Ok, so let's start from the beginning of my natural hair journey. I got my last perm in July of 2012 and finally made the decision to big chop in the Spring of 2013. I cut off all of my permed ends and had about an inch of hair left on my head. After seeing myself in the mirror, I just about lost my mind. I didn't feel beautiful and refused to be seen out in public with a tiny little afro. So, I did what I had done for the last 7 or 8 years of my life and immediately put it back into a weave. I didn't even think twice about wearing it natural until last summer when my husband and I went to Belize. I guess you can say the trip was nothing short of being unbelizeable!!
I woke up every single morning for the next 8 days to a picturesque ocean view adorned with palm trees and everything. The sun was shining, the heat was humid, and the water was crystal clear. This was the life I always imagined! Snorkeling in the tropical Caribbean ocean, sipping rum juice with bae, and tubing in an actual jungle with friends. I mean, I could really live this life.
Although the scenery was spectacular, it was truly the people that made this experience unforgettable. I felt a closeness, almost a belonging as soon as we landed. It was such an incredible moment in my life to look around and see so many people that looked like me. I began to stand a little taller, walk with a little more sureness, and felt an overwhelming sense of freedom. I knew during this trip that I was forever changed. I decided that when I got back to Los Angeles I was done being bounded by the pressure to look a certain way. I was going to be unapologetically me. I would let my fro speak for itself from that point on.