Owning My Hair Journey: Embracing Change and Celebrating 4C Hair
The Start of a Hair Journey
Hair journeys are deeply personal and often fraught with societal pressures and critiques. The world seems to celebrate every hairstyle except the natural one that grows from our scalp. This blog is a reflection on my hair journey, drawing inspiration from Rihanna's bold choices and embracing the unique beauty of 4C hair.
Recently, I watched Rihanna confidently showcase her TWA (teeny weeny afro) at the Fenty Hair launch. It struck a chord with me. While she exuded confidence, I sensed the underlying vulnerability that comes with wearing your natural hair. It's a feeling few truly understand unless they've been there themselves.
My First Big Chop: A Journey to Natural Hair
In 2013, I decided to do my first big chop. I was tired of relaxers, especially since my hair was falling out due to neglect (thanks to wanting to look "cute" all the time with my then-boyfriend). I took the plunge and cut off my relaxed hair. It was both liberating and terrifying. I felt exposed and resorted to scarves and protective styles, never truly connecting with my natural curls.
Through this process, I learned that not all hair is the same. The bouncy fro I envisioned wasn’t in the cards for my hair type. After a year of struggling to embrace my natural texture, I asked my mom for a relaxer, a decision I immediately regretted. Despite this, my relationship with my hair was never static—I welcomed change.
2014 marked my last relaxer. Celebrating 10 years of being free from "creamy crack" feels empowering. Over the years, I toyed with the idea of locs, battling my mom's voice in my head about professionalism. Society’s view has shifted since her time, and today, locs, tattoos, and piercings are more accepted in the workplace.
In 2018, a year after my son Luke was born, I decided to get locs. As a new mom, I needed a low-maintenance hairstyle. Locs seemed perfect, and they felt like a natural progression for my tightly coiled hair. For five years, I embraced this style, but by 2023, I felt the need for a change.
Cutting My Locs: A Fresh Start
Cutting my locs wasn’t a decision I made lightly (click here to see a short video). I did it for multiple reasons: the general focus on hair length, their thinning appearance (they started to look sad to me), and a desire for something new. I wanted to try a pixie cut and explore hairstyles beyond locs, knowing my hair would grow back.
Since cutting my hair, I’ve experimented with various looks. I started with a light brown pixie, moved to a dark brown wig, my fro, and then fell in love with rusty brown boho/box braids. This journey has allowed me to reconnect with my natural hair, appreciating its beauty and versatility.
Throughout these phases, I've taken the time to appreciate my fro. I've found products that work wonders for my hair, like the Cecred Rice Water and The Doux’s product line. If you struggle with hair breakage, I highly recommend Cecred Rice Water—it's been a game-changer for me.
This hair journey is uniquely mine, filled with ups and downs, experiments, and self-discovery. While few may fully understand the intricacies of 4b/4c hair, I've learned to embrace it and ignore the critics. My hair is a reflection of my identity and resilience, and I’ll continue to wear it with pride and wear whatever hairstyles I feel.
I’m looking forward to having fun with my hair and exploring ways to express myself through different hairstyles while also loving on this natural mane of mine.
How has your hair journey been?
Connect with me on instagram to see more with my hair journey:
https://www.instagram.com/tejaljarrae/