my name is malika, I'm 17 and I have just made the decision to go natural. (well it has been on my mind for a while now(5 months) but I've only recently had enough nerve to take down my weave and embark on my journey)
I am still lost when it comes to natural hair and although I have youtube and hair forums there are still some things I don't understand or I don't have the answer too.
Alright so this was me before July 20th 2014
My life revolved around extensions and weaves. I was too scared to relax my hair because of previous incidents and walking through the halls of school with natural hair loose was something I was not prepared for.
Both braids and weaves were breaking my hair and I wasn't even aware of it.
I'm not the type of girl to speak up in the salon chair so when my hairs being braided too tight I don't say anything.
The braids would be 'catched' onto a small piece of my hair that was fighting to grow but because I would pull on the extensions they would fall out, pulling my real hair with it.
The Weaves would be braided too tight, damaging my edges and the tapping was out of control. My hair itched so much I would cry. I just couldn't take it anymore.
So on July 20th 2014 I handed my mom the scissors and she took out my weave.
It felt so liberating! my hands were able to touch my scalp! and the breeze, oooooh the breeze felt so good!!
This was my hair after the take down. As you can see my edges are crap and my hair is uneven.
Sadly my mom can't operate my camera properly so the back shots of my hair came out blurry but from what I can tell you, my hair is so damaged in the back that I want to shave everything off.
However many of my friends/family members believe that I cant restore my hair back to health putting my shaving impulse to a hold.
Anyway I gave my hair a good washing (pre poo, shampoo, condition, deep condition). then attempted to do a braid out!
and THE next morning .....
Yeah it wasn't really wanted it to look like but then again I don't have a lot of hair and I have 4c hair....
the style only lasted a day so I twisted my hair at night and the next day it was super moisturized and soft :)
It's only been two days but I feel different. My confidence and self esteem still haven't blossomed so I don't know how I'm going to go out and hang out with friends.
Hopefully this journey will teach me more than just growing healthy hair but building confidence aswell.....
thats all for now !
