My First Curly Cut Literally Transformed My Relationship to My Hair ...Middle East

Like many Black girls, I had a complicated relationship with my hair growing up.

For the majority of my childhood, I never really knew what my natural curls looked like. Once I was old enough to get a relaxer, my appointment was scheduled. Getting my hair permed was a constant in my life for over a decade.

Over the years, instead of learning how to take care of my hair, I opted to damage it. My flat iron was booked and busy during my most formative years. I didn't let anyone see a singular wave or any trace of texture until freshman year of college.

My difficult relationship with my hair continued into adulthood - and sometimes, at the hands of others. On a particularly hard day, one of my close guy friends saw that I had blown out my hair. Instead of complimenting me, he decided to say that I looked like a palm tree that was hit by Hurricane Irma. What a descriptive way to kick me while I was already down. Even though I was scared, I tried something new and someone who I thought cared about me heightened that insecurity. Back to the heat damage I went.

Three years after that comment, the COVID pandemic hit. I was stuck inside with nothing to do and nowhere to go, so for the majority of the lockdown, I wore cornrows. Growing up, I didn't like wearing this style because societal conditioning made me think they weren't feminine - which is the furthest thing from the truth. While isolated, I got good at braiding and would cornrow my hair once a week. Because my hair was finally protected and got a break from the heat styling, my curls started to become more prominent. So much so that in the fall of 2020, I cut off my dead ends and had a full head of curls for the first time since I was a child.

Over the next four years, I experimented with different products and protective styles, but I never felt beautiful just wearing my natural hair. I didn't know what to do. When all hope was lost, I decided it was time for a haircut - by someone who knew what they were doing. Living in Phoenix, an area with few options for textured hair, I started searching for curly hair salons and specialists. Funnily enough, one of my favorite creators used to live in the same state and would get her hair done at a salon not too far from me. So I looked into it, booked an appointment at the same location, and the next thing I knew it was finally time.

I hadn't had my haircut in almost a decade, so I was terrified, but my curl specialist, Melanie Cash, did the lord's work that day. I came in with dry, tangled curls that I didn't know what to do with, and by the time I left, I had fresh bouncy curls and an outlined hair-care routine that actually made me excited for wash day.

I watched my hair transform before my eyes, and learned what it needed along the way. I have 4a/b textured hair with low porosity, which means I have tighter coils that need a LOT of hydration. Because of this, I learned, I would need to deep condition and steam treat my hair during my weekly wash days so that it isn't overly dry.

As we went through every step, I asked what she was doing and with what products, even taking notes on my phone to ensure I wouldn't forget and could recreate this process next wash day. Now I knew what products to use in what order:

After years of resenting and suppressing what naturally grew out of my head, it only took two hours with a knowledgeable person who cared for me to see not only how beautiful my hair is, but to learn that it's actually not hard to do either.

It wasn't just a haircut for me. In one day, I learned to truly love my hair. The hair that I've had for the past 25 years, for the first time.

Now that a few months have passed and I have settled into my new routine, I wish I had scheduled an appointment sooner. My bad hair days are not nearly as taxing. I can experiment with new styles and know how to adapt them to my hair's needs. And above all else, I am content and love how I look with my natural hair, regardless of the style. It took me a while to get here, but I love my fro and wouldn't change it for the world.

Hence then, the article about my first curly cut literally transformed my relationship to my hair was published today ( Thursday 20/03/2025 - 04:26 PM ) and is available on popsugar ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

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