Sunday, June 27, 2010

Choppity Chop!

Last October my sister-in-law decided that she was going natural. No more relaxers (perms) on her hair. She, another friend, and I started discussing it and she began transitioning at that point. Fast forward to May and she underwent the Big Chop (general term for cutting off of the relaxed hair)! During those intervening months, from October to May, I considered making the transition, but really waffled with the idea. I wasn't sure if it was something that I could maintain.

You see, I've always gone to the beauty salon from the time I was a really young girl. That's me over there ---> probably age 3. See the hair? Pre-relaxer and it would never sta in a plait. I don't know at what point I got a relaxer, but I'm sure it was in elementary school, and I've had one ever since.

Every other week throughout my formative years found me in
the hair salon. It was a love-hate relationship. I knew it had to be done as I was not equipped to do hair, but I dreaded sitting on the dryer and getting a relaxer. I would stretch out getting a relaxer for 3-4 months because I just despised it, yet I did it. Let's have a look back over the years.

I was probably 11-12 years old in in this image (that's when I had braces). Look at the length and yes, it was (still is) quite thick. I didn't do much with it but wear it like that or in a single ponytail.


Here's one of my senior portraits from high school:


This image was taken in 2000:


2005, the first time I put color in my hair. I had it like that for about a year:

2009:


As you can see, I've always had length and thickness! My previous post has an image of me earlier this month when I was in London. Well, at some point in May I gave serious consideration to going natural. I had a long conversation with my stylist about it, knowing that I wanted to amp up my workouts this summer, and do something different. I began to read natural hair care blogs and follow some on folks on twitter. The more I read, the more I was ready to do it.

My plan was to transition over a period of time. To keep cutting my ends every 1-2 months. Well, that didn't happen. A month after deciding to go natural, I chopped off the relaxed ends. I did that this past Friday! I feel So.Very.Free! Here's a montage of my new cut:


I'm luvin' it!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

One day

...soon I will get back to posting in this place regularly. For now, I've got to get back in the swing of things professionally.

I was off for 2 weeks beginning May 28th. I went to London & Pairs! Here's a photo of me with the London Eye in the background:


We had a great time in London, Canterbury, Dover, and Paris. I'll have more pics at some point!

I returned on a Wednesday evening and by Friday I was traveling again to my college reunion. That was over the weekend. I got back fairly early Sunday afternoon and did a few things around town (like grocery shopping!).

I was all ready to go get back into the gym after a 2 week hiatus on Monday morning. I packed my gym bag, packed my lunch, and laid out my workout clothes. I awakened prior to my alarm clock at 4:15 (clock set for 4:30). I got up then and decided to get a head start. I was in the car and ready go go by 4:45 and the car wouldn't start. Huh? This can't be happening. I just had it serviced it on Thursday upon my return!

15 min. later and I was still at home. Mad! I was so looking forward to my gym workout. I resigned myself to the fact that it wasn't going to happen and I moved on. I used my mom's car as I'm in a training this week that I can't miss. It may not come around again for another year, and it is a valuable training. Therefore, I have yet to get my car back into the shop which means no gym workout this week before work. Booooooo!!!

On top of that, I haven't walked/run in the evening. By the time I get home, prepare my lunch for the next day, and prepare dinner, I'm whipped. I'm ready to go to sleep by 7 pm. I really think I'm not over jet lag or the time difference yet. The weekend trip to my college reunion didn't help as we up way late into the night and up really early in the morning. Plus, the training is quite intensive so I must be own the entire time I'm there.

Next week, I'm in New Orleans for another event. So I don't foresee a return to my regular schedule until another week or so.