My Big Chop

Natural Hair In The Workplace

Natural Hair In The Workplace

For 2010 one of my resolution was to overcome the fear of my natural hair on in the workplace. I did my big chop and have been wearing a wig to work from fear of what the reaction will be from my employer. I work in an office setting business casual environment. The reason for my fears is that I am the only African American in the office and it is a Italian owned family business. I have been employed here for over four years but the fear still remains no matter how hard I try to overcome it. So my goal is to grow about 2-3 more inches the release my natural beauty. As of right now it is still not longer enough for me personally to do much to besides a fro or a fro with a headband.  Please ponder the following and leave me feedback.

Questions

• What are your opinions on natural Hair in the workplace?

• Do you have any fears?

• What are the reactions?

• How do you deal with the negative reaction?

• What advice would you offer a professional peer who’s on the fence about going natural?

The Movie Good Hair

Last night I had a free moment to watch a film by Chris rock called Good Hair. I had been dying to see this movie for several personal reasons of interest. Me being newly natural I wanted to see the views of what "Good Hair" is. I also wanted to see if I could learn anything for myself and my family.

To my surprise the movie made me see how unknowledgeable the African American community are to their own god given gift ( their Hair). I was shocked when Chris rock was talking with the scientist about what perm is and they showed how it literally ate through a chicken breast and not to mention what it did to the pop can. And to think we have parents doing this to children as young as 3 years old. Something to think about Hugh?

I was mortified at the years of harm I had been doing to myself and potentially my family if I continued with the stigma that coils, kinks and course hair isn't good. Then to make matters worst they show some Indian woman picking and washes fleas, ticks, and lice out of the hair so that it could be sewn into what we call a track. And this track will eventually be on someone's head.

Personally I think anyone who uses these products or has any interest on being natural this might be a movie to watch. And please stop saying good and bad hair just like anything else in like whats good for me may not be good for you.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Natural Hair Journey Thoughts 2009

My hair journey begins this year 2009. After many perms, wigs and other hair styles of have come to grips with the fact that I had loss my true sense of who I am. On my Journey I decided to shed my slavery to weave and the black hair care industry by going all natural. I am taking back my freedom and loving the locks and curls that come from it. My main inspiration was while caring for my daughter’s hair that I truly noticed the definition of the curl that we as black women possess. It made me think of what my hair would look like in its natural state before of the perms, weaves, and pressing combs.


My first style I decided to try was the Bantu knots in which I untwisted them for the twist out affect. I love this hairstyle. I have worn this style all twisted out and also with braids in the front. I have gotten good feedback from this transition style. I recently purchased tons of headbands and scarf’s to try new styles. As I do I will update my journey with new finding and experience to document my spiritual growth and my self love journey.
As of today I have been perm free for 4 months. I did break down and buy a perm but I resisted the temptation and threw it out and vow never to perm my hair again.  After months of contiplation  I did my big chop on October 18, 2009. I was not ready. I hated it but I am finally coming around to it Ive been wearing my hair on the weekends to get adjusted to the shock of losing my shoulder length hair.

My goal is to let it grow out a little bit more be for I release the transformation on the people in my workplace. I know it will come as a total shock and will probally be the talk of the office seeing how I am the only black woman in the office.

But I will continue posting my Journey.