2.

2 years I've gone without a scab on my scalp from trying to get the most out of my relaxer.
2 years I've been a loyal customer to Shea Moisture, Cantu and Carol's Daughter.
2 years worth of Youtube subscriptions to Natural Hair Queens: Naptural85, Mini Marley & My Natural Sistas - to name a few.
2 years Natural.

It's been 2 years since I stood in front of my mirror and (dramatically) cut off my relaxed ends and embark on my journey to loving my hair. My story isn't some emotional breakthrough or anything, but it was a pivotal moment in my life.

I was a senior in high school and recently went through a break up with my high school sweetheart, who on February 12, 2014 (4 days after we broke up),  uploaded his 'WCW' on Instagram - which broke my heart (LOL at all of the trivial problems we go through in high school) and in all of my heart ache, I decided to cut my hair.

I had been transitioning for about 9 months at the time, and my plan was to transition for a year and then cut my hair before I left for college - that did not happen. I cut my hair that night while crying and listening to Sail x AWOL (I'm seriously way too dramatic for myself) and proceeded to go to sleep. I woke up the very next day feeling so satisfied. My (also dramatic) mother exclaimed, "Oh my gosh, I don't know when last I've seen your hair like this!"

I went to school that day slightly dreading the foreseen attention (but also not really caring) to which my classmates and teachers would exclaim, "Oh my god, you cut your hair!". I'll never forget what my friend Channiyah Jacques said, "I love it. You look how you're supposed to look." And I guess she was right. I felt comfortable in my skin and I had a fun new project to work on: Myself. I can truly say that making the spontaneous decision to cut my hair was the start of my 'care free' attitude and the understanding that I don't HAVE to do anything, I can do what I want - ESPECIALLY if it's for myself. If I make a mistake, I will learn from it, but now I know that risks are worth taking.
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Ever since going natural, I've dyed, blow dried, flat ironed, cut and shaved my hair. I've done every twist-out you could possibly think of and have tried endless protective styles. I've learned that my hair doesn't make or break me throughout all of my changes. When I shaved my hair, I was the most confident I had ever been. Going my whole life not knowing what it was like to look a tad bit different can really close your mind to so many possibilities. As of right now, I'm growing my hair out and allowing it to reach its full potential, but who knows, in a few years I might have dreads and then shave it all off again.

Happy Natural-aversary to me, may the curls be ever in my favor <3