Having a Daughter with 4C hair (Daughter's Story)

I have to think back to how this hair journey began. I'm thinking about to my childhood until now. My hair has always been on a journey, I just didn't know it until 2013.

I remember being a kid and my Mother would wash my hair with Johnson and Johnson baby Shampoo and Conditioner up until 1st Grade possibly second. I remember having major shrinkage because when I was twelve my hair got pressed and curled for the first time and it was down my back. I whipped the hell out my hair that day.

Back to 1st Grade. My Mom would braid my hair constantly. Her routine for my hair was as follow:


1. Wash hair three times
2. Condition for five minutes
3. Comb out and oil scalp
4. Brush hair
5. Braid hair in style


As time went on my Mom was sick and tired of doing my thick hair but knew the harm of me having a perm my hair may not be the same. I however was sick of braids all day everyday. I mean think about it. You see my hair routine, as I grew older my Mom started to add hair and make indivials (box braids) in my hair all the time. My hair would breathe for one maybe two days and before school started back my hair would be done.

I had to beg her to get it pressed. Then when I turned 13 I convinced her to get it permed. I was happy because I was tired of having braids. I got my perm and I was happy I liked how I look.I finally looked like everyone else. My dreams were shattered when my Mother refused to get a touch up saying, I enjoyed the perm and now my hair needs to go back to braids. She could've got a kit at the store for $8 because that's what she use to use on her hair, but she didn't. My perm grew out, my ends were cut and I remember her paying $80 for wrap braids after that.

Freshman year of High School I started doing my own hair. I didn't know what to do with my hair and overtime my Mom actually stopped using conditioner on my hair. So all I knew wash my hair, oil my scalp and braid my hair. I guess other women can relate when getting a perm, that is all they know.

I remember being in college being interrogated on why is my hair so dry? Why don't you condition your hair? You don't wash your hair every week? Why you always braiding your hair? I mean DAMN! I didn't know the importance of hair and how to take care of my own hair. I find it funny now how people can question you about your hair care but can't make any suggestions on how to take care of it and teach you what to do but talk about you behind your back.....Hater anyone?

It didn't hit me until 2012 and I was hearing about Big Chops, Natural Oils and Moisturizing your hair. I started doing research and was in shock of how many black girls were cutting their hair and just rocking the chop or their long natural hair. And get this there are other women with 4C hair like me! Now that was hella shocking. I was amazed, inspired, and excited at the same damn time. There is a hair movement going on and I have to be apart of it.

Still I was sick of braiding my hair but it became a habit overtime. One day the strangest thing happend when I was taking out my braids and wondering what should I do with my natural hair.

My hair started talking.....so I listened.

It said.
I'm only going to say this once, do not braid me, press me, perm me, blow dry us with heat, put on another hot ass wig or put me in a bun. Let me be free.

I said
Are you sure?

My hair said
YES!

Since that day I have not braided, pressed, permed, blow dryed, bunned or wigged my hair.

So I started washing my hair with a ton of different shampoos and started conditioning the hell out my hair which made it softer. I started pre-pooping and didn't know that's what I was doing. I oiled my hair with real oils and not greese and invested in Jamacian Black Castor Oil, which is amazing and over time I see the results. It takes time but it really works. The only problem now is, I haven't had a trim in four years. I saw my hair growing longer but breaking in the process. Not one fairy knot but three in a row. I was so devastated. My natural dreams are becoming nightmares.

March 2013
My hair said.
Just cut it all off.

I said
WHAT?

My hair said
We are dying, you have to do it

I said
Are you sure?

My hair said
YES!

I got my big chop and my hair has been happy every since. I purchased oils for my hair and threw away any jar of hair greese I had. I recently stopped using combs since my hair told me not too. Yes I may sound a little crazy but its true. If you listen to your hair you will know exactly what it wants.

I spent years damaging my hair with no knowledge of how to take care of it, now I have an actual curl pattern. My breakage has completly stopped and I haven't seen a fairy knot in a long time since my protein treatments. My hair is short but soft, healthy, and very happy.

It's hard work to take care of hair period. I really encourage Mom's with daughters of 4C hair to either DO THEIR DAMN HAIR or TAKE THEM TO A HAIR SHOP. Braiding is a protective style yes but it shouldn't be a 365 days style, as much as it helps it can also damage your hair. I will be writing a blog about braids I have so much to say about that. Also perming I do not support the creamy crack. At the end of the day I will admit the ten times I've gotten a perm did damage my natural curl pattern, my scalp and my poor edges. I have never gotten a texturizer but if I can't wash it out then I don't want it.

Me and my hair are very happy now. I wouldn't change this journey for anything

After all it's just beginning.....

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Tie up that hair!

It's getting late and I have no plans on going out. Tieing up your hair is the most important thing to do when trying to 1. Grow your hair 2. Prevent split ends 3. Prevent tangled hair. If your a newbie at being natural then this would be considered step two after the chop or going natural period. God bless those that can wake up and go. Imagine tieing up your head at night only to find it on the edge of the bed in the morning looking like WTF. There are other scarfs that say on sercure that you can purchase in the beauty store. I wouldn't mind going out in a scarf every once in a while, it can also be very fashionable.  I  need to find some youtube natural sistas that can tie a scarf like nobody's business.  Walk into the party with Eyrkah Badu realness. Yasssss.