Me

That's me. March 2013 to be exact March 17, 2013. This is about the time I was done with my hair. While perm free for over 15 years, I did press my hair religiously every two weeks. But something was changing..... I didn't wanna do that anymore. 

Around about May.... I discovered YouTube. I was like the heavens opened up and the Angels began to sing. I found an entire world of natural people. Who are they??? Where did they come from??? Where have they been all my life??? Inspired by the many, many, many hair journeys and amazing healthy hair growth with no heat........ I knew this is what I needed to do. 

That's me again.... June 1, 2013. So I thought.... I can grow my hair out longer under braids.... Then when I am ready to wear it out it can be much longer. Cause honey.... The shrinkage is REAL.  I mean this hair of mines gets real tight. 

I made me a Shea Butter mixture and an oil concoction to use while I grow this hair in braids. 

YEP!!!! I'm ready... I can do this. Just one year in braids and I am set!!!!! 

So September 8th. I am done with these damn braids. I'm tired of the look and I am sick of not having some kinda versitility with them. 

Yep.... That look right there was of frustration. The plan was simply... Braids for a year. Why am I giving up on the plan???? Maybe this natural thing isn't for me. 

September 13th.... Yes that Friday.... I took then braids OUT!!! You hear me... OUT!!!! Washed and press this crop of mines. Yup I threw in the towel and gave up. But my hair refused because that Saturday my hair was slowly turing into a puff ball.  Guess it really liked being in its natural form. Even if it was in braids. 

As my hair swell that Saturday, I received an email from CurlyNikki.com. Nothing special just her blog update. Well she posted a video from Yolanda Renee on the perfect Bantu Knot. I had never seen this girl in the world of YouTube. So I stalked her page and found my inspiration again. So after an awesome Henna treatment, good conditioner and my Shea butter mix. I Bantu knot my hair that Sunday and prayed Monday when I woke up the results would be okay. I didn't have work that Monday so this was the perfect day. 

(Me with the Henna in my hair)

Monday morning September 16, 2013. Three things were happening on this day. My son was taking his test for his drivers license, I was getting my first mammogram and..... I was gonna rock my hair natural. 

Woke up and did everything Yolanda said to do. But when I looked at it I thought... OMG!!!! What did I do!!??!! A little panicked I thought well... I don't know these folks at the DMV... I can do something later. Left the bathroom. 

Back in the bathroom... Well... It don't look that bad my thought was as I stared in the mirror. Let me put on make up. Yea that will help. Applied my make up and left the bathroom. 

Back in the bathroom... Okay... Okay this might work. BIG EARRINGS... That's what I need. Big earrings. Leave the bathroom.  

Back in the bathroom... Okay... Okay... Just maybe. 

Suddenly I hear... OMG!!!!! IT LOOKS SO GOOD!!!! It was my daughter standing in the doorway of the bathroom. Now I'm feeling better and on my way to the DMV. 

My son passed his drivers test and I am still not sure bout this hair. Between the beautiful red the henna gave me and all these curls... I was feeling like Little Orphan Annie. So I texted a friend.  Now this chick has the most amazing fro ever in life. I real natural chick. We have been friends fa ever and a day. Figured...yea she will tell me the truth and the feed back was great. So I texted another friend and another and behold.... Folks liked it. My thought.... I just may be able to do this. 

(Um yea I added a filtered pic cause I still wasn't sure ) 

Now... If I can just muster the courage to go to work Tuesay and deal with the stares and questions. 

Now let's be very clear... I'm a very confident person. Don't care bout what nobody thinks of me. But I wasn't feeling confident in this hair. Yea , I can fake the funk and appear confident but deep inside.... I was a cowardly kid. 

Jumped up that morning, did what Yolanda told me to do and.... DAMN...I loved it. 

(No filter needed cause I was loving it) 

That's me!!! September 17, 2013 at work in my cubicle feeling confident as hell!!!! Yea, I got the questions, few folks wanted to feel it but the compliments kept coming. I was shocked... Amazed...and feeling like a hundred bucks. 

September 19th I posted my new natural me on Facebook and the feedback was great!!!! 

So that's me. Daphne Goss a natural chick on a natural journey.