Leah's Story

Leah’s Story:

My last relaxer was December 27^th 2005, two days before my birthday. I will never forget it. My cousin Jeslin put it in, Olive Oil kit. It hurt like hell. I was moving to Birmingham, Al from Anguilla B.W.I. I had never lived in Birmingham before, and was going for school. I moved in with my friend Lauren on New Years Eve.

Since I was new to the city I depended heavily on Zarinah and Lauren, who had lived there for at least a year by now. Later that January, we all went to the hair dresser together to get our do’s done. I didn’t need a relaxer yet, so I just got a wash and a trim. The guy charged me 65 dollars, and I was floored! I had no job, just started school, and was living off one years savings. I thought to myself, if a wash and trim costs 65, I can’t imagine having to pay for a relaxer!! What am I going to do!.

My last relaxer…

A few weeks later, Lauren introduced me to her flat irons. She straightened my hair so well, I was convinced I would never need a relaxer again.

Mardi Gras 2006: Me and Lauren

While growing my hair out, I never really thought about “being natural” or being a “curly girl”. The only thing that concerned me was, It was cheap, and it wasn’t that hard once I got the hang of the flat iron. I wore my hair straight most of the time actually. During the growing out stage I had a strict routine. I used Herbal Essence shampoo and conditioner (pink bottles). Not too heavy on the conditioner, just enough to comb out. Then I used half of an Olive Oil replenishing pak. I would put on a shower cap and leave it on for about 15 mins. Then rinse. If I wanted curls in my hair, I would use the Olive Oil moisturizer lotion, if not, I would just use Oil Sheen by Olive Oil. I used the flat irons to curl, just like in the first picture above. Either way, I only straightened every two weeks.

December 2006

I had pretty long hair so it was taking a while to grow out. It was healthy most of the time. My ends were a little fragile in this pic, and you can’t really see the length. It was probably bra strap length. I never really cut my hair before, so I decided to try something new. Got up a little nerves and this is how low I went…

March 2007: Me and my Sis-in-Law Karon

I know it wasn’t that short, but it was about at least a 3 inch chop. A HUGE deal for me. I think it was kina cute though, may need to consider it again J.

The summer of 2007 started off rough….I went to Notre Dame and forgot my flat iron!! My mom said she would mail it, but I had no clue what to do without it. I thought, hey, my hair is almost natural, I can rock it….DISSATER!! I tried moose….looked CRAZY!! After that experience, I ran to walmart and bought a pair of con-air flat irons for 20 bucks! Got back to the dorm and did my thang, and I was back in the game. The only reason why I’m saying this is because, I still use those same pair of 20 dollar flat irons today. It was my best investment yet. Don’t think you need the most expensive pair of irons to get the job done. Its all in the wrist, and patience my dear!

I wore my hair straight all summer….

In September 2007, I was waiting to start working, and had no place really to be, so I decided to do what I had done a long time ago when I swam all the time, braid out!! Here was the result:

It was so cute! However, I had a hard time combing it out afterwards. I think I used Garnier products too. I think I fell in love with this style, but was starting a new job, and didn’t think it would be “professional” to wear my hair like that. So I didn’t do it again until……

Spring 2008…I went to Anguilla with my cousins, to visit my dad for easter. Did lots of swimming, so you know I was not straightening.

Pretty much rocked the pony tail until my step-sister did my hair one day.

Shout out to Farrah…another curly girl.

I love this style and rock it frequently. Products: any shampoo and conditioner, and bees wax for the twists. I wore my h air like this one day to work after returning, and someone told me “you must think you are still on vacation.” ----ignorance. 

Since I wasn’t really good at doing this myself, I ended up wearing my hair straight most of the next summer. A few days I rocked the pony with a scarf.

Chippendales Vegas! July 2008: Me and Courtney

In 2009, I was getting married. I wanted my hair straight at the wedding, so I made sure to grow it out long. I got my sister to do this twist style for me for the week of the wedding. So I had low maintenance.

bridal portraits/welcome dinner with curly cousins 

I didn’t trust any hair dresser to do my hair for my wedding. I flat ironed it myself (yes, same 20 dollar iron) and my cousin’s curled it for me the morning of.

I later found out that my husband wanted me to wear my hair natural for the wedding. Oh well! The honeymoon was rough with the hair. I had no idea what to do. I ended up twisting it a few time, and just wearing a pony tail and scarf usually.

When I returned I was fed up with my job and didn’t care what they thought. I practiced my natural styles every week. Wore my hair curly for the remainder of the year….and I got laid off. LMBO!!!. Don’t think it was the hair. I was kinda happy about the lay off in one way, got me out of a contract. When I started my new job, I was afraid to wear my hair natural. I waited two months before I tried it. My boss loved it, and said I should not wear my hair straight any more. That was in march, and it’s June, and I haven’t straightened since.