with that one simple decision because I proved that I was bold enough to do something that was completely left field according to most people.
I showed myself that I didn’t need to fit in and that I was actually quite comfortable with standing out. I actually loved it.
With this new found sense of freedom, I learned I was capable of being bold in a way I had never imagined before. This boldness translated into entrepreneurship. Now 4 years later, I can look back and be proud of the businesses I’ve started, the plans I’ve cultivated, and the followers I acquired.
Who would’ve thought that simply cutting my hair would open me up to so much possibility and unleash so much potential?
I can honestly say that the greatest lesson I learned from going natural would have to be how to be bold.
I learned how to boldly stand whether the stares were filled with love or scrutiny.
I learned how to boldly embrace my unique version of beauty regardless of what the industry’s standard say beauty should be.
I learned how to boldly be me. Being me, means I have the power to recreate myself, fluidly change, and just literally do as I please. That has to be the greatest part about being natural, I am free to be me and I love it more and more every day.
Going natural created an entirely new world for so many women and I am more than proud to say that I am a member of this beautiful (constantly growing) community. I made friends that I would have never made were it not for the simple fact that we were both natural. I have made business connections that stem directly from my choice to embrace my curls. Most importantly, I have learned the beauty of being placed in a position to inspire other women to attain the same sense of self I have acquired.
