It's Only Right... If It's Natural.

:)

Wus-uhhhh. Wus-gooooooodddddd.

So recently I've taken out my braids.... Which is usually really nothing all that exciting, or 'new', because I usually just run and get them re-done before anyone can even attempt to imagine what I look like without them.

But this time: I didn't do that.

I've been growing out my natural hair for close to over 6 years now? (Idk, once I was at year three I already knew I put in some time so I just lost track after all my relaxed hair was gone.)

Throughout my years with braids, my natural hair grew a ton, and my hair does grow kinda quick. Every time I took my braids out to get them re-done I always saw some pretty nice results with my hair length, to the point where even my cousin (and my designated hair braider that I adore so much), told me that she was tired of me getting the same style done and with how long my hair was naturally, there was no reason why I didn't do everything that I did with my braids, on my own hair.

And you know what? She was probably right.

And.... I get that a lot. From a lot of people, but....

You know what...?

I don't give a fuck.

If I wanted to let my natural hair out, I would. I don't have any insecurities about my natural hair texture or the way my natural hair looks untouched my cremes, chemicals, or oils. Ashy or classy: I love my natural hair. Which is why at the age of 14, I personally made the decision to stop getting relaxers in my hair because I wanted to see the roots that I was God gifted with.

But... Of course there is a reason why I did leave my hair in braids for as long as I did... And for as long as I do.

Every time I braid my hair, I usually leave in the braids any where from 4 to 6 months. Menaing I really only get my hair braided twice, a year.

DAMN. Right?

Not really though. I attend University. While away on campus, because I do go to school and stay on campus away from home, it is tremendously hard and time consuming to maintain your hair. Whether you weave it up, clip it up, straighten, flexi rod, whatever you do to your hair. It's just a lot of work. I usually wake up early for class and I literally see a row of girls in the bathroom (taken up all this damn room when I gotta brush my damn teeth and shit) plugging up hot tools and perfecting their hair weaves and tracks. And see...

I just never had time for that.

Especially because I'm big on make-up. I did my make-up every morning and that took me some time. So imagine if I had to do both my hair and my makeup... And I had to put just as much energy into both because if not they'd probably both come out whack.... And then exactly what energy am I left with to actually perform my scholarly duties that I CAME to school for.....??

Yeah, exactly. Just wasn't a big fan of maintaining my hair while school was in session.

Some people get that confused with me not liking my hair or I've even heard people say I must be bald or something because I constantly 'hide' my natural hair under braids... When in all actuality it's a protective style that only benefited my hair and saved me a lot of time and energy to focus on more important things like my studies.

But..... That's another thing I don't really give a fuck about, cause I do me.

Anyways: I'm trying to take on my natural hair now because it's length (bone straight) Is damn well half way down my back. I'm content with the length that my hair has reached thus far. And I mean honestly:

I NEVER get the chance to just play with my hair and experiment. Whenever my roots would grow out, I would fiddle around with my roots, feeling the soft texture of my natural hair... I wanted to feel it all as a whole. Not to mention, it's the summer time. So, this is the best time to start seeing if I can maintain my natural hair because of course I have no time during the semester with work and school combined.

So hey, I could always go back to the braids if I wanted to. And that's always nice to know.

Prior to taking out my braids, I bought a few hair products, to jump start my maintenance journey that way I would already be equipped. I bought a new straightener, flexi rods for natural styling, tee tree oil cause you can never go wrong with that, and avocado conditioner and volumizing hairspray (Cause I like it big) by Garnier Frutis.

Not really the most... But enough to do what I need.

All I really want now is a leave in conditioner and a couple more cool hot tools for different hot styles (Whenever I wanna put heat in my hair, because I RARELY do), just to have more variety and more to play with. But none of those things are fairly urgent right now.

So... what can I say?

I have this whole summer to decide if this is what I really want to do with my hair and I mean, I'm excited because I've already been getting a ton of great feedback from people all over, and especially people in the work place, whom I was kinda on the fence about because my natural hair is a bit huge...

Yet, inviting. Seeing as everyone can dig it. So that's cool.

I just have to see.