Straight Talk



Hair after a week of being straightend







This past summer was the first time in a long time I felt the desire to straighten my hair. Although I was curious to see how well my hair was doing, I was equally as nervous about putting my hair through the heating process. I was extremely anxious about the whole ordeal. hoping the Beautician knew what she was doing as it pertained to applying heat to my hair, praying that my hair would revert back to it's luscious kinks, thinking this might be the catalyst that catapults me back into believeing that straight is great. Thankfully the dresser did know what she was doing, my kinks returned, and I haven't had the urge to straighten my hair since. Amazingly the reaction from my people was somewhat unnerving. It was eyeopening to say the least, I have been natural for the better part of about eight years, and I do believe for the first time in a long time, I received more adoration on that one day, than I did the entire eight years I've been natural. One person had the audacity to tell me I looked much younger sporting straight hair, yikes!
   If I didn't have the self esteem one needs to thwart off a deluge of pressure coming from people willing to tell you how to care for your tresses, while theirs looked a hot mess, I'd probably be sitting at my keyboard telling a different story. Don't get me wrong I don't have anything against the sistas still using heat, and caustic chemicals as a means to keep their kinks in check, in fact I've been known to give plenty of  complements to both chemically altered, and natural heads alike,but I am so disappointed at the lack of respect for my decision to return to being, and staying natural.
 
 Becoming natural means more than just hair styles. For the majority of us, it has become a way of life. I know I've become more aware of what I not only put in my body, I'm also very aware of the types of products I choose to put on my body. Being a part of the natural world is like being a part of a movement, a movement towards finding the authentic beauty you possess, a movement toward being comfortable in your own skin, a movement towards BEING. Trust me when I tell you there is joy in them there kinks! LOL. All jokes aside, being natural maynot be for everyone. I can respect that. However being natural is right for me, hopefully there will come a day when I feel respected for my decision, and that's straight talk.