HerStory: My Hair & Self-Love Journey

We coming with a new blog series called, "HerStory". Where we highlight Black women and their stories regarding the many discourses within our community.

 

The first story is my hair & self-love journey🤍:

 

I want you to think back to 2020. The moment of uncertainty everyone was suddenly placed in. The moment where many were facing isolation with family, friends, & the outside world. But can I add that it was also the moment where many were going through different phases of their identity?

Me. Ayishat, was one of the many who was trying to figure herself out. Figuring out what I liked to do, what I enjoyed, and what i found helpful to stay calm during this chaotic pandemic. One of the hobbies I found myself indulged in is styling my natural hair. 

 

 

Let me take you through my different hairstyles🙂:

 

 

Took my french braids out finallyyyyy! This point on is where I decided to have my hair out for a while in March 2020:

 

 

I was obsessedddd & i mean obsessed with curling my hair. This was during March-April 2020:

 

 

 

 Some more curlsss for the girls:

 

Distressed Curls...I think that's what its called or maybe loose curls...lol😅

*Side Note: This was me during the process of writing The M.e.l.a.n.i.n Guide*

 

 

 

 

Before I continue down memory lane, I want to point out that my hair was RELAXED before curling it all the time during this period. I would always perm it when I had a weave or just wanted to stay away from dealing with my actual hair texture. 

 

I was annoyed with how hard it was to get it to glide through any wide tooth comb, how frustrating it was to blow dry it, and even upset when it wouldn't stay flat when I had a weave installed. I remember how I would always tell my mom, in order for my hair to be in the "right condition" it needed to be permed. 

 

Yes, yes, yes...it makes me sick even stating that I permed my hair as we know it causes cancer development (which leads to cancers such as uterine and leukemia) and damages your hair badly.

 

 

But I feel like the Ayishat at the time didn't understand that her self-love battery was low, and in this case, it was with her natural hair. She didn't want no parts with getting to know her hair, as it represents blackness, black beauty, and OUR HISTORY!!!

 

 

 

Well, I cut it off of course :)

 Big Chop September  28th, 2020

 

 

two videos I took of me during the big chop and adding coconut oil to my hair months after the chop lmaooo:

 

 

Although after cutting all my damaged hair, I promised myself to never use a relaxer again but I did something else right after😅...

 

 

I definitely remember adding lots of heat to my hair without any good heat protectants and after taking it out, I had a moment of realizing that I damaged my hair againnnn...but just the front. Weaves are still great yall don't get me wrong, but I needed the right products and time with my natural hair so I could care for it!

 

Now, let's fast forward and talk about me and my hair right now😊...

 

 I LOVE ITTTTT!

 

I committed to wearing it out all summer! Still rocking it now but with a tighter curl pattern, amazing products, and no dead hair 😊!!!! Alhumdulilah!!!

 

My Natural Hair Journey Summer 2023 Mini-Gallery:

 

It fills me joy that i finally have fallen love with my hair. Is there times where I overthink about my appearance with my natural hair out? Absolutely, but, i'm able to take the time and tell myself that my hair reflects beauty, my ancestors, history, and self-love❤️!

 

Side Note: My hair definitely would've been more if I didn't get that perm lmaooo😂.

 

 

Me happy with my hair out in March 2020