Purple Cocoa's Thoughts: My Natural Hair Journey

Have I introduce you to Cocoa?

Cocoa is my fierce by design afro. Well, she is almost fierce. I have yet to learn all the tricks of the trade that you see on Naturally Curly, Curly Nikki (my fav) and countless YouTube videos. I do what works for me and sometimes what doesn’t.

I began my journey almost 3 years ago in December of 2008. I had just lost my job and did not want to even try to factor my weekly hair appointments into my budget. So I decided one last perm for Christmas. I got that funky short Rihanna cut that she sported while with Chris Brown. I thought I had it going on until it came time to wash my hair. WTF?!!? What was that flowing down my neck? My hair and lots of it. My hair had fallen out. I attribute it to stress from losing my job and no new one in sight. Thus began my natural hair journey. I never BC’ed (big chopped). I just grew out the short hair cut and snipped the straight straggly strands along the way. I washed my hair weekly and I looked like HAM (hot ass mess). I did this for about 5 months until I had to go to my sister-in-law’s graduation. My hubby decided that a half straight, happy curly afro was not the business. So I went to a childhood friend and let her straighten it and a give me a trim. I was beyond fly. Yeah that point right before Red Bull gives you wings! Until I stepped into DC, it was hot. My hair reverted back into its state of HAM. I tried to press it out with no products. I tried curling only to burn fragile pieces of hair off. It was a disaster. I was a disaster. I didn’t know about Curly Nikki or Naturally Curly at this point so I suffered greatly.

Well by then my mom felt sorry for the tragedy that is called my hair and got me some braids. At least I could go on an interview without scarring people. Oh braids thank you for coming to my rescue. I was back on fly mode. Yep, I was. Until I took those stupid things out, I was now a tangled mess. Note to self : Senegalese Twist are not where it’s at. Hair was falling out. I am missing a patch over my temple till this day. I was sad but I keep pressing with the journey. It was at that time that I decided to get a sew-in!

The sew-in phase is pretty hazy but it worked out the best until my edges had me looking like George Jefferson. Although my hair grew, it was very stressed. It was thinning in the top and uneven. So the same sew- in lady decided that I should try a press. Well the press hit the spot until my friend humidity reared its ugly head. I had enough or so I thought. I need someone to fix my head. I was a mess. I had managed to retain a TWA (teeny weenie afro) for a year without trying. I didn’t experience that ½ inch to an inch monthly growth that my Naturalistas profess about. . It was horrible.

In between 2010 and January 2011, I tried every protective and not-so protective style imaginable. I hated it and hated the way I looked. I was so ashamed of my hair. I felt a certain type of way every day. But then the light went off. I hated my hair because of what I did too it , not what others did. I did not treat it well. I have never been able to dye my hair but I did anyway because I thought chemical free natural hair was different. I have never been able to wash and go (WNG) so why try it now. My hair was moisture deprived then and it is moisture deprived now. Nothing had changed except me. I found Curly Nikki…..Ahhh the light at the end of the tunnel. I hold her site to be the Natural Hair bible. I spent hours and supposed to be working hours looking at her site. I became a product junkie. I tried different remedies. But then I read an article on her site that simply said: Do what’s best for your hair. Well I did…thus began the Healthy Natural Hair Journey. I trimmed all the dead ends off and gave myself a good conditioner. I ventured out to the Damn Salon (you have to try it once) and got some braids. I continued reading Curly Nikki and other blogs . I was prepared for the braid take down. Needless to say, I was pleased this time. I had hair. I actually had hair on my head. I invested in some Bee Mine products. I wash and deep condition weekly. I now experience the ½ inch growth. I am happy. I can even do a few styles. When it comes to styles, I can be down right uneducated. Sad really!

So fast forward to today. September 2011, I can honestly be proud of my hair. Yes, I experienced the na-sayers. My husband was embarrassed at one point. I even got into a few arguments about my journey. Keyword: my. Through it all, I learned you have to do what’s best for you. Some wouldn’t even believe that I applied a perm to the front of my head just to wear a weave. When I should have paid extra money and went to someone else. It happens . That’s why it is called a journey.

Check out some of my pictures below:

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