Nappy-Headed

NAPPY-HEADED by Latasha Willis

I came to this world with nappy hair

And when I was too young to really care

I loved to twirl each curl in my hand

And appreciate the texture of every strand.

But when I got older I was told

That the straightest hair was just like gold.

My hair got ironed with a metal comb

And the smell of burning grease made me moan.

I got a relaxer to run from the smoke,

But the pain of my overcooked scalp was no joke.

I even tried a Jheri curl to give myself a break

But being a target of jokes made my heart ache.

Oh, the day I turned my back on chemicals and heat,

I felt so free - oh, what a treat!

I trimmed off what was left of the damaged mess

And saw in the mirror what I thought was success.

But society said I had lost my mind

And that I would run back to tradition in time.

I got the strangest looks everywhere

And even loved ones frowned at my nappy hair.

I can't get a black brother to take me out for a meal

Since my hair lacks European appeal.

But when I look at my origin,

The continent of Africa, where my ancestors had been

And the beauty of the people who live there,

I saw nothing wrong with my nappy hair.

God gave me this hair

So I should not be ashamed

It is part of who I am

Ain't nothin' wrong with it, I exclaimed.

So I will wear my Afro, my twists and my coils!

I will not allow my confidence to be soiled.

Even if my hair is locked and dreaded,

I am proud of being nappy-headed.

Some Plaits

Hey, all-out-there!

How is your journey in nappy hair appreciation ? Mine's great for the most part. I have had times during this month when I want someone else to style my hair for me but haven't got the time to get it done. Between my research and volunteer work, and obligations to my family...time gets filled up, at least for the moment. I have been told that I am talented to be able to do my own hair the way I do it. But such comments are from persons who have not even tried to embrace their natural kinky/coily/curly hair. I am not against those who process (relax, cream, hot press, etc) but I don't like it when they say to me "Wow, imagine if you relaxed your hair now!" . Really? If I did, my hair would be either shorter or unhealthy because of the damage that relaxing puts my hair through. But I am calm cause I know that they don't mean any harm or bad when they express themselves as such.

Well, did a slight change for December. Plaits instead of twists. Took me a while to do it though, was doing more than one things at one time. My hair was in a crazy braid-out style all day, so when it was time for me to take on this task, there were some knots. Not to fear cause water was there ! I used water to moisten and loosen tangles, being as gentle as possible. I wasn't at my own home, so I did not have the arsenal of my conditioner to assist.

I have received some compliments on the "change" but personally I really prefer the twists. Interesting length though, I wish I had a picture like this of when I last did my hair like this in August. Oh well.

Hair we start

Well, to start I say a few things about my hair. I have 4a type hair but with few strands that are 3c type. For most of my teen years my hair was processed. I've have mild relaxers, jherry curl, dry curl, and strong relaxers (what we in Jamaica call "cream"). All of which was done because my was considered difficult to handle.
Now I've reached a stage where I must explore more and where necessary change up some of the inherited ideals I know. That includes my hair. So, in December 2005...I decided to stop processing my hair. Transitioned to natural for almost a year, then did a big chop (cut of all the processed ends) in October 2006. Wow! What a relief that was ! Now this blog may serve as a journal of sorts regarding hair in a state that God intended.

One Love.