MOTHER OF CURLS: MY NATURAL HAIR JOURNEY
Hi,
my name is Tyra Chuck, and just about all of my life, I have been told at
some point or another, that I have 'good
hair.' To the black community this typically meant that you had
'nice hair for a black girl.' Those two phrases went hand in hand. I mean, they
were right wasn't they? I fit all the characteristics...the qualifying traits.
I was mixed (Jamaican & Chinese) & had long hair. Growing up people,
especially in school, made it seem preposterous, impossible even that
there was no way you could be black, have long healthy hair & not have a
relaxer! Wrong!
Up until the age of 12, I lived a relaxer free childhood. My hair was thick, unruly & big... I’m talking Dianna Ross/ Mel B Scary Spice big. From looking at pictures, I observed my hair started off quite curly, but got thicker and more afro textured as I got older.
Like younger naturals, I dreaded wash day and my mum combing out my hair. I normally had to have my hair in plaits or cornrows, just to keep it neat and avoid my mum having to redo it so frequently. Back then there wasn't a lot of natural hair products that we have today, so rocking my hair in my 'natural state' out, wasn't even an option.
My mum was a working mum, so after some years she didn't have time nor effort to do my hair. That's when she gave me the choice to either get my hair pressed or relax it...
My Relaxed Days
Straight hair all the time &no more painful wash days. Who wouldn't say yes! My mum's friend & hairdresser, who had been doing her hair and occasionally mine too, since my mum was pregnant with me, gave me my very first relaxer.
From her I learnt about growing relaxed hair, deep conditioning it, stretching your relaxers and so much more. I could then maintain my hair easier in-between touch ups & experiment with different hairstyles. At one point I even had a full fringe.
The Good, Bad & The Ugly- Transitioning
One
thing I didn't like about my relaxed hair, was the regrowth. It felt
uncomfortable. It looked weird, and a part of me would always wonder how the
little curls at the root, would look on my whole head.
1. New Growth
2. The expense
3. The whole relaxer process/upkeep
4. How my hair looked wet
My last relaxer was around July 2013 (Prom). After that I was to say enough is enough, and call it quits with my bra strapped relaxed hair. That same year, in September I rocked a u-part wig while transitioning (see pic on right).
I found out what 'transitioning' was (growing out your relaxer) from my research on stretching out your relaxer, on YouTube. I looked at other people's 'Hair Journey' & 'Transitioning from Relaxed to Natural' videos for tips, advice, motivation and inspiration.
Back to Basics- 'My Natural Hair'
Going back natural was not easy. It
was frustrating, unexpected and surprising all at the same time. The hard part
was finding a style to which I used minimal heat. At first I tried a lot of
braid outs and twist outs on my transitioning hair, but I just didn't feel
comfortable. I hated having to deal with the two battling textures.
Instead, I decided to opt for a easier protective style that required less
maintenance- weave, wigs & box braids. I did this until I got to a
comfortable length to do a 'mini
big chop' around Feb/March 2014.
YouTube
in general, but mostly the above YouTubers have been really helpful while on
both my transitioning & natural hair journey now. Check them out!
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