Natural by Force or by Choice!

I last had my hair straightened or relaxed in May 2009. It seems like an eternity ago! The only way I escaped it was by braiding my hair and having it woven in the 'adimole' / 'didi' styles in Bauchi and Katsina states where I worked. Since I came to the States I have only braided my hair once and I can tell you it would probably be the last time too:) I spent six times the amount of money I would have spent in Nigeria for braids that did not last more than 6 weeks. They were poorly done and all the time I spent having my hair braided did not translate into any savings of both  my time and money.

'Didi' to the Side!

Didi by a wonderful lady in Bauchi who refused to collect any money for making my hair!

Same style different angle!

Ever since I had the last set of braids out I have been making my own hair both with disastrous and sometimes pleasant results. If I was in Nigeria I am sure I would have received a barrage of subtle and not so subtle requests to go get something done to my hair. Passing by Tejuoso market or any other market  where braiding is done would have been a nightmare with calls of 'aunty you wan do your hair' flung at you whether your hair is nicely done or not!

I have received the upraised eyebrow, the frank talk by girl friends who do not like the fact that 1. my hair is natural and 2. I do it myself but I have stubbornly refused to 1. go get my hair relaxed and 2. have someone else tend to my hair for the simple fact that 1.I do not intend to relax my hair cos I like my hair just the way it is and 2. I love to do my own hair and I do not see myself paying an outrageous amount of money to have my hair washed and styled no differently than the way I do it.

I accept the fact that at the beginning of my adventure, I had no idea what I was doing. It seemed relatively easy to wash and dry my hair and plait my hair in cornrows (naija version- all to the back) than waste my time and my money going to a salon to get it done. I did this for many months and I was comfortable with the style despite the fact that I have an 'opon':) or is it an 'ogo'! I think I have both. Anyway, It was easy, fast and convenient.

The next style I discovered one day when I had nothing to do is the twist! I wash my hair and spend the next two hours taking little swathes of hair and twisting it. Its nice and short when its wet but it straightens out just a wee bit and I daresay it is a more mature style than the plain cornrow which is deemed a style for little kiddies. I can wash my hair everyweek, and I enjoy twisting my hair. The only times it irks me are when I have little winter cuts on my hands or when I am tired but I can twist and read so my kindle is my lovely companion when I am twisting and makes two hours go like a breeze.

A silhouette! Reminds me of dreads:)



Better view, the beauty is best appreciated from the front where the face is:))



Just playing with it, plaited the twists into 2 cornrows!

The twist style has reduced the pressure to go get my hair done by friends! Some of them even want me to do their hair for them:) but their hair aint natural:) The rejected stone has become the cornerstone SLY I know! It is so cheap:) ( I am a cheapskate I know! but why spend $120 every 6 weeks and lots of time to boot when I can sit down in the comfort of my home and twist my hair) and I get to spend time with my hair!

One of my first attempts at twisting my hair! Sorry the Picture doesn't capture my whole head:)

On a final note there is a whole online community of women who wear their hair natural and who inspire me! (Sometimes one behaves like Elijah in the bible who thought that he was the only true prophet of God but discovered that there were others who had also kept to the worship of the one true God.) Their blog posts, videos, pictures and interviews are a veritable resouce on how to take care of your natural here. Here are just a few of the many posts: Blackgirlwithlonghair  and thankGodI'mNatural that I go to for some tips and advice:)