In the last few years, I have made some major and sometimes spontaneous changes to my hair. Many of you have noticed and I have received a few requests for an updated hair post. So, here it is!
If you have seen my earliest hair posts (Hair Story Part I and Hair Story Part II), then you would remember that I wore locs for 8 years, started cutting them, and then completely transitioned back to loose natural hair in 2008.
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| Flashback to December 2008. Twist-out. |
I had lots of fun working with my loose natural hair for about two years. By the end of summer 2010, I thought I was ready for another set of locks.
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| August 2010. First set of coils in preparation to loc. |
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| September 2010. Installed new set of coils. Fewer and larger coils this time. |
In the Fall of 2010, I was deep into Zumba, doing seven hours of the dance fitness workout every week. Since I sweat profusely in Zumba, though, my starter locs were having a hard time locking.
By November of 2010, I abandoned the loc plans and changed my hair to accommodate my workouts. Seriously. I decided to cut my hair because of my workout schedule. My zumba classes are at night and I would have to teach in the mornings on some of the following days. I needed a style that I could wash often and would look chic without styling (twists, braids, twist-outs, etc). The answer for me was a low, tapered fro.
I found a local natural hair stylist who could do a dry cut without blow-drying or flat ironing my hair and I got in her chair. The stylist had worked with my larger fro before, so she recommended a length (a bit longer than I asked for) to ease into the new shape.
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| November, 2010. Day after new cut. Twist-out from twists done on dry hair. |
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| November, 2010. Wet set twist-out. |
I returned 6 weeks later and asked the stylist to cut the hair lower. This is the look I got.
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| December 2010. Lower tapered fro. |
I loved the lower cut, but it was too short to twist in the shortest areas. I now visit my stylist every 8 weeks to shape up the cut and have been maintaining more length each time.
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| January 2011 |
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| May 2011. Longer tapered fro. |
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| June 17, 2011. Most recent cut. Decided to go lower. |
Regarding products, I am still using my favorite Darcy’s Botanicals products. Check out Hair Story Part III for details.
For now, the shorter do is working for me. But, who knows what I will get the urge to do next?
Has your lifestyle influenced your hairstyle choices or vice versa?
I prefer my hair short because I like to get up and go. I have braids for the summer but once my hair gets a certain length, snip snip!
Diggin that low tappered fro, been considering doing that next myself. I'm all about shorter natural hair, it takes less time in the mornings to prep.
recently started following your blog…i love the tapered look in the back of your hair…and i love your style!
Quite an interesting journey, thanks for sharing. Many natural women (online) are on a quest for long hair, so it is somewhat refreshing to hear of from a woman who prefers it short. (funny coming from a person whose blog was born out of the quest for longer hair! lol)
I started wearing my natural because it was so much easier. My hair used to take about 20 minutes to a half hour to do in the mornings, now 5 minutes! I feel so much more free.
I really enjoyed reading your hair stories! omg..You are just so beautiful and your smile! locks or loose, both look amazing on you.
I've been the one who wants to lock for years but I love my afro too!
Last year I cut off everything..just like that and I really enjoyed it!!
My lifestyle has definitely influenced my hair. This second time around, I barely do anything in terms of styling. I just prefer to wear my hair out
I love your cut! I am a long time natural (15 + years) and when I first started working (in a school) 12 years ago, I wore my thick kinky-curly hair in a pony puff. Eventually, I started wearing wash and gos, twists and even straight styles. I just started a new career (in government) and I am back to the pony puffs. I unleash the fro after work and on weekends.
I love the natural hair – and especially the Nov 2010 pic. My 2C hair has some wave and some weak ringlets – this summer I've been following a curly girl routine and just letting it do it's thing. Makes me feel sort of sexier and bohemian as compared to spending an hour blow drying and flat ironing.
I"ve been reading your blog for a long time – so glad you are showing your pretty face now.
I have said it before but I'll say it again. Loving the new hair cut!!!
YEAH! LOVE this post 🙂 I've been natural for almost 2 years. Loving the journey. Thanks for sharing
i love the tapered fro !!!!
I LOVE It ALL!!! You are more than welcome to share your HairStory on http://www.naturalhairrules.com anytime 🙂