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My journey started in march 2014 when I decided to chop off all my hair for the CANSA shavathon.
Before this, I had every hairstyle under the sun: long, short, medium, permed, reverse perme, relaxed and dyed many different colours -you name it and chances are I've tried it.
I had no idea what I would look like. I was never bold enough to go bald. But it suited me.
That's when I realised that hair wasn't as important as everyone constantly made it out to be.
I also made a decision to go natural when my hair started growing my back. It wasn't an easy road. As my hair grew, I had no idea what to do with it and gave up hope.
In October, I decided to shave it off again and keep it short. I went back to using chemicals because I wanted to see what I would look like with blonde hair.
After my blonde experiment, I decided to go natural again. My hair is now growing and I sometimes hate my natural hair. But most days I just love the freedom that comes with it.
My only struggle is finding good products for natural hair that keeps it moisturised without making it oily.
I hope that I can stay on this journey for a while so I can get the only hairstyle that I've always wanted but never had – dreadlocks !
-Marion
I was never happy when I relaxed by hair
After I relaxed my hair on the 06th of May 2014, I decided to go natural because I started losing my hair after I gave birth to my second son.
It wasn’t the easiest transition but I was willing to give it a go. I must admit, I was really afraid because I hardly ever have time for my hair.
Even when it was relaxed and more manageable, I still struggled to make time for myself. I don’t visit the salon often either, so this struggle was mine alone.
It was easier at first because the relaxed hair was still growing out but as time progressed, it became more difficult to maintain my ‘mane’.
My hair became longer and thicker and I needed to spend more time maintaining it.
There are some days when I want to buy relaxer and just take the easy way out but then there are times when I have the opportunity to make time for my hair and I realise how much it has grown and how thick and full my hair actually is. This is when I realise natural is best for me.
I still haven’t figured out which products are best for my hair type or what works best to give my hair that healthy glow. I am happy with the length and the fullness, two things I was never happy with when I relaxed my hair.
It hasn’t grown this much or looked as thick and healthy since I started relaxing my hair about 26 years ago.
-Chantal
The only reason I used relaxer was for manageable hair
I’m in the process of transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. My hair is thick hair and my scalp is delicate, which makes combing a nightmare.
The only reason I used relaxer was to make my hair manageable but my scalp gets fried in the process and my hair started thinning because of the chemicals.
The only thing standing between myself and my dream hair is the pain of combing my natural hair. Please help! I’m looking for a product that will help soften my hair and easier to comb through.
-Busisiwe
These articles were readers responses to Natural hair care 101: the basics of going natural
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Inspired by these stories? Here's more:
Joining the natural hair movement was important for my natural hair journey
I went natural to show my daughter she is beautiful just as she is
"My natural hair gave me a self-understanding I wouldn't trade for anything"
