Good Hair

Thanks for the hair talk. You have beautiful hair!!

Thanks for sharing your natural hair story. I too have natural hair and the same length as yours so I am all too familiar with the arm workout. However, I do switch between flat ironing and wearing my hair natural but now that I am in school full time its mostly natural, worn in a curly ponytail for ease sake. I also wanted to let you know that I ♥ Discerning the Voice of God Book. It has shed some awareness in how discern my Father's voice. Thank you for being His vessel!!

Oh yes, I remember sitting in church last year when a male peach friend(my son says people are only peach and brown ;-)), leaned over and asked me if I had just gotten a relaxer. I almost hollered out loud! It happens so infrequently that it still causes me to giggle. It's funny that you brought up the hair topic regarding yourself. I saw you for the first time at Deeper Still in Orlando and as a brown woman I did wonder how you were blessed with such a pretty curl (I did not think it was a weave)! I promise I was completely engaged in every other aspect of the conference...beyond, beyond ;-).
I too went natural quite a few years back and cut my hair to about the same length, an inch long. Boy was that liberating. I remember being in the barber's chair and the "gentlemen" around me asking if my boyfriend liked what I was doing. My own father even expressed his concern (distain) that other people may have thought I was playing for the other team...oh my! I grew and twisted my hair for the next four years and you are correct--working through that hair wet or not was a workout! During this time I got married, had my son and decided at some point it was time for a change. I relaxed my hair, my son under a year at that time, didn't even recognize me lol!! I've been relaxing it since, though I was never able to maintain the nice thickness it had while it was natural, oh well. One thing is for sure, our hair takes a lot of work to maintain - the price of beauty!

I totally do not know how to insert a pic in this format, not even going to pretend! But you can find my locks long and short on twitter: JoycyAnn or facebook: ironically, www.facebook.com/JoycyAnnLacombe :)

Enjoy your week!!

I tried to go natural.. Twice.. And I have found out that transitioning is not for me to go and the only way that I'll make it natural is for me to just break down do the big chop! But.. I'm not so ready to do that yet lol. So in the meantime I've been suffering thru the damage, breakage, and chemical burns of relaxers.. Sigh.. Perhaps one day

Thanks for sharing this, and thanks for inspiring me to continue on my natural hair journey!!! Here's a link to my blog where I posted a couple of piks. I love my hair so much more without the sometimes-chemical-burned scalp!! LOL

http://jeoffsrib.blogspot.com/2009/11/good-hair-and-update-on-my-natural...

Girl, I love your hair straight! It's beautiful. I have very curly hair and I'm always trying to keep it less curly. Have no idea why, but.

AND I am so glad you have a blog. It's nice to get that glimpse of your personality outside of articles etc...you rock.

Girl, I love your hair straight! It's beautiful. I have very curly hair and I'm always trying to keep it less curly. Have no idea why, but.

AND I am so glad you have a blog. It's nice to get that glimpse of your personality outside of articles etc...you rock.

Thanks for this topic. I love to hear Christian women talk about this subject. Sometimes I think that we can send a message that says, "If you were holy enough, you wouldn't even notice your hair, nails, or weight". Crazy but true, so I appreciate this.
I've been naural since 2003. I had been using chemicals since the 80's. I too cut all my hair off to an inch and almost lost my mind. I remember feeling lonely, ugly, and like a man. It was awful but I'm glad I went through it because God showed me all types of things about myself. During that process, you referred me to a Natural Hair Stylist that I visited a few times. Then I stumbled upon a book called, "No Lye" and began doing my own hair. Since then, I've grown it out, cut it off, grown it out,... LOL! I love the versatility!
YOU are a God-send to so many women who struggle with all types of issues because you are so 'real' and down to earth not only with your ministry but especially with your deliverance. I think that more of us 'get it' because of you. You subliminally tell us to embrace ourselves, which is great! I mean, if we aren't comfortable with our looks and flaws, how can we convince others to be?
Thank you for being obedient to God and 'real' with us. Your life speaks volumes and does wonders in helping us to press through the 'messages' of today.
BTW: I saw the movie, "Good Hair". It was worth the money and time for anyone of any race and hair texture to see.
*Sorry, I don't know how to post pics on here. I'm technologically-challenged though*. :)

Thanks for this topic. I love to hear Christian women talk about this subject. Sometimes I think that we can send a message that says, "If you were holy enough, you wouldn't even notice your hair, nails, or weight". Crazy but true, so I appreciate this.
I've been naural since 2003. I had been using chemicals since the 80's. I too cut all my hair off to an inch and almost lost my mind. I remember feeling lonely, ugly, and like a man. It was awful but I'm glad I went through it because God showed me all types of things about myself. During that process, you referred me to a Natural Hair Stylist that I visited a few times. Then I stumbled upon a book called, "No Lye" and began doing my own hair. Since then, I've grown it out, cut it off, grown it out,... LOL! I love the versatility!
YOU are a God-send to so many women who struggle with all types of issues because you are so 'real' and down to earth not only with your ministry but especially with your deliverance. You subliminally tell us to embrace ourselves, which is great! I mean, if we aren't comfortable with our looks and flaws, how can we convince others to be? Thank you for being obedient to God and 'real' with us. BTW: I saw the movie, "Good Hair". It was worth the money and time for anyone of any race and hair texture to see.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xG77_J_AsIU/Ssgvy3n7zTI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/rBpXsgiF-W...

So funny that you would bring this up today. I am about the start the process of taking my twists down, shampooing and two strand twisting this week. :)

I went natural 5yrs. ago, but wore wigs and braids until I could get it to a length I was comfortable with. When I did the "big chop", I didn't show my husband or sons for almost two weeks. I cried so hard and when they did see my hair, my sons were like, "who is this woman?" It was something that needed to be done for the health of MY hair. I loved my "do" when I was wearing a fresh new perm, but my hair would break badly. My hairdresser suggested I go natural while I was pregnant. (she didn't like to use perms on pregnant women) and my hair had been falling out badly, so I agreed.

I was working outside the home at that time as a marketing rep and my "accounts" did NOT like the change, so when I returned to work after the baby, I pulled the wigs back out until I came home full time 3 years ago.

I follow the same steps you do, except I do it myself, but I keep my hair twisted in the fall and winter and untwist it and wear the curls in the spring and summer.

So exciting that you have a blog!! One of my best friends read's the Home Sanctuary blog and so I was reading it this morning and she mentioned you had a blog!!! How fun!!

I'm definitely a curly girl...however, I relax the curls...LOL I do wear my hair curly and hardly ever straight. I know, I know...not totally natural, but, I just have to relax for my sanity's sake. I have two girls and two boys that I homeschool...so, I have to make things simple. My two girls have perms as well...one will wear her's curly from time to time.

Everytime I wait a while before I perm, I just can't stand it!! Then, when I perm it...I feel at peace again. One day I will cut it all off and start fresh...until then perms in my house give me peace. :)

Love the hair talk, girlfriend!! Keep blogging!

I found this post through Home Sanctuary and am really glad I came over. My husband and I are white missionaries in Haiti and brought our daughter home through adoption early last year. She's a little Haitian sensation and almost 2 now.

We've talked a lot about what to do with her hair. I really want to raise my daughter to love herself and to be comfortable in her skin, as much as I can help that process. I know hair is a big deal in black culture, but I struggle with the idea of chemically treating it regularly. I really appreciate all of you that have shared about your desire to go natural. We are seriously considering putting "petite" dreads in, girlie sized ones so that her hair can grow out long and healthy without breakage. We also think it's beautiful to see a woman or young girl with beautiful dreads :) When she's older and can understand what's involved with looking after her hair she can decide for herself how she wants to do it or keep it. I think it would be easier for all of us. She hates it when it's time to comb it out, no matter how much I condition it. I think it would make all of us happier!

Thanks for sharing, it's been insightful. I would love to know of any good links or books about natural black hair care, instructions for twisting and dreading etc.

I love this discussion...Priscilla you know I'm a hair girl! I've always seen the products for black hair and didn't really know what they did! You mean a "relaxer" is a perm??

What I want to know is how long some of the processes take! And how do you get little girls to sit long enough to braid or straighten?

Well, your post has inspired me to listen to Aretha this morning - I had to put "Natural Woman" on my daily playlist on my blog : http://www.homesanctuary.com . Click "play" in the sidebar. I love me some Aretha in the morning.

Now I'm off to see if I can strategically part my hair to hide my gray roots!

Hello there. I believe I'm the first white woman here to comment. I'm excited because I've always had many questions running through my mind about the differences between white and black hair and hopefully we can get some answered!

Let me just say as I am reading these comments that I am somewhat jealous. I can go 1 MAYBE 2 days without washing my hair, and then it is to the point of total grease and I have to wash it. Which leads me to my first question:

1. Do black women only wash their hair once every two weeks? If I'm understanding correctly, you only get your hair washed when you go to get it done?

If that is the case, then I have another question:

2. How much more do you think white women spend on shampoo/conditioner than black women? I mean think about it, if white women wash their hair every other day, and black women only wash it once a week, that's a big difference!

Just some random thoughts =)

I am very thankful that God gave me the ability to wear my hair curly AND straight. Because my hair is naturally curly, I can either scrunch it when I get out of the shower and put some curl product in it, or I can spend about 30 minutes straightening my hair with a hairdryer or straightener. It is nice to be able to change it up a bit.

Oh, and one last question:

3. how much, on average, do black women spend when they go to get their hair done?

I have some friends who spend $20, $60, $90, or when they have to get it cut and colored, $175. Let's be honest, we all spend a lot of money on this hair of ours. Sometimes it's sickening the money we spend on ourselves =/ I will be honest, when I get my hair cut, it costs $60 and that to me is a lot.

Ok I'm excited to hear some responses!!

How fun!!!! I am a "brown' girl and I am natural...so since I think I am the first to post since the most recent questions..let me attempt to answer a few...

In general yes, black women only wash their hair every 2 (sometimes 4, if you are like me, haha) weeks...seems gross buts its so not. It just works that way. Shampooing your hair daily can dry it out and really just isn't needed..for black women...especially when the some of the prettiest natural hair styles need the foundation a previous style before washing and starting over!!

Interesting point about the amount of money black vs. white women spend....I think it may balance out somewhat because black hair care products seem to cost more. So although we use them less often, they are pricey!!! Being a mother of 4 girls, this scares me!!

My husband is mixed and he washes his hair daily..sometimes mupltiple times a day, lol...and he is not allowed to use the "good stuff"! He doesnt like the idea of it but I can get his shampoo in the dollar store and it works great..so why waste my precious Carols Daughter or Kera Care when White Rain meets his needs just fine!

...hope that helps some...

now I have a question...

when white women do go to the beauty salon and get their hair done...how long does it last or do you wash it out the next morning??

Also when a white women gets a perm (for curls) how often does that need to be touched up?? Is it the same a as a chemically treated black women's hair, about every 6 weeks?

..and love you Silla! This is great :-)

How fun!!!! I am a "brown' girl and I am natural...so since I think I am the first to post since the most recent questions..let me attempt to answer a few...

In general yes, black women only wash their hair every 2 (sometimes 4, if you are like me, haha) weeks...seems gross buts its so not. It just works that way. Shampooing your hair daily can dry it out and really just isn't needed..for black women...especially when the some of the prettiest natural hair styles need the foundation a previous style before washing and starting over!!

Interesting point about the amount of money black vs. white women spend....I think it may balance out somewhat because black hair care products seem to cost more. So although we use them less often, they are pricey!!! Being a mother of 4 girls, this scares me!!

My husband is mixed and he washes his hair daily..sometimes mupltiple times a day, lol...and he is not allowed to use the "good stuff"! He doesnt like the idea of it but I can get his shampoo in the dollar store and it works great..so why waste my precious Carols Daughter or Kera Care when White Rain meets his needs just fine!

...hope that helps some...

now I have a question...

when white women do go to the beauty salon and get their hair done...how long does it last or do you wash it out the next morning??

Also when a white women gets a perm (for curls) how often does that need to be touched up?? Is it the same a as a chemically treated black women's hair, about every 6 weeks?

..and love you Silla! This is great :-)

This is great Priscilla. I FINALLY got brave enough to start trying to do different things to my hair. Too bad for that for the first two years of it being natural it was almost exclusively brushed back in a ponytail. But I've learned to twist it and I love it! Especially when the twists are set and I can take it down and it's all curly/wavy. I wish I had done this sooner. My hair is really much healthier and much stronger.

So glad you have a blog, by the way!
Rosheeda

I like the term "peach," I think I'll go with that one for myself :)

For white/peach women with shorter styles, every 5-6 weeks for a cut is probably the best, although I try to stre-e-tch it out as long as I can.

Unfortunately, color can grow out really fast, or it can fade, so women touch up their roots every few weeks. Highlighting with blonde or lighter color on just a few strands (not allover) takes a little less upkeep because it isn't usually as noticeable as it grows out.

Oh, as for the washing...if I need to look good, then every day. If I'm not going anywhere, I can do it every other day. You don't want to see the "third day" 'do....

Hi Priscilla, I just love you lady. I just saw this & I couldn't help but comment. I cut my hair natural on last Saturday. I've been attempting to do this for years, and finally I developed the guts. I would always try to go months without a relaxer, but then I couldn't take trying to comb my hair with the straight hair and curly hair (that hurt). Honestly, my head felt heavy, like a burden. Finally last week, I figured since I couldn't deal w/ the transition, I'll just cut down to the new growth.

That was Saturday before going to church that morning, when on the previous Sunday I had a head full of hair. I was really nervous, but I felt so free to be me at the same time. There were a few "Why did you cut your hair," but most folks thought it was the right choice.

I feel really good about it and for me personally it paints of picture of true change & transformation which started internally first. Kinda like the, "I can do this attitude, because eventually this will work out best." Priscilla, your heart after God's and indeed your hair :) are an inspiration and a motivation to simply be the woman God has ordained us to be~~~~Beautiful

Hey girls! What a fun topic! So I am a white girl and I have never been good about getting my hair done as often as I should. Mostly because I can't justify spending the money when I have five children!

I used to perm my hair but have been perm free for about 8 years now. Sometimes it's a pain having straight hair, because it's not really straight. I have to blow dry it because I have some natural wave. Actually, I think my husband still wishes I would curl it. I had highlights for a while, but since I don't get it done often enough, I recently just had my stylist come up with a color similar to my natural color. I'd go all natural, but my gray is showing up at an early age.

Here's my dilemma: My gray hair is growing in curly! Strange, I know. I'm not sure what to think of that, or how to deal with it. Any suggestions?

Have a great day!
-Melissa

Well..at the beginning of the year I let my natural hair color come through after coloring for 20 years red...It is now salt and pepper...and it is beautiful..my husband loves it and I don't feel tied down to coloring it every 4 weeks and paying a $100.00 for a cut and color....

Okay, I've been reading and paying attention. Congratulations to all of you women, especially you Priscilla since you bravely started this blog topic. I have been natural for about three years and it is fabulous. I did it with much encouragement from friends and to the horror of my sister who still doesn't understand :-) I mean, honestly, I had great relaxed hair, full of body and bounce, but uhhh...the problem....it was in a ponytail most of the time!?! I don't have time for hair! So, I went natural... then it was in a natural "fluffy" ponytail most of the time that still took too much time! Yes, I enjoyed the twists, combcoils, and afros, but I found true freedom with SISTERLOCKS!! Yay! They are micro-dreadlocks and now I just shake and go...that's it! Finally, A 5-second hairstyle I can rock! Thanks to all of you sisters "in Christ". This has been fun!

WOW! I didn't know that was you, with your hair straight!! i thought somebody had submitted a pic at first. I have had my arguements with fam about keeping my hair "natural" because it is in the 'mixed' catagory so they are like you have "pretty" hair why don't you straighten it. It's madness, it's real curly and bushy and a big mess if I don't straighten it or take the time to braid/twist it a night, I just don't have the energy...it's endless. I just end up looking like a mad woman alot of the time in the house, because it take SOO MUCH WORK. you have a great hair dresser will she come to MARYLAND!!. But seriously though thanks for this post and the encouragement, I haven't been asked to many questions about my hair, just the occasional "what are you mixed with"..which i then have to give a whole distertation about Roots, but that's a whole nuther conversation. Anyway I have been writing a book on it, cuz it caused so much distress in my young life( this was way before good hair) I know other woman have had to have gone through the self esteem drama too, but now in Christ I have no worries. Thanks. ps139. peace.

As a big-haired white gal from Music City USA (Nashville, TN), it's almost genetic to have hair the size of Texas. Tennessee in this case. My hair habits thru the years have included everything offered by the best of salons. And I've done it all, from the basic perm (to my already naturally curly hair) to the "Farrah Fawcett / Charlie's Angels" look that took TV by storm so many years ago.

That was then. This is now.

I alternate cuts with color appointments. Friends and family have no idea if my hair is aging, thanks to some of the best colorists in town. There's a healing power in those foils, and nothing beats a fresh highlight for the summer!

At the end of the day, it's fun. I like change. I like the idea of keeping my peeps (you included) wondering what I'll have going on the next time they see me!

I go back and forth on the hair thing. I've gone several years au naturel and then at the beginning of this year I got my hair relaxed. Liked it for a while and then have decided to let it grow out because I just don't have the time (or the money) to keep going back to my hairdresser. My hair is pretty long so it costs about a hundred bucks to get it done. My dh was laid off several months ago and I can't justify going to get my hair done. I keep thinking about getting it cut really short (I did the 2 inch afro in college)...but, keep feeling that's too drastic... hair has always been such an issue...
My dd23 has also decide this past year to let her hair grow naturally.

Girl, this was just the thing to read at 1 am! Here's my deal with hair. When I was younger, I used to complain, fuss and gripe about my hair. It wouldn't do this, it didn't do that, it was too...limp, curly, flat, frizzy...you name it. Then I noticed something odd. It seemed to me that I was losing a lot of it. Hair here and hair there. Suddenly it didn't seem to matter so much how limp, curly, flat, or frizzy it was...as long as it stayed attached! So now my hair and I have an agreement. I don't care what color it turns. (I'm fairly sure white hair is just another term for platinum blond!) I don't mind the cowlicks or the fact that the older I get, the curlier it gets. I don't criticize it and in return, it doesn't desert me. And I think that's a pretty good deal. (and for the record, I think your hair is beautiful.)

Wow you're hair looks great! My mom says that if I go natural mine would look great too. However I can't bring myself to go natural. I cut it off every 5y and then let it grow but it is still relaxed. I see how it looks and how difficult it is to take care of when it is time for a relaxer and so I think of what it would be like if it was natural. And even though my husband and parents admit that I look better with short hair, they even balk when I talk about going natural. I know, I know, I have to do what it right for me but I can't bring myself to do it. I would even like some locks but for a whole year it would stick straight up. I can't do it! I wish that I would have though about it while I was in school because i feel even more pressure not to do it now that I am out working. I need to be able to get it looking like yours without going through the growing pains! Your hair looks great! I am jealous!

I love this hair discussion! I must say that I am one of the folks that has asked Priscilla about her hair many times. I am thankful that we are having this conversation.

Hair plays a big role in our lives. I have been braiding my hair for about 18 months for good reasons but braids don't quite like me because my hair gets thinner. As a child, I had very nice hair (I am from Haiti BTW) and my first relaxer was at 14 and ever since. I get up at 5 AM to go work and it's easier to have it braided so I can walk out the house by 5:35 AM to be at work by 7 AM. Yep that's my life. Otherwise, relaxed hair will cause the morning routine to go an 1 hr long. Oh and my braids or twist (kinky twist) cost close to $200 every 6 weeks or so.

As I type this reply, I have a box of Dr. Miracle (relaxer) that I am about to put on my hair but I have been debating about going natural but don't really know how. I am scared to death of what needs to be done and how I will look. Plus I might shock my co-workers. Just last night, I went to target and got 2 beautiful hats to wear to work while I decide what to do.

Since I haven't relaxed in a while, the new growth is a lot (can't quite tell you in inches) - assuming I wanted to go natural, what do I do? I want to avoid the barber trip at all cost. Can I just use a flat iron? That's damaging it too- isn't it? I need help.

Thanks Priscilla and your hair is always beautiful.

Myriam

I love this hair discussion! I must say that I am one of the folks that has asked Priscilla about her hair many times. I am thankful that we are having this conversation.

Hair plays a big role in our lives. I have been braiding my hair for about 18 months for good reasons but braids don't quite like me because my hair gets thinner. As a child, I had very nice hair (I am from Haiti BTW) and my first relaxer was at 14 and ever since. I get up at 5 AM to go work and it's easier to have it braided so I can walk out the house by 5:35 AM to be at work by 7 AM. Yep that's my life. Otherwise, relaxed hair will cause the morning routine to go an 1 hr long. Oh and my braids or twist (kinky twist) cost close to $200 every 6 weeks or so.

As I type this reply, I have a box of Dr. Miracle (relaxer) that I am about to put on my hair but I have been debating about going natural but don't really know how. I am scared to death of what needs to be done and how I will look. Plus I might shock my co-workers. Just last night, I went to target and got 2 beautiful hats to wear to work while I decide what to do.

Since I haven't relaxed in a while, the new growth is a lot (can't quite tell you in inches) - assuming I wanted to go natural, what do I do? I want to avoid the barber trip at all cost. Can I just use a flat iron? That's damaging it too- isn't it? I need help.

Thanks Priscilla and your hair is always beautiful.

Myriam

Priscilla -- girl, this is just the best conversation! Now, to answer your questions....
I'm a white girl (or peach) and I get my hair done about every 6 weeks-- that's fresh color and a trim. I am blessed to have a daughter who's a hair stylist, so she keeps me looking good and on those bad hair days she doesn't claim me.

I have lots of thick wavy, kind of curly hair so I wash dry, straighten and fluff at night. Then I can just jump up, hit it with a flat iron and go.

I love trying new things and am up for a new color or cut anytime. Right now I have it highlighted (or striped as my sweet husband refers to it), but who knows what it may look like next time you see me.

There has been so much talk about hair in the media these days I didn't know what story to read or believe. Thanks for uncovering some hair-unknowns for me. As a white girl with naturally curly hair, I often look outside before straightening it....if its foggy or rainy it would be a waste of time. I'd be curly 2 secs after I stepped out the door even with product on!! If men only knew this was part of out thought process!! Ha!

I am a white girl. the term peach doesn't even cover it, unless you are referring to a white peach. I'm like if you took coffee creamer and added a little coffee to it, that's what color I am.

I have naturally curly hair.

In middle school, I spent an hour a day on my hair alone, with a large barrel curling iron, straightening it. One day I got caught in the rain (which I was always careful to avoid) and someone told me my hair looked good curly. So I gave it a try, and I was nicknamed 'frizz bucket' by my peers. It didn't take long to figure out how to treat my curly hair. at first, I wasn't crazy about it, but was happy to be embracing how God made me and not fighting with curling iron, sometimes burning my hair or skin.

Fast forward 10 years. i wear my hair curly 95% of the time. I have learned to pay good money to go to a stylist that will cut more than the ends of my hair, and to not make "shelves" in my curls. my hair is twisted and then cut carefully, to take the weight off the ends and to help the curls curl better.

the top part of my hair is curlier than the bottom part (opposite of most curly haired women) and I've considered perming the bottom half but I'm reluctant to do so because I also color my hair, and most stylists will not even attempt to perm colored hair because it damages the hair so much. My hair is also thin and fine, which is not typical for natural curls either.

on basic black/white hair details:
I like expensive shampoos, I try to get them on sale after christmas or at TJ Maxx. I have friends that will pay $40 for shampoo+conditioner.
To get my hair cut, I can expect to pay $30-60, and the color is $20-100, depending on what I have done and what city I'm in. currently I pay $40 for the cut and $40-60 for the color. I go every 2 months to the stylist and it takes about 2.5 hours.

About once every 2 weeks I put olive oil in my hair before going to bed to hydrate it, because it gets dry from the plethora of products I use.

and I do love a good bottle of Afro Sheen!!! must use sparingly though.

for white girls with oily hair, Bumble and Bumble makes a dry shampoo that you rub into your roots to extend the time between washing. I have also learned that if you are accustomed to washing your hair daily, you get oily the next day because your scalp is making more sebum to counteract the drying effects of washing. What you do is go from washing every day to every 1.5 days. let your hair adjust. then go to every 2 days. I have made it to every 3 days before something comes up and I need to wash it again. I have a friend with straight hair that washes hers once a week but I probably use too many products to do that.

for my black friends: I constantly have questions about if I used certain "black hair techniques" on my white girl hair. I already do the oil sheen and oil before bed, which is awesome. but I'd love to do braids, dreads, straws or something so that it didn't take so much time daily. I just don't know/understand how my white hair would hold up to straws, for example. I don't want to pay $200 for a hairdo that would last for 6 weeks. any suggestions?

I'm lovin' this hair discussion - thanks Priscilla! I've been natural now for approximately 17 years. After growing tired of the chemicals I decided to do something different. First, I went back to my roots; you got it - the press and curl, afterwards I decided to do braids for a about a year, going from one braid style to another. Then after watching a local Atlanta station that featured Lonnice Bonner; author of the book "GOOD HAIR"(For colored girls who've considered weaves when the chemicals became too ruff), [no connection to the movie by Chris Rock that I'm aware of] who had grown tired of chemicals and weaves because they only damage the hair, I began twisting my hair and about 3 years ago I decided to get Sisterlocks.

I had wanted locs for a long time, but didn't like the traditional sizes so when I stumbled upon the Sisterlock website I immediately knew they were what I had been waiting for. Wow, I simply love them! They're so easy to maintain, very versatile, cuts about 15 minutes off my preparation time in the mornings, and I don't have a need for all the hair care products as in the past. I only wish I had discovered them sooner.

I'm thankful that my natural hair journey has also influenced my sister, nieces, sister-in-law, and a few friends to go natural and leave the creamy crack behind. (lol)

Priscilla, you're my inspiration in so many ways, including the hair. There was a season where my mom plus all but 1 of of my aunts were wearing their hair natural. For health reasons, I'm trying to go natural myself (with fear and trembling - as I don't know what's on the other side & there's no ring on my finger yet :0) ). I want to live without the chemicals and haven't had a perm since February so I have 3 to 4 inches of new growth. My biggest fear is cutting my hair as I've gotten used to the positive attention my hair brings me. It's amazing that I didn't go seeking after that but now it has a hold on me. I truly want to love myself the way God created me and truly not care what people think. You've helped me endure so far - Thank you.

I believe I've had relaxed hair since I was 11 and I'm 31 now. I'm in the Army and half way through my first tour in Iraq I decided I would go natural (I was 29 at the time).

At this time my hair was long. It reached to the middle of my back. When I returned home I chopped off a lot of the relaxed hair. (This is after talking about the decision with my husband day in and day out. I wanted to do it, he was okay with it but I needed to hear him say over and over that it was okay and would be okay. I was so scared).

After cutting it the first time I wore it in braids consisting of my own hair.(I didn't get all of the relaxer this time but it was getting short. It didn't even reach my shoulders anymore). Then I chopped it all off. I believe it was about four or five inches at that time.

Two years later my thick (extremely thick) hair is back. It is not as long as it was but it is about an inch and a half past my shoulders. Lord willing it will probably be back to the length before I cut it next year.

I've noticed that my hair grows quicker and it is thicker. I straightened it for Thanksgiving and everyone was shocked that I could achieve the relaxed look without the chemical relaxer.

I have an aunt and three cousins who wear their hair natural. Others want to but doubt themselves. I always tell them that it's hard work but I love the results.

My hair story . . . . where do I start? Sadly, I have to confess that beginning of 2009 was the first time I wore my own hair as an adult woman. And when I say my own hair I mean relaxed but sans extensions. For me that was a major breakthrough considering that I had a lot of self esteem issues tied to wearing my own hair. It was a deep rooted issue that I needed serious deliverance from. Through earnest prayer and many conversations with God the steps towards a deliverance began to take shape and become more of a reality. The deliverance came full circle the minute I mastered how to look at myself through God's eyes and realizing that I did not need hair extensions to feel or look beautiful. That I am to coin your term a jewel in his crown irrespective of what my hair looks like, or what others thought about it. Incidentally, during that period I began to pray for God to remove any idols that were present in my life. Unbeknownst to me my hair happened to be one of them and God was about to do something "special". Well, what then ensued was a blessing and somewhat of a quandary to say the least. One Sunday during the 12 o'clock service at BT my twin brother (bless his heart) who happened to be sitting next to me accidentally yanked the pony tail I was wearing off my head. Three words Oh my gosh. I was totally mortified and wanted to supernaturally disappear. To add insult to injury, I was sitting third row from the front with the choir right in front of me and the band to my left with no way of making a seamless escape. To avoid further embarrassment, I decided to stay put, throw the ponytail in my bag and keep a straight face like nothing happened. What a humbling and sobering moment it was. God had toppled my idol. For a moment, I was cross because I felt God had embarrassed me and could have chosen to do it differently, but the feelings of freedom and being liberated that followed were unparalleled. They outweighed the embarrassment and humiliation I had been dealt that day. I am happy to report that I have not worn any kind of hair extensions since. Not because I abhor extensions, but because I don't feel the need to wear them anymore. What an amazing feeling it is to be free from bondage and hair captivity. God works in mysterious ways :)

The next hurdle for me to conquer is wearing my hair natural. I cannot tell you how much I admire women who do it and do so proudly and with confidence. I welcome the day when all women can just wear their hair the way that pleases them without feeling the need or pressure to conform to a certain standard. That was me not so long ago and it is not a good place to be. Now I am not going to be a hair Nazi and criticize women who wear hair extension. That said, I would venture to say, wear those extensions or whatever hairstyle of your choice just because that's what tickles your fancy and not because you feel less than or pressured to fit a standard society dictates. God fearfully and wonderfully made all types and textures of hair. Now let's gladly parade them all and do Him proud.

Thanks for sharing your story and for giving us this platform to just talk . . . . about our hair!!

Thanks for this discussion Priscilla!!!

My hair journey has taken me from long thick natural hair as a young child to getting a JHERI CURL in the fifth grade. This was what EVERYONE was wearing back then, so I thought I wanted one. That is until they cut all of my long pretty hair off, and by the way I was visiting family over the summer and they did not ask my mother before taking me to get this chemical in my hair! Needless to say tears were shed. From there when I was in high school, I quess around 10th or 11th grade I got a relaxer, hair loss was the results of that, a year later my hair finally began to grow and then I went to a new cosmetologist and she decided my hair was damaged after giving me a relaxer and gave me a REALLY SHORT CUT...again tears were shed. Over the course of 16 years I went from having no hair to beautiful hair back to no hair. Years and tears latter I decided I'm going to go natural. Now unlike Priscilla I didn't take the big plung and do a big chop (BC), but have been transitioning gradually. I started this journey after my last relaxer in July 2007. I have been gradually trimming the relaxer off of my hair while my natural hair grows in. This has been hard at times, because I've been dealing with two textures of hair, but refusing to quit I'm about 97% completely natural today. When my hair is straighnted it is at shoulder length and just below the ear when curly. I have learned how to handle my natural hair and cannot wait to clip the rest of the relaxer off. As a matter of fact I will not go into 2010 with any relaxer on my hair.

Hello,
It is really nice to read this article. Thanks for simple way of writing and giving all the detail which need. Once again thanks.
Should you oil your hair? I remember going to school with my hair oiled to the brim, so much so that I could feel it in my nails, each time I would itch my scalp and my friends would tease me of the strong smell that would emanate from my grandma’s recommended brand of hair oil.