part of my raw journey began far before my delve into the raw foods lifestyle, and the most pronounced of these transformations began with my hair. for years my hair struggled to conform and fit the mold i shoved it into through the creamy ‘crack’ relaxers, pressing, burning, drying, snipping, curling, etc….and then finally, as if the breakage and the scars and scabs, and the breakouts and rashes, and split ends and broken shafts weren’t enough tell-tale signs for years and DECADES prior, i decided enough was enough. i was going to make the switch to au naturale.
so it began when i stopped (perming). the withdrawals were hellious. the struggle to fit my transitioning hair through that westernized lens of beauty standards was daunting. i went out with a fight; and tapered with the flat irons and curling irons, and rollers…until finally, finally, i had enough ‘new growth’ (aka naps) to start dreading.
and on 6 feb 2009, i began locing my hair. i didn’t want even parts; so i grabbed sections here, and twisted there. tucked that end here; and gelled that clump over there. i had created what i thought to be cute little twists; but that was all that they seemed to be…twists. for i had not chopped off the straight, permed ends. i wanted to hold onto those tired thready tresses (read: distresses). why? because i had not yet begun that awakening with myself.
and throughout the following months, as more beautiful, thick, luscious, and yes nappy hair began to sprout from my head, i began to resent those tired, jarred ends and gradually snipped them off.
and one year, two months, and 6 days later, i have a beautiful head of little locs. granted, my locs are only 3-4 inches long at best; to me they represent a cultural awakening and self-loving enlightenment within myself. i have reached into my bowels, grasped my soul, brushed the dust and gunk and glue off of it, and have exposed that beauty which is now resonating outward.
and this is the beginning of my journey, to now. and i have decided to continue to RAW even more with my hair journey, through the decision to (from henceforth) freeform my locs. yes, i will no longer be twisting and gelling and spritzing and all of that mess; my hair care regimen will consist simply of sea salt-water rinsing, pulling-apart, vinegar rinsing, and essential/ olive/ coconut oiling as needed.
i will keep you posted on my journey (no pun intended).
