The Big Chop

First day of work after the Big Chop!

One week after the Big Chop at a concert with Vee, whose natural hair is amazing!

For the last few years, I've been in this constant state of trying to repair my hair from all the chemical processing that I've done for at least the last 25 years. Somedays my hair would look and feel great. On other days it would be dry, dull and brittle. The last straw was at the beginning of January 2011 when I started to notice more breakage and that terrible brittle feeling. I was at a crossroads, do I let the perm grow and deal with the two different textures or do I go big and just chop it off...ummm. I pondered on this for a few weeks and then finally decided to ask my husband what he thought about me cutting of my hair and starting fresh with natural hair.
Just a little background, my husband had dreads and has been natural for several years. He has asked me repeatedly to get dreads but I'm wasn't ready and still not... But he was so excited to hear me say that I'm going natural. I don't eve think he realized that I was still debating on making that decision. He just heard natural and went with it.
Knowing that my better half was okay with me making this change, I deeply considered going for it. I waited and thought about it for another a week or so. On Friday, January 28, 2011 on my way home, I stopped at a barber shop and asked how much it would cost to cut my hair off. Of course the guy looked at me like I was crazy. "Cut your hair off, why?, he asked. I said because I want to go natural. All of sudden his tone changed and he was excited to cut my hair. Funny that I was only there to ask about pricing, 20 minutes later, all my hair was gone.
It's funny, I expected myself to feel bad, or shed a tear because I didn't have hair on head to style. Women proud ourselves on our hair and now I have none.
As I walked out of the barber shop and took a look in the mirror, I felt FREEDOM, freedom from relaxers and heating elements. It felt better than I expected.
Over the next few days, I had to deal with Family and Friends. Many were shocked and most were very supportive.
Now, I have to figure out the best care of natural hair. I've been so used to using products made for relaxed hair, it hard to stray away from what you've known for most of your life. But it does feel liberating!