Until 10 days ago, I had never worn a full head weave -- much less, silky straight hair -- four colors, full bangs, shoulder length weave. Now, before I go into the screeching BMW's, the Asian dudes with Jungle Fever and the brothers with a silky hair Jones, let me share with you my HAIRSTORY.
I've been natural before it was the "it" thing to be. Through the mid-90's til today, I've done all that can be done with natural hair -- twists, locs, afros, braids, cornrows, you name it -- I've had it. Prior to the return to my state of "happy when nappy," I had what some call a body perm also known as a Jheri Curl with a brief eighteenth month stint as a perm head.
Personally, the best thing about being a black woman (okay second to the booty) are the range of options we have with our hair. In less than a decade I've gone from a platinum baldie, to a Mohawk, to a 24-inch long Rasta fro to a full head silky weave. I absolutely love funky, avant-garde hair!
Being natural was liberating, spiritual, bold, frustrating, fun and many times funky. Two weeks before I was due to get the "mainstream 'do" a few of my clients, colleagues and home girls -- were lovin' my fro....I clearly remember days when responses weren't so positive.
Going back to my weave.
OMG! The reactions are insane.
The "naturals" feel like I've crossed over (trust me I can tell) the "weaves" feel like they have new competition or either they are super happy I've joined their community and rocker, hipster chicks are loving it! (Makes sense, the look is based off their style.) As for the men folk...the attention has amplified beyond belief; some of it I can relish, some of it I can do without...but the response is nuts!
At the end of the day, hair is power...especially BLACK HAIR.
I look forward to a wonderful hair journey with all of you.
Below are a few pictures of me and my various hairstyles over the past few years -- the one up top is my latest look with the full head weave.




Comments: (24)
Add a comment
By: IMHO on 4/29/2008 10:49AM
I dunno.....seems to me you just like to change things up a bit, and ain't nothing wrong with that. From what I can tell, you won't have the weave very long because you'll change up from that, too. I like the twists the best on you. But, lemme ask you this: Whazzup with the wild eye-shadow? You got colors going all over the place! You remind me of that Cindi Lauper song from the '80's: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Hey, what can I say??? Do you!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: NAJ on 4/29/2008 2:01PM
IMHO, funny enough you are right-I just changed the weave and went back to braids..that's my hairstory PT 2 I will share next month. LOL.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: miss hakim on 4/29/2008 1:59PM
I like all of your looks. You can pull it off because you're beautiful. But honestly, and don't yell at me for saying this, I'm not loving the photo at the very top. With those colors, it makes you look like a crazy old lady. Sorry. Maybe it's just the photo, or the pose. But you are a beautiful girl regardless. You could even be bald. Go Sister.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: maleka westbrook on 4/29/2008 1:36PM
black hair is power i have seen it being a natural hair stylist for 20 years i have seen it all you are going through a change it happens to most people who have worn their natural hair for many years the up keep cost and damage that a weave can cause will send you back o'natural before long either way i think you are beautiful whatever hair style you choose.i'm gonna stay posted...mo hair grow hair...good luck
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: naj on 4/29/2008 2:02PM
Maleka..I actually went back to braids lol and Hakim you're hilarious--color is fun, I just got back from the Hair Tradeshow here in NYC-you want to talk about color???
LOL.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: haireality on 4/29/2008 5:09PM
Love your post. I wear weave, for the last ten years. visit my blogs about hair at haireality.blogspot.com
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: MovieWatchingFamily on 5/03/2008 2:05AM
With all of your hairstyles you seem to wear it with confidence and they looked good on you
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Phyllis Anderson on 5/03/2008 10:26AM
Weaves are nice, its like putting on different color clothes. Our natural hair is so healthy and pretty. Stay away from chemicals that soak in our skins causes
all kinds of damages to our scape and skin.
One Love.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Linda on 5/03/2008 10:26AM
All of the looks you've tried look outrageous to me. You're not doing a hairshow, so why all of the weird looking do's?
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: NAJ on 5/03/2008 10:28AM
LOL. Hi Linda, yes I'm a totally completely walking hairshow....it's fun, why, not? Hair is the one thing you can easily change without a lifetime commitment....keep reading and thanks for commenting!
Reply to this Comment | Report This