The Journey...

India Arie's, I Am Not My Hair comes to mind every time I decided to do something different with my hair. I am proud to say that I no longer allow my hair to define me. For years, my days good and bad were intertwined with what my hair looked like that day. 

Going natural was the most freeing experience I have ever gone through in my life. And each time I decide to do something different again, I feel the weight of the world shedding away. My crown is beautiful, healthy, and glorious. I rock my hairstyles with the pride and beauty of a strong black woman who is aware of her identity and confident within herself. 

"What's wrong?" "But it's so long, thick and healthy?" "Are you sure?" 

These were just some of the questions that I faced before I decided to make the major change...AGAIN.

There was no particular reason that I decided to make the major chop this time around. The first time that I did it was to eliminate the long transition of going natural. My natural hair journey started the first two times, by using braiding styles as my go-to method. Rewind to 2015 and I chose to do a major chop to get rid of the "creamy crack." Fast forward to 2017 and my hair had grown back healthier than ever and longer than it had ever been, although I seldom straightened it.

Approximately one month ago, I began to feel the familiar twinge of wanting to do something different with my crown. Two weeks ago, I began to mention to my husband that I was ready to make the cut once more. In the beginning, he wasn't certain that I was ready. Because I'm about to face a major change in my life, he wanted to make sure that I wasn't making an emotional decision.

My immediate response was "no." But I walked away from the conversation and searched deep within. Was it emotional? Yes, but not a negative emotional response. It is my way of redefining the woman that I am about to become. To embrace the journey that lies ahead of me and rejoice in the journey that lies behind. 

I feel accomplished even in the midst of change. I have proven so many things to myself on so many different levels, and I'm about to prove something else. Big dreams, big goals can be realized. We only have to want them. 

I invite you to follow along with me on this #naturalhaircare journey, as I use some tried and true methods, and try new ones. I will share my successes and fails. And I invite you to share any haircare successes and fails you've had in the comments section as we go. 

Let's Ryde!

Undeniably Chelle,
My heart 2 yours...