I decided to go natural in May of 2011. I had a short cut (pixie cut) and as I was growing my hair back, my mom took me to get a weave because she stated my hair didn’t “look good” short and she didn’t want me to meet her clients looking that way. When I took my weave out instead of relaxing my hair I started cutting my ends off. It was a sudden change. Then I wanted some color so I decided to be a model for a color class and the instructor didn’t have experience coloring afro textured hair, as a result I had over processed bleached hair and I just couldn’t do anything with my hair anymore. It was limp and no longer holding color. Without thought I just cut it all off. Mostly out of anger.
I was of course afraid of the reactions I would get but I knew I had to fake it till I made it. held my head high and ignored invalid opinions. Overtime it grew and I weaved it until one day I just decided to let it be.
Name: Kiyomi Tatianna
Profession/Location: Cosmetology Student,Los Angeles
When, why and how did you go natural?
What method did you choose and why?
I chose to big chop. I couldn’t cope with trying to revive my over bleached hair and just wanted to get rid of it. Start all over.
What was the worst part of your journey?
The hardest part would have to be the negative remarks from my mom. She made jokes and sent pictures of my hair around because it was short and red saying why I did that to myself. To be honest she hated my pixie cut as well. According to her my face was too fat for short hair. Then she said she cant even be mad because she did that when she was my age just never that outrageous color. It just hurt because my mom has a way of making me feel like I’m not good enough.The stares on the streets didn’t really bother me because I’m always jumping to change my look and I was use to people not agreeing with the way a certain style fit me and not getting the same attention from men because I didn’t look “straight polished”
And the best part?
The best part of my journey to be natural is watching my hair evolve with my self esteem. As it became longer and shaped my face better I learned to love it more. I’ve gotten to see it grow out into more defined curls and I never expected that. I always thought I had really kinky hair because that’s how it was drilled in my head as a child.
What did your hair journey teach you?
I’ve learned on my journey who really accepts you as a person and not because of your overall appearance and what their definition of beauty is. I’ve learned to love my beauty, my natural beauty.
Describe your worst hairdo and your best hairdo and please include a picture if you can.
My worst hair do would have to me my attempt to wear an afro puff lol. My hair does God knows what sometimes and all my curls aren’t the same so I just looked like I was electrocuted or shock by lightening. My best is yet to come! I have such a long way to go and I’m still experimenting with looks but for now I’ve chosen to just rock twist outs for low manipulation.
Looking back, has your perception of your hair or black hair in general changed? Please elaborate.
In all honesty I’ve never viewed black hair as any less than another culture. I’ve always admired the different textures of black hair, whether it was straight, dreads or curly. I remember always wanting to have natural hair again as a teen or starting dreads which my dad totally supported, he hated when I wore a weave. What has changed is my knowledge of black hair. I only knew relaxed, straight textures and now I have the privilege of having my own head of beautiful curly hair that I can use to teach myself how to care for similar hair types.
Most girls loved their first perm. Do you remember yours? Was it a special occassion, how old were you and how did you feel about it?
My first perm… o happy day lol. I was about 7 or 8 and just came from Jamaica to live in the States with my mom. In Jamaica I always had plats or corn rows or little clips and it always did hurt when I got my hair done but I don’t remember ever making a fuss. I got my first perm to start school in the U.S. I suppose it was so that I fit in better with the crowd, since I already had this accent that no one understood lol. I didn’t really know what the change meant but I do remember getting a scalp full of burns every time I got a perm.
What is your favorite hairstyle?
Up-dos
How long have you been a member and how did you find going-natural.com?
4 days. I was using google search engine looking for different hair blogs to find other hair care techniques and I came across this site.
I love my hair because:
it has taught me self acceptance and self love. Its easier to tell who likes me for who I am than for what I look like.
You can find Jasmine’s blog at: http://www.youtube.com/user/KIYOMISTUDIO
