As I was sitting thinking about my hair journey I started to think about my hair when I was a child. Before any of this natural hair craze, young Shantrell at one point had natural hair, BUT it was hot combed. My hair was kinky, coily, and curly back in the day for quite some time but I never really got a chance to see it. I remember not feeling like I was presentable if my hair wasn’t straightened😕. I remember not wanting to be the kid with the fluffy hair all over my head. “Nappy head” was definitely something I did not want to be called but you would get called that if you let your hair fluff out in its natural state. So if I went to a cousin or friend’s house and they wanted to play in the water/go swimming I had to forget about it unless I had a swim cap or shower cap.👀 Mama wasn’t having iT…it was not going to happen.🙅🏾‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️

Now one thing that would help us with our hair and being able to do things that might make it fluffy was getting our hair braided. 🙌🏾 This helped so much! Every summer for the most part my sister and I would get our hair braided. It was a big deal to us! I remember deciding how I wanted them to be styled and what color beads I wanted on the ends. It would take hours to finish but it was sooo worth it! I would swing my braids and go look at myself in the mirror after she would finish. You couldn’t tell us nothing…especially when we had our matching outfits and tube socks. Oh and don’t forget the K-Swiss! 👟Peep the picture above…We were fresh in our outfits! 😂

Now if our hair wasn’t braided then it was hot combed by our beautician Ms. Nancy or sometimes our mom. Now, when I tell you Ms. Nancy would have my hair laid…it would be as straight as a pencil! ✏️ sitting here writing this I can remember the smell of the beauty shop. I can also remember getting popped in the head for asking why was it taking so long and trying to touch my hair 😂 (I could’ve touched the hot comb 🤦🏾‍♀️) I also remember sitting under that loud dryer with conditioner and a plastic cap on while looking through the different magazines. Jet Magazine, Black Hair magazine, Ebony magazine, Hype hair or homework was what I was looking at while chilling under the dryer.

Then of course you start to grow up. As I started to get older I started hearing about relaxers. Some of the girls at school would talk about getting them and I was like…well, I guess I need to get mine relaxed too 💁🏾‍♀️. But, for a long time my mama was not going for the relaxer. I don’t ever remember getting a reason why, but I know the answer was probably “because I said so!” 😂 Then a change of heart happened. I started cheerleading and marching band. From practicing in the hot sun outside during the summer for band to cheering and sweating in practice, my hair was like uhhhh you’re gonna have to do something 👀 😂. I was finally able to get a perm y’all . I was so excited! No more accidental burns on my ears or forehead and it wouldn’t take as long 🙌🏾. Yes! But what I didn’t know was I was just switching out problems. How about potential chemical burns all over your head and scabs😕😫. Don’t scratch before getting a perm, put relaxer on the scalp, or leave it on for too long. Oh you would pay that day!😂 That scalp would be on fire! My hair would be straight though so I continued to get them 🤷🏽‍♀️

I would get my roller wraps and roller sets as my style most of the time. I just know I had that hair slinging and whippin 😂. Looking back at my childhood I don’t remember natural hair much at all. While writing this I tried to remember anyone that wore natural hair during my childhood. And you know what….I don’t remember anyone at all. So natural hair was NEVER on my radar. 🤷🏽‍♀️ I mean before my perm my hair was somewhat considered natural because it was not altered by any chemicals but the hot comb canceled my poor curls out.

I hate I didn’t know how beautiful my hair was naturally and didn’t get to let it flourish earlier. I never that I thought it was ugly I just knew no one wore their hair natural around me and it was called “NAPPY” if it wasn’t straightened and I would get asked real quick “what are you gonna do with that head?!”👀 Well, that was then and this is now….After looking back I think that it was just something that was passed down from generation to generation. What I am thankful for is my mom making me stay off of the hair relaxer as long as she did. I had a relaxer for somewhere around 8 years…I’m quite sure I have a scar or two from the chemical burns where I scratched off the scabs. That’s ok though they’re a reminder of what was. I’m just allowing myself to let my hair be free and any negatives from others about my natural hair has nothing to do with me.🤷🏽‍♀️Looking back from the hot comb to the perm I realize that me going back to my natural hair, just omitting the hot comb, is kind of like me going back home. It’s a different home but I have grown to love this home more and more.💜