Truly the crown that has held me down. A crown that brought me into a magical hood – the hood of a natural sisterhood simply because I allowed my hair to grace the world the way it graces my roots. The way its essence lives in my roots.
In June of 2016 I did the big chop. It was a decision I hadn’t given too much thought but I found all these incredible naturalistas on Youtube so I figured why not. At this point I had been religiously relaxing my hair since I was 10 and all I thought I knew about my natural hair was that it was hard and unmanageable.
When I did the big chop I had been in university for almost a year and hadn’t relaxed my hair in all this time. So essentially I had transitioned for a year. After I cut my relaxed hair off
I was very insecure about my natural hair. Predominantly because all my life I had heard people demonize its texture. And while I wasn’t entirely sure what the plan was for my natural journey, at the very least I knew that I was committed to it.
I came back home and started to really explore my hair. I played around with different products, tried different moisturizing methods and all around just got a feel for what it was I had committed to.
Soon after, I left for a different university and this was when the game changed.
At this point I felt like I had to really study my hair and master the art of its creation.
And so 4C hair Youtube video after Youtube video I was getting more educated about hair and slowly learnt how to LOVE and expertly LOVE ON my hair.
I say love twice as a means to explain the action and the feeling. I learnt to love my hair but this was only fostered and nurtured by me learning how to love on my hair by understanding what worked for it, what didn’t and being patient with her. Within this time, I learnt how to braid my own hair and mix a few of my own products.
Taking all things regarding my hair into my own hands was the magic I needed to sustain incredibly healthy hair and retain length.
I’ve currently been natural for 4 years and it’s one of the greatest decisions I’ve ever made.
Over these past four years natural hair has definitely become one of my passions. From styling to braiding to dyeing to the products it needs – I love it all. My hair has blessed me with the gifts of patience, skill, perseverance, entrepreneurship and love.
The skill in my fingers and the drive in my heart I owe to my crown.
The crown that has held me down.
The magic of its grace
The grandeur of its being
The gravity of its defiance
The way it defies gravity
I salute you queens
Simply because
I see
Your crown is holding you down.
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