Dear Natural Hair.....

Dear Natural Hair,

Thank you. Thank you for always being a pain my ass. Really, thank you. For, without you, there would be no me. Natural hair, thank you for being the reason why I wince every time I see a hot comb, for making me roll my eyes every time I cross paths with a boxed perm, and for breaking my fleet of combs and brushes when I tried to go without conditioning that one time; needless to say I learned my lesson.

I hate that I can’t take you out when it is raining or snowing because a drop of water will send you back into a frenzy. I hate that people consider you nappy. I hate that I can’t put too much heat on your or you’ll break off. I hate when people touch you without my permission. I hate that it’s too time consuming to maintain you, I mean seriously? A whole day dedicated to washing? I hate that my curl pattern isn't considered “good hair “. I hate that figuring you out is like a jigsaw puzzle. I hate that people want me to alter you. I hate that it seems the easiest option is to slather a perm in you. I hate that I don not fully understand what you need. I don't understand my. own. hair.

Why is that every time I introduce you to a new product, you turn your nose up at it? All it wants to do is help you and trust me, we need all the help we can get. But you just can’t help but frizz and puff and flake whenever you just don't agree. Well i’ve got news for you, you will take this Eco-Styler smoothing gel and you will like it! I’m serious, i’m at my wits end with you. What do you need? Is it Jamaican black castor oil, Thank God Its Natural, jojoba oil, flax seed gel, Shea butter, Miss Jessie’s, coconut oil, Shea Moisture, or is it just classic old Pink Lotion? Just tell me what you want so that we can be on the same page and achieve a flawless bantu/ twist/braid out for once.

As much as I hate to admit natural hair, you really are the center of attention. By this I mean you draw people in. You get poked and prodded and touched without asking, stared at and raise comments and concerns that have nothing to do with others. As if you could be controlled anyway. Natural hair to put it simply, you are a rebel without a cause.

Versatile to say the least, natural hair you have many facets. The waviest 3A to kinkiest 4C couldn’t contain you in a category. If I want to see you shrink I’ll add a little warm water, if I want to see you slicked down, I can add my best gel to combat my curls, if I want to see my ringlets pop with vibrancy i’ll do my best wash and go attempt. Like a snowflake, each twist out is different, no bantu knot out will be like the next. Every flex-i-rod set is unique proving that my hair is undefinably perfect. No matter how much I alter you, you're still unprocessed, free and natural.

I know what you're thinking natural hair: “What about the time you got me permed in elementary school? What about when after that perm, how you promised to take care of me and you DIDNT? We fell off...bad. Our relationship weakened and deteriorated until all I could get from you was a effortless ponytail because you were embarrassed of me! You didn't grease me as often, you didn’t maintain my health and then you got mad at me because I was thinning and breaking and was sick!”

For that natural hair, I’m sorry. I didn't know what it meant to keep my hair healthy, and chemicals like that only entail damage. I vow to moisturize and co-wash and pre-poo and deep condition until we are fully recovered. Never again will the creamy crack touch this head.

To my unruly, unkempt, wild and natural hair, thank you. Thank you for being unapologetically you. I’ve broken countless hair ties, combs, brushes, and expectations trying to fit and suppress you into what I want you to be. It was then that I realized, I have to learn to appreciate what I have. No amount of creams, or gels, or processed chemicals or flat irons and rod sets could ever make me alter your true beauty. The true beauty of tight coils, soft spirals and freshly washed hair. The true beauty of versatility at it’s finest. The beauty of bountiful curls engulfing the back of me; sheltering my ears, tickling my neck, cascading down my back for all to see. Dear natural hair, thank you.

-We'll Chat Soon, AubreeKhyleStyle Xx