Natural Hair Journey

My natural hair journey started in August 1994 when I was born lol. I have been natural my whole life which has allowed me to appreciate my natural hair as I have gotten older, as stubborn as it may be

I have had a head of hair since birth but it was of a more softer wavy texture (Type 3a)

I spent the majority of my life with my hair in cainrows until I was 16 then I just kept my hair in boring buns from chini bumps twist outs (bantu-knots).

Like with most things in life, you tend to feel that the grass is greener on the other side. In my case the grass came in the form of the devils potion ‘Curl activator’. I thought my natural curl pattern wasn’t adequate and needed to use a curl activator, to activate something that was already there smh.

Back when I was using the curl activators the natural hair movement wasn’t as big as it is now. Therefore, I foolishly didn’t realise the bad chemicals that were in these products that damaged my hair. In the end my hair was really broken, dry and unhealthy. My hair looked like I had relaxed my hair then decided one day I’ll go for the curly look and ended up stringy, wavy and unattractive “curls”

As a result of the damage, I had to cut about 5inches off my hair in order for my hair to grow back healthier. I do consider this a “big chop” even though some would consider my hair to be long post-cutting it. But compared to the length I was used to I might as well have had a bob in my eyes.

In 2015 after not straightening my hair for a good two years, I had it in my mind that my hair was still long. However, when I finally straightened it I was shocked to see that it was just skirting my shoulders. I knew something had to give so I took it upon myself to purchase hair growth vitamins. At this time I was following a lot of natural hair pages so I was well researched on the particular tablets that I wanted to test out.

I made it my goal from the beginning of 2016 that I’d try out a different vitamin each month then by the time I was to graduate my hair would have grown back, Gods willing.

I first started with hairfinity which was a very popular choice at the time. It is one of the most expensive ones but I had it in my head that it would make my hair grow even though it took a while to see any real growth. Within a year I have tried Mane Choice, Mielle Organics, Sugarbear Hair and at the moment I am currently taking Curls Blueberry Vitamin.

They did infact work, my hair did grow back to BSL (Bra strap length) within a year of taking biotin and the above named hair vitamins.

Despite the length it is still not where I would like it to be thickness and texture wise. But like anything it is a learning process that takes time. I just know now to stay away from curl activators because, the only thing they activate is breakage.

khadija mary xo