I decided to do this piece on a colleague that recently decided to go natural. I found her story to be inspiring and I’ve been following her transition. This piece is not about “selling out” or “keeping it real.” It’s about expanding the definition of beauty.
Site: Loveltyi
Twitter: @lovelyti
Youtube: Lovelyti’s Hair Journey
What made you decide to go natural?
I just got tired of dealing with 2 different textures. It was just time to let the relaxer go.
What was the reaction you received from others on this decision?
It was so mixed. Some people loved it, while others were mad and made me feel guilty for my decision. It was like they were living their hair dreams vicariously through me.
How long did it take you to adjust to your natural hair?
It took about 2 months for me to completely feel comfortable, and it took that long for me to get a good routine down.
How did people of other races respond to the change in a professional setting?
I think most people reacted kindly to me. Many were curious and kept asking to touch my hair. A lot of them truly liked it. They never made me feel bad about my decision!
How did black women respond to your hair being natural?
On my youtube channel, I had OVERWHELMING support!! Off of youtube, I didn’t have the same level of support. Most of the drama came from my family. A few of my girlfriends cracked jokes and kept hitting me with the black power fist mocking my decision.
Is your hair easier or more difficult to manage in this way?
To be quite honest, I feel it is easier. At first, it seemed like a lot of work but now that I have my routine down it’s a breeze. I honestly wish I had gone natural sooner!
Have you found that your hair has inspired other women to embrace their natural hair?
YES. I know for a fact it has. I have had a lot of ladies email me telling me that I encouraged them to take the step to go natural. In my personal life, two of my girlfriends went natural and one even shaved off all her hair. It’s growing back and she looks fierce!
What is the hardest thing about being natural?
I would say the dryness. I have to keep my hair moisturized a lot more. I have to spray my hair every night before bed. If I don’t, my hair gets matted to the side of my head.
Do you spend more or less on your hair now than you did when it was relaxed?
I spend the same amount of time. I never really styled my hair when it was relaxed, I just wore it straight. Now that I’m natural, I am finding all sorts of cute fun styles. It doesn’t take me long at all. I would have to say that I spend the same amount of time.
At what age did you get your first relaxer?
I was five years old and I still remember it like it was yesterday. We were living in Iowa back then and my mom said I would look like some girl off of tv. When I saw the girl, she was so pretty to me and her hair was so straight. After that, my mom applied the relaxer and I couldn’t believe it! No hot comb, just straightness. I loved what I saw and that was the start of my addiction to creamy crack!
Define what “good hair” means to you.
When I was growing up, I was taught that good hair was curly or wavy-something with a loose curl pattern. Good hair was anything opposite of my hair. After doing research and learning about hair, I came to the conclusion that there is no such thing as good hair or bad hair. Hair is either healthy or unhealthy and it’s as simple as that. I have seen Caucasian hair that looks bad and I have seen 4b African hair that looked flawless. To me, it’s about how you maintain your hair and what you do to care for it.
Do you have any advice for black women that are considering going natural?
Follow your heart, and don’t let anyone make you feel like you can’t go natural because your hair doesn’t lay like Halle Berry’s. All hair grades and textures are beautiful-you have to own it! Also, know that it’s not easy and everyone doesn’t appreciate natural hair, remember that’s ok! Learn your hair and love yourself. Always walk with your head held high!
