Be fearless with the way you look! Why I cut my hair….?

My three year natural hair anniversary was June 2015, to those unsure the term ‘natural’ is referring to when I stopped chemically straightening my hair and decided to wear it in its natural state. To be fair, my hair was growing very healthily and strong.  Most of that is due to my amazing sister and hairdresser,  Natalie AKA ‘Natz divine touch’ (instagram @natzdt).  She is an expert at cutting natural or relaxed hair and giving clients advice for having healthy haiwith 17 years of experience behind her.  I got regular trims and she taught me how to care for my natural hair. Weekly deep conditioning from root to tip was one of the main things she constantly encouraged me to do and, trust me it works!
 
I had lots of fun and experimented with many different looks but my favourite was 1920’s pin up styles! 

Healthy straightened natural hair by @natdt
Staple products
My hair is 4C and I found my staple products and stuck to them:
 
Raw shea butter from Ghana which can be purchased from: http://www.sheabuttercottage.com
I hand blended this with vitamin E oil, castor oil, olive oil, avocado oil and coconut oil
 
A tutorial of this can be found on Fusion of Cultures youtube page:
Cantu leave in conditioner and the shea whip above were all my staples and I used them for twist outs. For my edges it was olive oil edge control.
 
DEEP TREATMENTS – Cantu Deep Treatment Mask is a very thick deep conditioner which I would apply like a relaxer from root – tip. My hair would feel like silk after.
 
At one stage of my natural journey I got a little happy with my blow dryer and unfortunately,  got some heat damage.  Of course, my sister kept telling me that I should not be blow drying my hair so much but I didn’t listen. My curls were not the same but because my hair has always been a very big expression of creativity for me I decided I would chop off the damaged ends and rock a tapered  cut which I loved! The looks below were all created using the products listed above and doing a flat twist out or bantu knot outs. The cut was by Natz Divine Touch.
 
                                                   

 

Why did I cut my hair?
 
When people who knew me before I cut my hair see me they think there is a deep answer as to why I cut it but the truth is, my answer is quite simple ‘Its just hair and hair grows back’. That is generally my answer but, in all honesty when Solange chopped all her hair off around 5 years ago, I thought she looked stunning and secretly wished I could do the same.  Because of the texture of my hair I didn’t think it would suit me and I was scared.  I thought that my head would look strange, I wouldn’t look pretty and that my hair would be rough and tough (just being honest). 
 
 
 
I hate living in fear of anything and I have learnt that the saying is so true. Fear is ‘false evidence appearing real’! Most of the time the things we fear are only true in our minds and I refuse to live my life like that. So, on a sunday afternoon in June I decided it was time to do another ‘big chop’ and I have never felt so beautiful!
 
To all the beautiful women out there as India Arie says ‘You are NOT your hair’. My hair does not define me or make me anymore or less beautiful. Cutting my hair was so liberating and the freedom I feel daily is immense. To my fellow natural ladies you know what its like when water gets on your hair and ruins your fresh twist out. Well that is no longer me I wet my hair everyday in the shower and it’s FANTASTIC. I know that this hairstyle is not for everyone but the message in this post is be ‘fearless with how you look’.  Don’t focus on the opinions of others because, you have to look at yourself every day in the mirror not the person who disapproves of your look. I have had mostly good comments from people but there have a been a  few who feel the need to tell me that they don’t get why I done it. I say ‘your opinion is not important mate’ he he!
 
My hair was of course cut by my sister who kept all my baby hairs to ensure I would have a feminine touch. My staples products now are:
 
Cantu leave in conditioner with argon oil
Creme of nature argon oil mix and my deep conditioner is now creme of nature deep conditioner
my daily routine consists of wetting my hair in the shower and adding the conditioner and oil mix and smoothing my baby hair with olive oil eco styler gel.
Have fun, be fearless and remember you are not defined by your hair you are beautiful regardless.
Big Love
 
Sharlene-Moniqué
 
 
#Beuniquelyyou
 

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Comments


  1. Gen

    October 8, 2015 at 1:23 pm Reply

    Love this!

  2. Dee

    October 30, 2015 at 4:11 pm Reply

    You look gorge! I so want to do this but not brave enough yet!

    1. Sharlene-Monique

      October 31, 2015 at 12:55 am Reply

      Thank you xx

  3. Dawn

    November 2, 2015 at 2:44 am Reply

    Loving the new cut. All your looks are great! #Naturalista x

    1. Sharlene-Monique

      November 4, 2015 at 4:38 pm Reply

      Thanks Dawn xxxxx

  4. Carol

    November 2, 2015 at 4:11 pm Reply

    You look fabulous with or without hair, love reading your hair journey and life experience. Keep writing and enjoying your journey.

    1. Sharlene-Monique

      November 4, 2015 at 4:40 pm Reply

      Thanks so much Carol x

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