Do you remember that widely popular song by Pop Icon, Michael Jackson, named “Man in the Mirror”? I remember like it was yesterday riding around with my mother and whenever that song came on we would sing it (as loud as possible) just like we were the background singers. Some 20 (eh….10) years later and the lyrics to the song resonate with me just like I was a 12 year child again.
“I’m gonna make a change,
For once in my life,
It’s gonna feel real good,
Gonna make a difference,
Gonna make it right.”
The lyrics are so simple yet they literally are the soundtrack to my life as I navigate through my mid twenties to early thirties. These past two weeks I have shared secrets about how I discovered I my curls , how I manage the daily stresses of being a mommy and this week I have a confession that is just as life changing, just as shocking. There was a time when I looked in the mirror and I did not want to wear my curls for the world to see because I was afraid what people would think about my locks. (GASP) Now hold on to your morning coffee as I add more to this shocking confession. For years, I had covered up my curls by flat ironing my hair or adding chemicals and when I could no longer rely on these two methods, I was close to the edge of hair insanity.
Here I was a newly natural and I had NO idea how to style my hair but I knew I had to try out my natural curls. My day of reckoning came one morning when I woke up late (this happens more than usual) and I had to NO time to pin my hair up or do anything else but wash and literally go. Panicked, I looked at my collection of Ouidad Products and I knew I had a plan.
In the shower, I shampooed in my Curl Quencher Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner. I quickly applied a dab of Moisture Lock Leave In Conditioner all over my hair. With a little less than five minutes to spare, I grabbed the Tress Effect Styling Gel, and began to rake it through my hair and miraculously my curls got tighter and more defined. Before I dashed out of the house I grabbed the Botanical Boost Moisture Infusing Refreshing Spray and stuffed it in my oversized purse and I drove (sped) to work. As I drove a million questions ran through my head, what would everyone say about my “new” tresses? Would someone mistake me for a character out of the seventies?
Curls post conditioner
As I drove to work, I made sure to keep reminding myself how awesome I was. As I stepped out of my car, I put on my Superwoman cape (not really but in my head) and walked into the building. I remember like it was yesterday, walking into my office and feeling like a million eyes were on me (they probably were but more because of the pieces of cereal in my hair instead of the afro I decided to wear). I walked in the building, co workers stopped me and made comments like, “I had no idea your hair was curly! Oh, how cute is your hair? How did you make your hair curl like that?”
Walking into work!
By the time I walked into my office, I was yelling for joy (in my head of course). As I shut my door I pulled out my mirror (AGAIN) and smiled at myself. I quickly sprayed my hair with some more of my Infusing Spray and I was good for the entire day. My curly hair made me even more beautiful and I was ashamed that I hide it for this long. When I went home that night I looked at myself in the mirror and I chided myself on how petty I had been. Instead of being self conscious because my hair was curly, I feel like it’s a conversation starter and statement about how beauty comes in all forms. So the next time any of you ladies are feeling a little self conscious about your hair, grab some Ouidad Products and look yourself in the mirror and give yourself some love!!!
So have you ever felt self conscious about your hair? What did you do to get over it?
BossyGirl
