The older I get and the deeper I delve into this journey of natural hair and it's many wonders; I find myself reverting back to the old hair care practices of none other than my mother. I think back to when I use to sit on the floor in the living room while she plaited my hair down with various oils and pink lotin (She use to buy the jumbo bright pink squirt bottle with the bold black writing, I know you guys remember that) Anywho, it was more than just her doing my hair; it was our mother daughter bonding time, time for us to talk about how school went, what's for dinner, what I wanted for Christmas, what dress she bought for my sister and I for Sunday service because she never missed a Sunday service.
Eventhough I dreaded wash day, there was a particular feeling I got knowing my hair would be prim and proper, put together for me to mess up again at recess and while I still dread wash day to this day, at a young age I remember thinking to myself: This woman won't quit! Every week she's putting some barrette or ribbon or bow in my hair. Not knowing that my mother possessed a sense of pride in her little girls. She knew we were a representation of her and this meant representing her well. To her, a great deal of motherhood meant making sure her little girls were well kept and to this day I maintain this same attitude. While I have no children yet and I am much older now and obviously do my own hair, I find myself reverting back to the hair care practices of childhood, oiling my scalp, plaiting my hair down, keeping it twisted for days on end and if I'm feeling real eclectic, wearing a little bow or clip to ease my bordem with proctective styling.
Getting off track and steering away from her practices has taught me a few things:
I've come to realize that momma was right after all. I also think back and remember my many hair catastrophes when I was experimenting with color, straight styles and different hair cuts. Every time something went array I came running back to my momma for comfort and hair care advice and she just sat me down and said "let me do your hair." She worked her magic and things were right again until the next hair faux pas. I know now that moms tactics were not at all what they seemed; they are faithful, tried and true, and if I have a little girl, I'll be right there to say "let me do your hair."
That's All Folks!
Eventhough I dreaded wash day, there was a particular feeling I got knowing my hair would be prim and proper, put together for me to mess up again at recess and while I still dread wash day to this day, at a young age I remember thinking to myself: This woman won't quit! Every week she's putting some barrette or ribbon or bow in my hair. Not knowing that my mother possessed a sense of pride in her little girls. She knew we were a representation of her and this meant representing her well. To her, a great deal of motherhood meant making sure her little girls were well kept and to this day I maintain this same attitude. While I have no children yet and I am much older now and obviously do my own hair, I find myself reverting back to the hair care practices of childhood, oiling my scalp, plaiting my hair down, keeping it twisted for days on end and if I'm feeling real eclectic, wearing a little bow or clip to ease my bordem with proctective styling.
Getting off track and steering away from her practices has taught me a few things:
- Heat is not exactly my best friend
- Oil is a natural girls saviour
- The bows and ribbons she put in my hair were not so bad after all
- When in doubt, braid or twist it up
I've come to realize that momma was right after all. I also think back and remember my many hair catastrophes when I was experimenting with color, straight styles and different hair cuts. Every time something went array I came running back to my momma for comfort and hair care advice and she just sat me down and said "let me do your hair." She worked her magic and things were right again until the next hair faux pas. I know now that moms tactics were not at all what they seemed; they are faithful, tried and true, and if I have a little girl, I'll be right there to say "let me do your hair."
That's All Folks!