Uncover the Diva

On Oct. 21 I joined the natural world. It was an impulse decision made after talking with a group of my girlfriends about my hair. My friends sat me down and impelled me to make the move from the creamy crack to the fruits and berries. For three days I sat down and immersed myself in websites, youtube videos and conversations with those who are natural.

I made the decision to do the big chop myself. As I stood in my bathroom with Fantasia playing in the background I cut away my enslaved hair and allowed my curls to become independent. After about an 1hr and half, of cutting, washing, conditioning and styling(using that word loosely). A new me emanated in front of the mirror.

This new me is a person that is pure and excited but also deeply wounded. These wounds come from defining ones self by the length of her hair. The current length of my hair is the shortest my hair has ever been. Also there is the wound of being accepted. How will my friends, family, coworkers and male friends accept me. How will they view me? Will they see this as heartbreak, revolt or improvement? However I also find myself excited because this is something new to me, its a part of me that I have been estrange to for many years.

Nevertheless, these three weeks have left me embracing this new person and the feelings that I face. I push myself to feel the ups and downs of this change. There are moments where I look at myself and yearn for some hair to hide behind. But then there are the

moments where I remember I can lay down with no scarf and I smile. One of my major concerns was acceptance and comments. However, over these 3 wks I have received tons of positive feedback.

Over the past few weeks I have noticed natural girls at different points in their journey. It has left me extremely excited about what will come in the future. But what has excited me the most is feeling lighter and embracing who I am. But it also caused me embrace the beauty of who I am, inside and out.