Having Natural Hair 12-12-11

I love my hair. At the age of 10 I received my first perm (creamy crack). My hair was so thick and coming from a small town no one knew to tell you that the creamy crack was a bad Idea. All my mom wanted was for it to be more manageable for her to deal with and I understood and understand that concept. Over the years I love having a perm but at the same time I could never get that flowy look that I oh so wanted. So I kept my hair in a ponytail ALL the time. As the years went by I was getting a perm every six months or so because there was no point in getting them all the time when i wasn't happy with it. I eventualy stopped getting them. Not knowing that I was actually helping my hair, but I stopped because I couldn't afford it and it wasn't satisfying to my appearance anymore, in my opinon... When I discovered the silkining process for natural hair I had moved from my homwtown to Atlanta, GA. I was about 3 years natural at that time. I was so excited about the process but it was soooo expensive, and not worth it for the time that my hair actually stayed straight, which was not that long. So needless to say I had to stop that process becasue my pockets were getting thin and my hair wasn't lasting as long as I wanted it to in the humidity, so on to finding other ways to love my hair. I still wore the ponytail for a little longer then I found the ceramic iron and Boy oh Boy I thought I had hit the jackpot and actually I did. When I first stratighten my hair with the iron I was amazed and pleased. I started to wear my hair down and it flowed and I loved it soo much. So that went on for a while then I started to embrace my natural curls. I never knew or payed attention to how beautiful my curls are so I strated wearing them and it became easier, less stressful and free. I would straigten my hair every now and then or go get it done from my beautician Fran but for the most part I wore it curly. Now to the scary part, I never knew that natural hair could be damaged by applying too much heat. Well I learned that the hard way. I went through a small phase where I wanted to cut my hair from really long to a nice bob so I did. I loved it! I wanted to straighten it with the ceramic iron so that I have a full flowy bob because I think it looks great on people. so I used my friends iron because I didn't have the money to get mine yet so I tested hers out. It gave me the most wonderful results, so I thought. It was straight, flowy, shiny and it was lasting through the humidity and all. I thought I hit the jackpot and then I wanted to wear my curly mohawk one night so as always I waited till the last minute to do my hair before going out becasue its always fresh and has never been a problem before. Well I wet my hair and conditioned it and saw all these straight hairs and my mouth dropped. I couldn't understand what was going on at first. The majority of my hair was still curly so went on about my night. I ended up using the ceramics 2 more times and the next time I decided to wear my natural curls nothing happened. It was all straight as a board and I was crushed. At that moment I began researching and realized I have damaged my hair with all the heat and Unless I cut my hair and start over I won't have my natural curls again. I decided that I was going to start using natural conditioners to strenthen the roots of my hair as it grows out and stop using the heat. The has been very successful and my hair has grown out a great deal but I still have these longs ends of my hair that are damaged and I could cut them off but I don't want to wear my hair in the in-between short stage that we oh so hate. So that brings me to my next step . I am cutting my hair down to a fade January 2nd. I really want this and I have pondered on it for months and I am finally ready. I want to be free of all the stresses that went on this year in my life and with my hair. I shall keep you posted everyday on my mental progess. I am also starting my own natural beauty line of skin and hair products so stay tuned 2012 will be a Great Year for Me!!!!