MY MOMMA...

My momma has always change her hair styles with the quickness. She never stayed with just one style for too long. She is one of the few people I know that would go natural one year then two years later get a relaxer, only to cut her hair in a mini fro the next. Her hair grows really fast, plus at 60 years old she has hardly any grays.

Once again she decided to go natural last year so I have been flat ironing her hair the last few months. Recently, I asked her if she wanted me to flat iron it again, she said heck no, I want it all cut off! I'm ready to rock a TWA again, but this time for good. I want a low maintenance fro that I can wash and go. So this week my momma's going to big chop once and for all. I realized that if my momma wasn't so carefree about hair, maybe I wouldn't have been so open about natural hair all of my life.

BB KING,  My Beautiful Momma, & GP

I always loved natural hair, but I was just afraid to cut my hair. My momma didn't have those hang ups. She would cut her hair with no problem. When I was about 13/14 years old, I asked my momma if I could get a relaxer, which she responded if that's what I wanted. She never had a dislike towards natural hair...I appreciate her for that. After my Aunt Stella died I would go to Mrs. Bernice to get a hot comb on my hair every two weeks. As I look at it now, I'm not sure which was worst... the infamous hot comb or the horrible relaxers.

I remember my first perm like it was yesterday, our neighbor Mrs. Joanne gave me a TCB box perm.
My hair burned like fire...yet I had to keep it in until it was straight since I had virgin hair which took longer than the box recommended. The next day, I had puss scabs all over my head...I thought I would go bald for sure! Yet everyone complemented me on how pretty it was... the brainwashing was in full effect.

Over the years, I fantasized about going natural...my college friend reminded me that I always talked about going natural. Sometimes in life you are scared to step into the unknown...but when you crossover to the other side you wonder what took you so long.