Tag Archives: yarn braids

Happy 3rd Nappy-versary

Hair, , , , , , , ,

Whoa, it’s been 3 years already! That’s cray. My BC was on June 20th, 2009.

When I went natural, people mourned for the loss of my silky tresses, telling my hair would never be the same and that it wouldn’t grow back. Well, they were right about one thing. Ever since I did my big chop, my hair has been constantly evolving.

If feel like hair is supposed to grow and mature with you. My hair represents different stages in my life.

I had shiny shoulder-length hair that was often up in a ponytail. There’s only one thing I miss about my permed hair– my bangs!  They look so much better than the time I tried to cut them by myself in the 4th grade. Funny enough, I never notices how much forehead that I had back in the day.

Pre- Big Chop

My TWA stage was all about “What makes me beautiful?” I experimented with makeup for the first time and started dressing differently. I threw away all my t-shirts and started wearing red lipstick with everything!

My puff/afro stage was my “DIY” stage. I started experimenting with my hair. You can find my styles here. I found blogger and Youtube channels to teach me things. My favorite phrase was “I did/made it myself.” I was discovering myself, who I was, and what I liked. During this time, I started riding a bike on campus, got really into “Going green” and started making Youtube videos/blogging seriously.

 

Yarn braids are my favorite protective style. A girl at school did them for me for the first time in the Fall of 2009 and I was hooked. Ever since, I’ve been fending off rumors that I am loc’d.

I’m now at the biggish hair stage. I can honestly say I’d done everything I wished to do with my fro.

Twist-out. Check

Braid-out. Check

Blow-out. Check

Straw set. Check

Coils. Check

 

This is my hair these days:

 

Going natural is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. No turning back!

“I like your style, Ms. K”

Fashion, , , , , ,

A student said this to me today, only after she had stared at me long and hard for a few minutes. I think she was trying to decide if she really liked it or if she was just being courteous.

When I first became a teacher, I decided I wanted to be the Ms. Frizzle of education. I even bought my very own Ms. Frizzle dress. It’s flowery print and has a big skirt. I bought it because it has deep teacher-friendly pockets.

Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t go out and frizzle-rize my wardrobe; I simply added more school-appropriate piece. I still wear most of my college wardrobe. The only difference between then and now is that I paired up my college clothes with some for crisp and professional pieces. I went and bought some button-down shirts, some slacks, some cardigans, and comfortable heels, but for the most part, my wardrobe remained the same.

I may be a teacher, but that doesn’t mean I have to look like one. Yes, I want to be professional but I don’t want to compromise my style. I still wear red lipstick like I love to do. At first I was afraid I would scare the kids. I was right, at first they were shocked at my bright lip color, but then they got used to it. They got used to my colorful dresses, my skinny belts on top of cardigans, and my ever-changing hairstyle changes.

Some days I have big hits and other days the kids whisper in the hallway that my hair makes me look like King Tut, the young Egyptian pharaoh. That’s ok. They’re just jealous that they have to stay in the same old dusty uniform all year and I get to change my look every day :D. But on the cool, there was a time last year that I considered adopting a signature uniform like Janelle Monae had done.

But then I’d have to give up some versatility…I don’t think I’m ready for that yet.