<--(big chop)

Well, I wasn't patient enough to transition! I had my last relaxer in August of 2009. I remember that I purposefully didn't tell my friend, who was relaxing my hair, how much it truly itched, because I wanted it to be as straight as possible after it was done. I had scabs for weeks after. Shortly after, I read a NY Times article about black women's hair, and although I'm not black (I'm Dominican) the article resonated with me. About a week later I began a blog called Breaking The Glass Ceilings, and wrote a post called Good Hair, that was inspired by Chris Rock's movie. After I wrote this post I thought long and hard about the reasons why I wouldn't go natural. And really, the only reason was because I was afraid of what people in my community would say, or think. I don't ever don't do something just because of other people, and I wasn't going to start letting people dictate what I do with my hair. And thus began my transitioning program. I researched up and down, read blogs, looked at pics, and when it came time to go to the hair salon to re-relax my hair I realized I wouldn't be patient enough to deal with curly hair, and straight hair at once. So instead, on Oct. 31 2009 I got my BC. I blogged about what it was like to get the BC, too.

(with relaxed hair)

I BC on Oct. 31 2009. I loved it. In a way I feel like letting go of my relaxed hair helped me let go of all my fears. If I could take such a bold, public, obvious step even though I was extremely afraid of the outcome, I can face other, smaller fears, too.

Why did you choose to go naturale?

My hair was completely damaged. I wanted to give it a fresh start.

Short term. I was too impatient to wait!

How liberating it is. And how easy it is to just wash n go!

(1 month after BC)

Before the BC I did a lot of Bantu knot-outs.

A little 3C, but mostly 4A

I'm taking this straight off my blog post:

"The reactions vary mostly generationally and racially. My generation is mostly saying "you cut your hair. Oh. Wow," and trying to obviously not say something negative. (Although a number of people have been supportive on Facebook).

The next generation (in their 30's and forth) seems to love it. Everyone seems to give me a genuine "I love it!"

But this stops with the few Hispanic people I've showed it to. It doesn't seem like any Hispanic that I've showed it to so far likes it, and I've gotten a number of "Don't worry! Hair grows back!" Although everyone seems to understand that I cut it to start anew, since I want to go back to natural. All in all, the comments haven't been as negative as I expected. So I guess that's a good thing!"

Also, just last week my aunt, who hadn't seen my cut, said "I can't believe you cut all your pretty hair!"

My response to them... I was just so happy with my BC, that I honestly didn't care about what anyone thought, or said!

Even after getting the BC you have to protect your hair with the right products, and with a satin bonnet or scarf at night. Also, co-washing is the bomb!

Thanks so much Yirssi for doing this spotlight!! You all should go check out her blog, its great! She is a wonderful person and friend and also extremely intelligent and well versed on a variety of topics! Here are the links to her sites!

love love!!