For as long as I remember I hardly wore my hair out growing up (the benefits of having a mum with excellent braiding skills). My sister and I always wore our hair in yarn braids or cornrow up-dos when we were little. These styles were similar to those pictured below.




 As I got older I wore more box braids and senegalese twists with extensions. But my mum got busier and I wanted to do these hairstyles more often. So, I learnt how to do my own hair before I big chopped. 

I big chopped in February 2014. As I spent 2014 away from home, at an overseas university, my hair LIVED in box braids/senegalese twists. My friends never saw my natural hair out. I used the braids to grow out my TWA.

I wore the braids 2-3 months at a time and would neaten up my edges every 2-3 weeks. I moisturised with water and a light oil occasionally. No not regularly, occasionally. As in when I felt like it *smh* (more about this in a later post). Anyway, these hairstyles complemented my busy school timetable and lifestyle at the time.




In 2015, I moved back home and thought maybe I could ease up on the braids and try something different.

Enter, the weave.  I had my first weave installed in April. It was super tight and painful the very first day. When I went home, I rubbed coconut oil on my scalp, took Panadol and went to bed to sleep off the headache I had. I wore it for a good ~8 weeks though. 

I wore another weave in September (straight weave) but in between I wore Senegalese twists and box braids. Again, I never let my hair out during this period. I did not give myself at least a week's break in between these styles. The straight weave was the last 'intricate' protective hairstyle I have worn this year.  

I straightened the leave out I had very often so I was not surprised by the change in hair texture that followed. Also the middle of my hair was starting to thin out a bit when I took it out in October. 

I am glad to say that from mid-October til now I have not worn any braids or weaves and my natural hair sees sunlight all week round. I have given my hair the care it needs to thrive and have tried deep conditioning, protein and hot oil treatments for the first time in my natural hair journey. Yes it's unbelievable, I know, but sadly it is true. 



My definition of a protective hairstyle has changed! I had an 'awakening' and realised that most naturals who have long, healthy hair hardly wore their hair in these styles (braids, twist with extension and weaves). They embraced their hair in it's natural state with no or minimal use of heat. 

My observation of the following natural hair journeys inspired me to just let my hair be. No extensions, no heat, just natural hair.