I believe Fro and I have called a
truce.
Looking back, it’s actually been awhile since I fought
with my hair. I wanted to wait to see if it was a phase before letting you
know. My hair journey hasn’t been smooth sailing and I’ve documented that with
you over the years. But at this point, I can honestly say that I love my hair.
Sometimes, when I have a protective style in, I look over my old photos and the
past couple of times I’ve done this, I’d get hair envy…of my own hair. Yes, I
just said that. Is it narcissistic? Ummm, I guess so. But I don’t care. There
are many people out there who don’t love my hair, my hair type or discouraged me to go
natural before I big chopped, and even after I did. So
for me to love my hair is a huge achievement and I’m proud to share that love
with you.
The first couple of years after fully
being natural I went through days where I’d curse my hair in the mornings.
Sometimes every morning especially
when I tried to emulate a style I saw the other day and Fro says a big fat NO. I’d joke about it afterwards but it
was incredibly frustrating because in my mind I was doing everything right and
didn’t understand why my hair wasn’t on board. I don’t know when it happened
exactly but these days Fro and I are getting on swimmingly.
Here are some ‘tricks’ I believe help
me avoid the morning battles…
- I prep my hair every night. I know my hair hates being left alone to its own devices and
without TLC the night before. So if I don’t spritz it then twist or braid
it the night before, I wake up knowing there’s a fight on my hands for me.
Fro being dry, matted and knotted equals a fight. So I don’t play those
games. And once in a blue moon I do but at least I know the next morning that Fro’s not going to be happy so I’m prepared for it. I take it as
seriously as going to bed with make up on – no no.
- I’m a recovering product junkie. For a long time, I was on the
search for the perfect set of products only to recently acknowledge that
there is no such thing but I do have old faithfuls that Fro loves and has
loved since the beginning. So I listen to my hair much quicker these days.
I can tell almost straight away if a product doesn’t get on with Fro and I
leave it. I’m still open to trying new products, because you never know.
And as I said, there’s no “perfect” product. But my experimenting has
definitely slowed down compared to the first couple of years.
- I let Fro do its thing. These days it takes me less time
to do my hair than it does my makeup. I used to style my hair trying to
copy a style I saw somewhere online of a woman with longer/curlier/insert
any other adjective here hair than mine. But in the morning my hair’s
stubborn as hell and won’t budge or do that thing her hair did in the
video. So now, I let my hair’s state dictate the style I end up rocking. I
usually have have an idea of what I’d like but it’ll only be confirmed
once I undo my twists or braids or pigtails. I unravel, play with it and
do something that’ll work for it. And whatever that is I accept and I work
with it. Many people don’t know how many ‘bad hair days’ I could’ve
had and accidental styles I create.
I love Fro because it’s
the most me than any of the hairstyles I rock. Every time I change my hair and
have extensions installed, I always have someone come up to me and say
“this suits you so much!” “I love this style on you, you should
always wear it” and I smile and say thank you but deep down I know that
it’s temporary and my beloved Fro will bounce out of protection eventually and
we’ll be reunited. There’s just nothing more amazing than feeling my own hair.
I don’t play with my weaves or braids but when Fro’s out it’s all I do (um, bad
habit I know but I can’t help it). And four years on, it continues to surprise
me.
So I’m saying it, to the world and all. I.
LOVE. MY. HAIR.
I hope you love yours too!
I cut mine last month ass it was breaking but i miss it now π M still on the TWA stage and i cant wait
Hey Aisha
So here's my daily fight with my fro…..I have very soft and thin hair that's extra sensitive to most products but I prep it every night. When I undo my twists in the morning the stretch length is amazing but then I experience shrinkage the moment I step out of the door. Do you have any suggestions on how to prevent this?
I gave up on my fro growing in length but it has gotten thicker and fuller over the years
Aisha, u write so beautifully and honestly. I love u and fro!
Hi Aisha,
Your blog is very inspirational! I love my fro, but still fight with it.
Cheers
Hello,
I'd be lying when I say I've reached that stage with my fro. It's still very short and difficult to style. I'm appreciating the volume and how beautiful it looks in the morning after I've undone the locks π
Thank you for sharing.
My fro and I fought big time this week. 'Fro said 'no' of course. My twist outs were not dry and I probably had too much product in my hair. Absolutely no curls (twists) at all when I unravelled the strands. Cant stand doing twist outs 2 days in a row so I'm letting it be – for this week only…..LOL!
Hi Aisha,
Such a revelation, the discovery of loving your Crown is too liberating to say the least! Itβs only then that you realise how much of a fuss we make of things that have their own minds-(I believe my hair has its own brain so with years of practice I did find my AHA moment with my hair too :- D)
Am sure all your readers who are still battling with their Fro daily will find that balance soon/at some point.
I have loved your Fro since its TWA days to date. I still think itβs gorgeous and if you didnβt say it was a battle I would swear it was an easy journey for you considering the AWESOME hairstyles you wear plus that beautiful smile that accompanies each picture you take.
I Love My Fro andYours ο
xoxo
N
I feel you, i love my hair too. everytime i have pritective hairstyle i always do a count down to when i am going to remove and be reunited with my baby again. best feeling ever! i have recently added honey to my products and my baby is GLOWING. @kammoh_S
Anonymous I'm exactly the same. I have braids on now and I"m already looking forward to the day I take them off and that, hopefully, Fro would have gained length! π
π i'm sorting out my WordPress password.. i wont be anonymous anymore. Kamo
Lol funny you wrote this as I'm feeling that itch to remover my protect style in now haha. Missing my fro quite a bit. Glad I'm not the only one.
Great article! There's nothing like coming to a TRUE acceptance of your natural hair. When I learned to let my hair do its thing it made my journey so much easier.
Thanks for the comment Tonia. It really does make it easier, as I'm finding.