Before and After

I begged my mom to let me get a relaxer when I was 10, but she refused. All the other black girls in my school had perms (there were only a handful of us), and their hair was silky and pretty while mine sat in "Pippy Longstocking-ish" ponytails jutting out from the sides of my head. I got teased by the white kids all the time for those ponytails, in addition to other things - "daddy long legs" and "big lips" were some of the nicer names I was called. Finally at age 12 my mom let me get a perm, and I at least had some outward similarities to the other kids in my school. I continued to relax my hair through adulthood until I was about 29. The "BEFORE" pic was taken when I worked in the corporate world as a business systems analyst. That was about 10 years ago. The "AFTER" pic was taken recently. I'm a personal trainer now. Everyday this week I'll chronicle a different stage of my journey professionally and hair-wise, and I'll talk about how I think natural hair is perfect for the kind of active lifestyle that I live.

Your hair and you are gorgeous!!! Oh my!! I can somewhat relate to your childhood!! I too went to majority "white" schools, the teasing did not last long for me though! A boy called me the "N" word and I beat him up! LOL! So word went out that I could beat up boys!! LOL! (I had two older brothers)

Thank you for the nice words, cocoeuro! I wish I could have been able to beat up boys AND have two older brothers.

wow, you look younger in your AFTER pic..
kudos to you

Thanks hippychic! I think curly hair makes people look more fun-loving and free spirited, maybe that's why. The short straight bob did the opposite - made me look very serious and mature.

Your hair is gorgeous!