Two things people always seem to be curious about seem to drive me super crazy
- My reasoning for cutting my hair.
- My reasoning for not eating meat...mainly red meat.
So I was thinking that I should just blog about them and I am going to make them seperate post to save me some stress......
Since it's number one on the list above I'm just going to do the hair first....
Let me take a minute and take you through my hair revolution or lack there of.
I got my first relaxer when I was like in the fourth or fifth grade, it was the happiest day in my life at least back then it was....I was getting frustrated, I had all this hair and didn't know what to do with it and I'm pretty sure my mom knew what could be done about it but did she? ummmmm no, and a relaxer was the easier way out...
I loved it, wait I think I got it when I was in fifth grade because I was new to getting them in sixth grade...it was cool having relaxed hair I could get it wet on occasion without the hassle of trying to put it back in braids or whatever style. I can run my fingers through my hair. I could wear a ponytail....I could do the half up half down. Having relaxed hair was the business....well back then at least.
Soon after I started getting braids....but my hair would still be getting relaxed. Braids....I never really cared to get indiviauls because I didn't feel like my hair would grow much and I didn't have anyone to actually do them and if I did I probably wouldn't be about to sit still, so I always had french braids...or corn rolls. I don't actually know the difference...My hair grew like this and I know that it still would...it was nothing like taking out my braids and getting my relaxer to show off all my new growth....it was a good feeling.
Around seventh grade or so I wanted to cut my hair but I never thought it would be as short as it is now but I wanted a razor blunt bob type cut, my mom just wouldn't let me for some reason I guess procrastination on her behalf paid off when it comes to my hair.
High school, I was still wearing my braids and still getting relaxed but not as much.....at the end of eighth grade and begining of freshman year I would leave my braids in until the new was like the thickness of my finger and well I didn't really care I mean who's going to complain when your hair is growing....In eight grade I got my first weave didn't really like it and I didn't have it in for very long...
Around sophmore year or so is when I not only got my second weave but I STOPPED USING RELAXERS! I realized that my hair is growing and it's actually mangable without them and I had too much going on so I stopped getting them! And I'm so glad I stopped when I did....Back to braids I went...
Junior year of high school is when the big change had started occuring...I started wearing my hair out more and more and I really didn't care for it out it drove me crazy it was hard running and tryinng not to sweat it out from getting the mail in the Elsinore heat so I got some more braids....Yes braids were my comfort and I typically had one row it was easier for my mom or sister to do and well I would like to think that my hair grew more when it was like that....but hey I don't know I could be wrong.....
In my head I was thinking to go natural and I was tired of heating my hair and I knew I was doing a good deed by not relaxing it but I was heating it waaaaaay too much so I began twisting it April Mayish of my junior year hmmmmmm maybe even be earlier then that....I began twisting and rolling and just wearing it curly....a little
Corrine Bailey Rae(ish) but shorter and then I realized it looked cute unloosing the twist so I wore it like that..BIG and curly and I loved it like that....
What I didn't like however was re twisting and rolling and this and that ARGH it got on my nerves....Did I mention that I hate doing my hair period......So I wore the twist well into September? maybe longer....I even started doing them really small little did I know I was twisting too tight and breaking off my hair....
My hair broke off so bad that the hair at the top of my head was a mini fro and well I didn't dig it so much....I began wearing a hat all of the month of November and that was horrid....the hats were breaking out my forehead so now I have another problem....So now what do I do?
I kept twisting my hair though attempting to twist the mini fro in with the long pieces yeah that didn't work so well but it was worth a try right?
December 19th was the day I said I was going to cut it. Yes I planned the day (haha). I was frustrated, I had horrid split ends, I didn't have much to do with it come on I was missing a patch of hair....I could always just keep it pressed or sometihng because then the patch is covered.....no that doesn't work with my life...And I was so over the braids....And I was
Amber Rose obsessed, well I still am but I remember when I first seen her in the "
What them girls like" video and she was the only thing I remembered....I wanted hair like hers or lack there of....
I cut it that evening, in the bathroom, I did the BIG CHOP. I seen my hair hit my lap and the floor and I couldn't help but to smile.....it was gone. NO MORE FLAT IRONS, NO MORE HOT COMBS, NO MORE COMBS PERIOD! It felt like it was taking forever to get it all off, I think it was because my mother didn't cut my hair first she just got the clippers....I was so liberated I was free...it was gone.
The weeks leading up to the planned chop day I was getting so annoyed by my sisters and mom about the topic of hair....We could never leave until everyone did their hair...the things that women go through for their hair I just don't get it, and black women it's a big thing....
A few weeks ago I did a paper and powerpoint on the 1950s vs today using "
A Raisin in the Sun" and one of the things I talked about was hair....if you recall in the play, Beneatha cut her hair for a more natural look and it wasn't really acceptable well like today it's cut in the middle....
Then: When Beneatha cut her relaxed hair to go for a more natural look it was frowned upon. The fact that this is during a time of intense racial separation Blacks would do anything to fit in with the White society which is why keeping your hair “manageable” was more acceptable.
Now: If Beneatha would have made the decision to go natural today it would have been a little bit more acceptable. Still today people don't have very much tolerance when it comes to African-Americans choosing to wear their hair in the natural state. Having personal experience with this I know that all people don't embrace the greatness of wearing natural hair. I feel that Blacks have altered themselves for so long just to fit in with the rest of society, we are currently in a time where any and everything is possible so why not wear your natural hair. African-Americans themselves seem to be most embarrassed by natural hair using terms such as “nappy”, using relaxers and other harsh chemicals just to have a ponytail or straight hair, and spending a countless amount of money on weaves, wigs, ponytail attachments and all the other hair extensions that can be bought. The most absurd part is that other races are more appreciative of natural hair and often fascinated.
Some people love my hair and some people still find the need to ask why? I don't see what the big deal is it's my hair and it's one thing that i have to worry about....I'm not about to stress myself over my hair...And I'm not telling you to cut your hair off either.
I find it so funny when people say "You did the Amber Rose" or see my hair and assume Amber Rose or "Kanye's girlfriend...you look like her" "What's her name?"
For the ones that think I should grow it back well I will one day, maybe, if I do it won't be very long...And I'm wanting dreads for some reason so we'll see..
Braids
Do you spot the new growth?
Curled twist (horrid picture but the only one I could find)
When I take out those twist
My hat days...
Probably my longest and "healthiest"
A week or so before I cut my hair.
THE EVENING I CUT IT!
A few days after the cut.
Prom...the first time I ever put color on my hair...and eyebrows.
This is how it looks now, and that is my little sister hopefully she won't like kill me for putting pictures of her on here but oh well I like this picture and she's got some interesting hair too....
So my mom started off cutting my hair then she knicked me in January and I haven't let her cut it since and then my cousin started cutting it and then when I colored it then the lady also cut it and then my cousin went back to cutting it but the last two times I've been doing it myself (so I can do it myself in college) with the help of my sister pictured above, she has the half shaved thing....
So tell me why is your hair the way it is?
♥ MARA
[ALL PHOTOS PICTURED ABOVE BELONG TO ME]
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