In a world full of Brazilian bundles, fleeked eyebrows, and beat faces, its easy to feel like you're coming up short in the beauty department. I am a lover of all these things. I get my eyebrows threaded (most of the time), I wear make-up (two days out of the week) and I love a good protective style.

Here's where I got "lost in the sauce."

I got to the point where I wouldn't leave my house without my makeup on. I was ashamed - yes ashamed! I couldn't stomach the fact that I would be caught looking so "unpretty." Here's where my excessive manicures, full-face makeup, and bundles got me: to destination insecure!

I decided, last year, to take my confidence back.

How?

I threw out all my makeup, wigs, and stopped getting acrylic nails.

I did not feel pretty. I walked out my house every day determined to love myself. No makeup, my kinky curls pulled in a bun and my short nails painted. Painted, guys. I thought it was so childish to just "settle for my little stubs" when I could have easily "leveled up."

Instead of giving in, I just kept pushing forward. Being surrounded by girls who leveled everyday lives, like me, but were carpet ready, no longer like me, it was quite a journey. I thought, I have to keep myself 'up.'

Date nights, my husband and I walked by girls who were styled to perfection. I mean, they slayed, honey. I hadn't told my husband the journey I was on, but the change was so drastic that he'd noticed.

He told me, "babe, I like what you're doing." I said what do you mean? He said, "you're not wearing 'all that makeup' and you look good with just that 'eye stuff'." I said "really? Thank you!"

This was the beginning of a successful journey. We would lay on the couch for tv time and he would start to massage my scalp. I said, "thanks babe, that feels good."

His response blew me away.

He said, "I like that I could run my fingers through your hair."

Wait what? You mean to tell me I've been dropping stacks on Brazilian bundles just because?

My response, "what really? I thought you like my hair long and full."

His response, "your hair is long and full. I like your hair, know that."

Phase three of this journey. Well, my long nails that I kissed goodbye. My little fat fingers, without acrylics, were not the best site in my eyes. My husband comes in the kitchen one evening while I'm fixing drinks for the night and looks at my hands and says, "wow, are those your nails?"

I respond with "yes." he says, "they look good, are you going to let them grow? I respond with, "I'm trying."

Husband of the year, well he simply says, "I like it!"

My journey suddenly became easier. I realized that, if I want to put on makeup, or get acrylics, or a weave that it was okay, but it wasn't needed!

To all the other beautiful women out there that think you need all of the enhancers to be beautiful: you don't! Wear your natural hair, less makeup is more and your nails are beautifully yours.

You don't need to be "pretty like the other girls." Just your naturally beautiful self!