#nappaversary

[uneeknatural]

Still going natural strong! I am in love with my #natural hair. 8 months #post my #bigchop - 4 more months until my #natural #anniversary #nappaversary lol Have a great day!

[orange-rae]

Nappa Kappa Nappa.

Two years ago today I decided for the second time in my life to ditch the creamy crack. Apparently that's a milestone. *shrug* Happy Nappiversary to me?

[coilyblaze]

T minus 12 days until my 1 year big choppaversary.

[strengthandelegance]

Today was my Two Year Nappaversary

...and I celebrated it by washing and twisting my hair like I do every Saturday morning. I love my natural hair, I really do. However, I'm not one to obsess over it. To be honest, I did not mean to go natural. After I graduated high school I wanted to do something different, I wanted to stop being that predictable high achieving girl that everyone thought I was... so I cut off my hair... all of it. I guess this would be the "big chop" for naturals but for me it was a rebirth. It was the first day of the rest of my life because it was the first time I did something not because my parents said to or because my friends thought it would be a good idea. I cut all of my hair because I wanted to.

When I first sat in the chair I was a little nervous. But I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be. I didn't cry or freak out or anything. I laughed as it fell to the floor. I realized at that moment that there wasn't anyone that I cared about disappointing. At that point in time I felt that everyone in my life loved me conditionally, that is as long as I was doing everything they wanted me to do then they loved me. I was tired of that kind of love. I wanted unconditional love and I thought the only way to attract that from others was to give it to myself.

As I looked at my newly bald self in the mirror I could not help by smile. I had never really seen my face. It was usually camouflaged by long weaves. I loved my short hair and it loved me back. I never felt more confident. But then I went off to college and left my trusted hair stylist at home. My hair began to grow out and I began to freak out. I had never taken care of my hair before, natural or relaxed. My newfound confidence began to disappear and I fell back into the trap of weaves and braids just to get it out of the way. 

A few months and a series of bad hair styles later I finally saw my hair again. I was back home for the summer and back with my trusted stylist. Unfortunately, my confidence was still no where to be found so I decided to straighten my hair. I pressed it every week and by the time I went back to school in the Fall I had a serious case of heat damage. I wanted so badly to just cut it all off again but I didn't have the confidence to rock it. I decided that something had to give. My boyfriend, as sweet and gentle as he is, asked me what I was planning to do with my hair. He loves natural hair but my hair wasn't exactly living up to its full potential. 

We spent the next month researching natural hair. We learned which oils to use, how to wash my hair, and how to do protective styles when I wasn't in the mood to really do my hair. Jerome and I began a weekly tradition of washing, deep conditioning, and twisting my hair. I taught him how to twist and he bought me a huge jug of olive oil. He even decided to grow his hair out and I began twisting his. A year later my hair is much healthier and growing at a steady rate. 

I said all of this to say that I love my natural hair. I love it not because it makes a statement or because I'm rejecting Eurocentric ideals of beauty or even because it's in style. I love my natural hair because it helped me to discover me. It helped me to realize who in my life supported me, who loved me for me. I love my natural hair because it taught me to be patient, to look beyond the mirror, to be confident in myself not because of my hairstyle but because of who I am and what I can do. My natural hair helped me to reconnect with myself. I love myself, so I take care of my hair. I respect myself, so I take care of my hair. And now, two years after I started this journey, I'm starting a new one. I love myself, so I take care of my body. I respect myself, so I take care of my body. I love my natural hair because I love myself.