So, I did my first twist out...

(steps up & taps the mic)...Hello? Are you curlies out there?
I've been kind of nervous about starting a CS Journal, but I decided to woman up and do it!

I'm Sasha.

My last relaxer was 6 months ago. I've been completely natural since February 12th.
The funny thing about my first step into the 'Curly Realm', is the fact that it was brought on by a lifelong desire to have the curly hair I saw on TV!! Who knew it was sitting on top of my head, the whole time? (I sure didn't).

When I was 5 years old, my dad suggested to my mother that I get a perm--a week later a man named Mr. Dell put an end what would've been a head full of beautiful curls.
Growing up, my hair always grew to about collarbone length--never any further than that. However, that never bothered me! I grew up in Alaska and was subsequently a very outdoor-sy girl that hated having hair in her face. To remedy this, I begged my mother for braids (like Moesha, haha) that required very little maintenance. It was great for me at the time, but in retrospect I feel like it kind of hindered any "relationship" that I could've had with my hair. ...if that makes any sense.
I never touched my hair. I never played with my hair. I never tried to style my hair, like some of my friends did. I knew nothing about my hair: period.

It wasn't until my sophomore year of high school that I actually started contemplating different styles. As I mentioned before, I'd always wanted to have curly hair, and as a result, nearly everyday for almost a month, my poor mother would sit up at 4:45am with me and curly my entire head before I had to catch the bus for school! (I know, huh)? That phase started to end around my junior year of high school and a new one began...short hair. I convinced my hairdresser to chop my collarbone length hair to my ear lobes (the idea of which, my mother & her hated)...just to do something new. I was gradually starting to grow very bored with my hair Which led me to....DYING! (Thinking back now, makes me cringe)* I dyed my hair an auburn/red color and loved it! However, me not having any real connection with my hair--> I hadn't the slightest idea how to care for it.
I kept the color in for almost a year and when boredom crept up on me again, I did "the Halle Berry" cut and fell in love. If you've noticed the pattern throughout this lengthy intro, you'll know that my enthusiasm soon faded with that cut and after doing months of research I decided not to return to my hairdresser and transition!

I was almost 2 months into my transition when I heard the call, "snip, snip"! I immediately jumped on the CN forum to get some moral support & headed to Target to buy a pair of shears. I chopped it all off in my bathroom that evening and have been in love with it every since!

*I'll try to post some pics in jut a few*

But, that's my intro! Sorry it was so long!
I'm excited to really start documenting the rest of journey with you guys.

I love your story!! Welcome to Curl Street!!

Thank you!

Welcome to Curl Street!

Welcome!!! How was it growing up in Alaska??

My hair at it's old length.




After putting the color in. (GAH! What was I thinking)?

krazy coils wrote:Welcome to Curl Street!

Thanks!!

QuietButterfly wrote:Welcome!!! How was it growing up in Alaska??

Alaska was fantastic! I try to encourage any & everyone to go there and visit. It's beautiful up there and contrary to popular belief, there's a lot to do! lol

nice pics!!

"the Halle" lol


Big Chop Day*


(About a month later)...

Welcome!!

Welcome to Curl Street, Sasha. I visited Alaska in 2004 or 2005. It is beautiful and scenic. Would like to visit again someday. Enjoyed reading your story.

Your BC looks great on you!

SummerBreeze76: Thank you!!

CurlsUnfurled: Thank you! What part did you visit?! I'm from the city (Anchorage), but any part of Alaska is gorgeous!

Hi Sasha B....

I enjoyed reading your story. Welcome to CS and I just want you to know that your bc picture is beautiful!!!

Happy growing!!

KNH

In my intro, I mentioned that I've never really had a relationship &/or understanding of my hair.
SO...in an effort to fix that, I've decided to name my hair.

That's where you Curlies come in!

There are two names that I'm stuck between:
1) Natasha
2) Asilia (which just happens to mean 'honest & genuine'...)*

I think I know which one I like the most, but I wanted to get some second opinions...What say you?

You have a nice smile. Welcome welcome.

hello and welcome to the block I enjoyed your story and how you became natural. embrace the new you your features are really enhanced in your BC pic. I like the name Asilia because of the meaning. How do you pronounce it?

priceless wrote:hello and welcome to the block I enjoyed your story and how you became natural. embrace the new you your features are really enhanced in your BC pic. I like the name Asilia because of the meaning. How do you pronounce it?

ditto

Welcome to CS!

I agree with priceless on both your story and the name Asilia

Hey new neighbor. I vote for Asilia too.

priceless wrote:hello and welcome to the block I enjoyed your story and how you became natural. embrace the new you your features are really enhanced in your BC pic. I like the name Asilia because of the meaning. How do you pronounce it?

Thank you so much!! Asilia is pronounced: a-SEAL-yuh. (Almost like Cecilia, but with an 'A').

Thanks so much for the welcome, Ladies!!

Asilia seems to be the most popular: I think I'll stick with it!
I'm so glad you guys liked it, I was hoping you all would vote for that one

I think the meaning is perfect and that it sums up my hair at this point: honest & genuine. Thanks for the feedback!!

congrats on naming your hair. It's a beautiful name.

Before I start this post, let's pretend that I haven't been m.i.a. for almost two weeks...okay? Cool.

So, for the past month I've noticed that Asilia has begun to shed in amounts that have gone from what seems normal to what seems...questionable. I hope that makes sense, but in the event that it doesn't, let me elaborate:

When I'm detangling (which I do with my fingers, because I have corkscrew curls that are pretty tightly wound), I find these really fine knots at the ends of my hair and in the process of undoing them, they sometimes end in losing a strand or two--not out of the ordinary, right?

Well, when I'm (co)washing in the shower, I run a very wide-tooth comb through my hair while the conditioner is still in it and I notice that the teeth of the comb all have several random strands of my hair tangled around them -->

Don't get me wrong, lol My hair isn't coming out in clumps or anything like that (I was a theatre kid, so you'll have to excuse my dramatics), but I'm just worried that it might get worse.

The only two things I can think of that I haven't done lately, are a deep condition or an ACV. I've been co-washing and leaving in some cholesterol (about 30 min), moisturizing with coconut or shea butter and sealing with 7Oils by Proclaim...other than that, I don't know what else to do.

Help!