Speak and Share- Adult Natural Hairstyles- Twist and Twist Outs

Submitted by Jameelah M. of IL

1.  How long have you been all natural (without any chemicals remaining in your hair)?

 Well actually I was natural two years ago but I got a relaxer after Thanksgiving. I only got three that entire year then I cut my hair that next summer. It was cute but I missed my hair so I decided to go back natural. So I had a male friend of mine shave the sides and back of my head. Around March I had enough hair to get micros. I got the micros and let my hair grow out for 4 months. In June I took them out and cut off all the relaxed hair and rocked a TWA for a while. I felt like a boy! So the length I'm at now is 5 months of completely natural hair.

2.  Speak about who or what inspired you to go natural.

 The first time I went natural was in high school. My sophomore year I got involved with water polo and you know chlorine and relaxers don't mix! So I decided to stop getting perms. I just stopped. I didn't research it, I didn't know what I was doing. I had seen some girls at my school with natural hair and thought it was cute so I'd try it. It was tragic! To me at least. My hair was so coarse. I didn't know what I was doing. I remember crying because I thought I was so ugly and I didn't understand why my hair was so unattractive. The other girls with natural hair didn't look like I did. (That's what I would tell myself).  I had so much self hate and I didn't even know it. Those first 4 years with my natural hair was rough. I felt so unattractive. I don't know how I kept it up. If it wasn't for my love of water polo I think I would've quit just to get my relaxer again and feel pretty again. Now this time I'm much more prepared. I researched, constantly! Before I went natural and even now, I talk to people. I experiment. I learned to find the beauty in my texture and the diversity in it! Plus I was tired of using my hair as the excuse not to work out! I'd gained a bunch a weight in college when I stopped being active. And one of my White male friends encouraged me so much. He told me I was beautiful regardless and that he bet I would awesome with natural hair. He even told me about studies that showed Black women having one of the highest cases of heart disease because we refuse to work out because of our hair! And I could totally relate! But he was so helpful! A White man! Can you believe it! LoL! He loves my hair now! Not that I did it for him but he did help.

3.  What are your top 2 hairstyles since going natural?

 My top two styles since going natural would have to be twist outs and this braided headband look where you braid or twist the front of your head going across and the let the rest do what it wants to do! I love it! I feel like I look regal! LOL! But with the twist outs you can do anything. The sky is the limit with a twist out! I can do so much with it now and my hair isn't even that long yet! Imagine when it gets your length Barbara!

4.  What's your weekly routine and 3 favorite products used on a weekly basis?

 My weekly routine is very simple. I try not to do too much because I've found that when you make things too complicated, you get tired of it quickly and you start cheating yourself. You don't keep up with it ya know. So I wash once a week on Saturday or Sunday nights. Before I was pre-pooing.  In my pre-poo I use honey, egg, olive oil, and mayo. I warm is up and let it sit on my hair for at least an hour. I wash it out with Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Shampoo and I condition with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration or Totally Twisted. Then I double strand twist it that night or flat twist it. I try to twist every other night. I put a bonnet on my head then I'm ready to hit the sack! Then on Wednesday I condition my hair with either HH or TT. And I just repeat the same thing every week! I love Olive oil and the conditioners!!! I live for a good conditioner! After Jesus of course! Him first, then a good conditioner! LOL J/K! But I don love a good conditioner and moisturizer!

5.  What's your current length?

 Honestly I don't even know my current length. I think I'm officially out of TWA status.

6.  Speak about your biggest supporters since going natural.

My biggest supporters have to be my one male friend I spoke of before and random people off the street or people that I only know from passing by. They make the journey worth while. I love when I see other sistas with natural hair and we stop each other and get to chatting about styles and regimens. Or the women who have relaxed hair but still tell me how awesome my natural hair is and ask me for advice because they are considering going natural. It's exciting; a good feeling, especially since I've experienced so much negativity about it. At first I use to love it the most when White people told me about how good my hair looked. Honestly my White friends made it easy for me to start it. They were so positive. I use to hide my hair in the beginning before I had the micros. My Black friends would say things like, "Girl you need a perm!" It was so embarrassing. But my White friends were the ones who told me I looks beautiful and my hair was cool. I remember the conversation I had that made me stop hiding my hair. My friend said, "Jameelah you are beautiful! And I want to know you. All of you. How can I do that if you hide parts of yourself from me. Even something as silly as your hair. I want to see it. I want you to teach me about it." So I took off my barret. That may seem silly but that I felt so exposed, so naked. Hair is so important for Black women. But now my favorite thing is to hear Black people tell me my hair is nice. It shows a growth in our culture to me. It shows an acceptance of who we are. One thing that I will always remember is the Good Hair documentary that Chris Rock did. He interviews Al Sharpton and Al says, "Black people are too busy wearing their oppression on their heads." (Something along those lines) But that was so profound to me. So to hear a Black person tell me I look nice is the best.

7.  Did anyone discourage you along your natural journey?  If so how did you stay focused on your goal?

 My mom wasn't too encouraging. She was kind of mean about it honestly. Even to this day I don't know if she likes it. But she keeps her comments to herself which means she accepts it and respects my decision which is all I honestly need. And as I stated before many of my Black friends were very negative. The males especially. They were so cruel. I remember talking to a good guy friend of mine and telling him I wanted to go natural. He goes, "I hate it when girls do that! They have these beautiful features and then they cut it. Why would you get rid of such a good feature." I thought he was absurd! I mean if I'm beautiful then I'm beautiful. It's my eyes, my smile, my cheekbones, my facial structure, or even my personality that makes me beautiful. My hair plays a very small part in my beauty, however society has poisoned his mind.  I've found that with so many Black men. They say they like natural women but I've found that they don't really understand what they say when they say natural. I just shake my head, try to educate when I can and keep it moving. You're always going to find people who are gonna dislike something you do or say or who you are even. So I just rock out with the ones who love me for me. Not my hair!

8.  Name one hairstyle and/ or product that you would like to try?

I want so bad to jump on this coconut oil bandwagon! I heard it awesome! I'm excited. I also want to try grape-seed and almond oil. I want to try Miss Jesse's I believe it's called. Also this mud shampoo I heard about... Some styles I want to try... I can't wait until my hair is long enough to do up-do's. OOOHHHH! I'm soooooo excited for that! I look at tutorials on youtube all the time.

9.  If you could speak to people in a word or sentence to describe "Why going natural was a great decision what would you say?  Speak to me!!!!

 It was a great decision because it got me to be real with myself. I couldn't find true beauty, that wasn't jealously or envy, in other people until I learned to find it in me. Because jealously and envy comes from a dark evil place where true beauty doesn't dwell. Going natural is helping me with that so much! (Sorry that's more that a sentence. Hehehehe)

Barbaranaturallyspeaking's response: I'm loving Jameelah's hair!  I love how she say's she learned to find the beauty in her texture and diversity of it.  We're all on a journey to self-acceptance.  I remember my journey and my BC.  It was tough when my hair didn't look like everyone else's when I big chopped.  After a while, I just learned to embrace it, love it, accept it, no matter what others thought.  


Jameela I know oh so well what it means to hear negative comments.  I remember having family members say that I should start back perming or that my hair was "nappy".  It hurt for a moment, but I learned to instantly replace every negative with a positive verbal reply and thought.  For instance, One of my favorite lines was, " I think my hair is beautiful and that's what truly matters".  You are the definition of true beauty! Loving both your inner and outer self is the key.  I'm also mesmerized by your hair.  It's beautiful! Every coil, twist, and unique defining point is awesomely lovely!   The sky's definitely the limit with natural hair and your length and style are fab!  Keep me posted on your continued journey as a natural!

* If you're reading this story via facebook, be sure to "like" my face book fan page and check out more natural hair posts, stories, and videos via www.barbaranaturallyspeaking.blogspot.com .  "Follow" on my blog, subscribe to my "youtube" channel and check out products.  See you there!