I used to relax my hair from a very young age but I was lucky my sister was a hairdresser, which meant that even though my hair was relaxed it was being taken care of by a professional.

In 2015 I decided to go natural. Girls who were part of this natural hair movement on social media played a strong role in this decision and motivated me. They were all so proud of their hair, but also of their heritage. It was exactly what I needed at the time.
Through their journeys, I understood how versatile my hair could be.  

After cutting my hair to start the transitioning process, people at work had a lot of things to say about it and my hair became a source of regular jokes and unwanted comments.
« Did you put your finger in a socket today? », « you look like Krusty The Clown », or « you look like you just got out of a lunatic asylum ».

I was in a managerial position, but it didn’t matter anymore. The respect my employees were supposed to show me completely disappeared at that point.
The way my hair looked redefined my status within the company and the way people thought they could treat me.

Me stopping relaxers really encouraged my aunties to give it a try as well. They wouldn’t understand my decision to go natural at first but seeing my hair growing healthy encouraged them to change their minds.

I am happy to see women from the same family, from different generations, interact and share haircare tips and routines. It enables young girls to understand and acknowledge their difference in today’s society in the best ways.