Contemplating the big step of whether to go natural or keep
your relaxer? One really big question is how will you look? You’ve had a
relaxer since you were in fifth grade and can’t even remember what your
kinks/curls look like. For you the benefits of letting go of the “cream crack”
definitely out way the cons, but you are in Cooperate America, you work on high
profile cases, your colleagues are mainly non-minorities who may not "get it" and
frankly you cannot take the chance of losing your creditability just because you
have decided to be true to your own creed.
Fear is associated with any major change in life, even if
the change is a good one. Think back to when you got married or had a child, graduated
from college or decided to go back to school. All those decisions were for the
better but involved a certain amount of risk. Similarly, the choice of whether
to maintain a relaxer or free your natural locs can be a source of anxiety.
Unfortunately, all risk cannot be removed from a controversial
choice, but here are a few suggestions that may make going natural (if that’s
what you really want to do) just a little easier.
1. Try to ensure that you keep your transitioning
tresses as healthy as possible. Keep your hair moisturized and manageable. For tips on maintaining moistrure in your natural locs click here or for products that promote healthy hair click here.
2. Don’t want to go from long relaxed locs to a super
mini fro, which may be all the new growth you have developed in the process. Don’t
chop it all off. Maintain your two textures by seeking out a professional who is
well versed in helping to make the transition from relaxer to natural. Let yourself
get used to the curls first, give it time to get some length to it and then
(when you are absolutely ready) cut the relaxer and enjoy your natural freedom.
3. Finally, get a preview of how you may look once
the relaxer is all gone. Some natural seekers are going for dread locs or
twists. Some want a bountiful afro still other are searching for cascading curls.
You may not have noticed but there is a wig to simulate all those looks. Pick
one up, try it on and get a feel for how you will look with a “natural”. The wig
is a fairly inexpensive, non-committed way to see if this is what you really
want and if you will really “love” yourself in curls as much as you think you
might love yourself in curls
My own little experiement with natural locs!
The fact remains, this is a big step. It is an affair that
must not be entered into lightly. BUT if you do decide to take your look back
to Eden, stay empowered, be informed and keep it healthy!
For all sorts of tips on all hair types and updates on what’s
hot for fall 2012 click here.
