It’s been 5 years since I decided to go natural and I can’t say it’s been an easy experience. Ive always had curly hair since I was a baby but my hair was and still is super thick so when I was 13 years old I stupidly “texturised” my hair just before I started secondary school. You should have seen the length! My hair was almost touching my bum and I loved it… at the time. After years of relaxing my hair it started to get shorter and lifeless. My hair was so limb and dry from all the relaxing products, so on Good Friday in 2011 I made a firm decision that it was going to be the last time I was going to put chemicals in my hair.

 At first  I didn’t really see much difference between the two textures in my hair but towards the end of 2011 my mum very lovingly told me my hair looked a mess and I needed to do something  with it. I chose to go for a protective style as I wasn’t ready to do the ‘big chop’ so I opted for a full head of weave. Now this was my first time ever wearing weave so I was super excited! I felt like Beyoncé leaving the salon. 

Every time I get my hair done I still get excited with the results. It’s just a switch up from the usual boring hair styles I have day to day.

I soon became accustomed to having tight braids and a long mane and over the last 4 years Ive been having my hair weaved in the winter months and having my natural hair out in the summer. 

My natural hair LOVES water, it’s as if it stays dehydrated. It looks so nice when I first come out the shower but then as the day progresses my hair just seems to shrink. One thing I quickly learned about having natural hair is that it takes EFFORT, MONEY & PATIENCE! You find yourself spending a small fortune on loads of curly hair products, experiementing and trying to figure out what best suits your curl pattern. 

Figuring out your curl pattern in the beginning can be challenging as you are in the transitioning stages between your processed hair and your natural hair. It can be misleading where you may think your curl pattern is one way but really it’s on a completely different coding.

I used this curl chart when I first went natural and I’m yet figure out what exactly is my curl pattern.  I have all kind of textures in my hair. I would say my curl pattern is between 3b, 3c & 4a. The back and middle part of my hair is 4a but then I have some 3c in the mix. It’s just complicated! Trying to work out what hair products best suit my hair is also complicated. Most products leave a horrible white residue  where it looks like I have a head full of dandruff! The best curl pudding I find works well is Aunt Jackies Curl LaLa Defining Curl Custard 

It smells amazing and it leaves my hair soft and frizz free. 

My hair has grown over the years but it’s been a very slow process. When you first decided to go natural it’s so easy to get caught up with how long your hair is taking to grow and start comparing your progress to others. I’m 5 years into my natural hair journey and I’m still not happy with my hair length. It takes time, TLC, Coconut oil, deep conditioning treatments and protective styles. 

I must admit though I’m absolutely rubbish with hair! When I’m not wearing weave my hair is either up in a bun or left out. I’m not adventurous enough to try different styles. I just need a curl hair guru to work her magic on this curl fro xo