I have actually been “bald head” a few different times in life. Most times it was intentional. There is an amazing level of freedom with having short hair, less maintenance and more time to tend to other essential things in life. I have worn my hair natural for most of these 45 years of life. Wearing some form of processed hair for only a total of about 11 of those years.
The Press and Curl
As a child, I longed for long flowy hair but alas, my hair was a very thick, coarse-textured afro. I remember tying a towel around my head and slinging it around in the mirror pretending my hair was straight. My mother did not believe in putting “chemicals” in your hair stating, “you will mess up your hair”, so for most of my childhood, I wore the ponytails and cornrows that many young girls wore in that era. On Easter and special occasions, I would get my hair “pressed” the night before. It was torture sitting through that ritual, holding your ear to make sure you didn’t get burned and being on the edge of your seat afraid that pressing comb was going to burn you, but the finished product would be silky and amazing. Unfortunately for me, my hair would begin to revert back by morning and I had a semi-straightened afro with a bang (from the pink sponge roller), who remembers those?
The Curl
I remember when the “The Curl” (Jheri Curl) made its debut I wanted one so bad, especially since Michael Jackson had one. Michael was The Man back then. I begged and begged and begged my mother for one and she finally relented. I got My “Curl” when I was about nine years old. Let your soul glow🤣😂🤣. Well, my soul was illuminating because I would put so much Right On Activator on my head it was ridiculous. My nightly ritual was to pour activator on my head and then put on my “Curl Cap”/”Plastic Cap” yall know I’m talking about. I ruined a lot of shirt collars and pillowcases. After about a year I realized my mother had been right about putting chemicals in my hair, as I started to notice hair breakage. That was the first time I ended up “bald head” and it was not by choice. I eventually got rid of The Curl and went back to the press and curl for about one year at around age 12.
The Relaxer
Then in 8th grade I begged and begged and begged for a relaxer, my mother said no so I pleaded my case to My Daddy, who was of course on my side. I was always a Daddy Girl😁. So I got what I wanted. I wore a relaxer through the first two years of college but frequently wore braids in the 90’s. I had an issue with some hair breakage over the years because many beauticians I went to would insist on putting a “super” relaxer in my hair because it was “course”, so I eventually started doing my own relaxer. I experimented with many styles, dyed my hair, shaved it on the side, cut it all off ala Toni Braxton (2nd time I was “bald head” this time by choice).
Natural Again
I eventually decided I may as well go natural and grew out my short relaxer, and then had it cut into a short fade (mid 90’s). Revisited the relaxer around 1998, cut it all off again around 2003 (third time I was “bald head”). Have been natural this time around since 2003. I wore my hair long for several years. My favorite styles were Afro, Twist Out, Twists. Here are some pictures over the years.
Over the years I have learned to love not resent my hair. I love that my hair is thick and has a lot of volume. Something that I used to hate. I guess we live and we learn. Over the years the natural hair movement has grown, and people constantly talk about their “curl pattern”. To this day, I don’t think I have one. My hair does not “curl” on its own. I can do a mean twist out, but if I don’t manipulate in some way there are no curls to be had. I have learned through trial and error that all products don’t work for my hair and that it will not look the way someone else’s hair does. Things that work for me are Coconut Oil and Black Castor Oil. I use old school Glover’s Mane Medicated Shampoo to cut down on itchiness and also Sulfur 8 hair grease when needed for itchy scalp. I learned that a lot of fancy high priced natural hair products are not always the best for my hair. So I stick with what works. I have also learned early in my hair journey that many stylists charge you more money for having thick hair. They would quote one price over the phone then the price goes up when they see your hair is “so thick”. So I have done my own hair for years. Years ago I named my hair, Velma. Velma has a mind of her own, doesn’t always cooperate, but she is strong and resilient.
Bald Head Again
So at the end of 2018, I decided to cut it all off and be “bald head” again throughout 2019. This year I have decided to grow it back. I plan to track the growth monthly this time around because I never did that with any of my other bald head episodes. We will see how long I can last dealing with Velma. Velma and I are often at odds.
