So, I was asked to write an article on natural hair...and about how you are not smarter if you have it (natural hair that is)... although the concept drew a long pause as I stared at the assignment, I said, ok...I can do this...so here goes.

I recall the start of my natural hair journey. I wish, I could say "I just woke up in a back to my roots kinda way today..." then proceeded to cut the chemicals that have enslaved my strands... but it wasn't that exciting, more like frightening. See my natural hair journey started when someone (who shall remain unnamed because I have blocked them from my memory) wanted to give me a relaxer for my birthday (and against my better judgment) I ended up looking like Fire Marchall Bill (from In Living Color) ok, maybe NOT that BAD, but that is how I felt. SMH...Who knew not using neturalizer...would start me on my natural journey.

I look back and laugh but the stories I have from patchy to classy are numerous. I think some of the women that have seen me on my journey think I have all the answers..."What do you use in your hair?" or "What is this whole sister locks thing all about?" but for the longest time, I didn't know WHAT IN THE WORLD I was doing with my hair. I finally,this year it was unkept. I didn't go to the stylist, I didn't use store bought products, it was WATER and OLIVE OIL..and they mixed! Looking back at pictures (and there are a lot with scarfs, hats, or they are some crazy hairstyle I created) I see why my dad and I fought so much about my hair. It is said to be a woman's crown and glory...my natural crown was NAPPY and KNOTTY (but I loved it)...he hated (and still hates) it.

Then I began to realize, the more your in the public eye, the nicer you want to look, to REPRESENT, for the natural woman. You want to say to the "Chemically Enslaved" (I laugh as I type this) "That although you think you can't go natural, you too ONCE had your head washed the kitchen sink, pitching water outta your ears. Hated the hot comb, fearing burned ears and would have rather had afro puff pony tails to pressed strands that NEVER STAYED STRAIGHT." (I just heard a bell ring, giving a sister her natural back, much like angels wings). I'm not saying that there is anyone thing better about the process of being natural, just telling you my story.

Along the way the bumps even laid straight... I finally rounded the corner to watching all the YouTube videos, trying the "ALL NATURAL" products (that you can eat...BUT please don't eat the product, I'm just saying), or learning the difference between kinky twist vs. locks. Having locks doesn't make you from the islands (no matter how hard you work on the accent). Nor does having natural hair make you smarter, (there we go) it makes you more in touch with yourself, and to be honest, the people around you. I have heard many a men claim to LOVE a NATURAL WOMAN, but when they wake up to that same woman with a lopsided fro, they are quick to say..."so you don't EVA want your hair straight." But I digress, the moral of the story is, having natural hair gives you another reason to believe in the beauty within, and let it shine inside, and out.