Embracing My Natural Hair Got Us Here!

May 2021 changed the game for me. I was tired, consistently in therapy for five months, and I had nothing else to give. It was the first time in seven years that I had worn my natural hair to an interview or an important meeting with “important people.” To give you some perspective, I began to embrace my hair without chemicals in 2014. I learned that my curls were kinky-curly and if we were to “type” my hair, it would be type four. Throughout my life, I had learned if my hair was straighter or a looser curl pattern, people would say I had “good hair.” That was one of the highest honors I used to strive for. The turning point for me was when a doctor questioned one of my loved ones about relaxers or the use of any other chemicals on their hair. The doctor informed them of the negative impact this could have had on their health. And so, I went natural. I had no idea what my hair looked like without straight roots. As months passed, I struggled to style my hair because there were literally two types of hair on my head: high porosity straight hair at the ends and natural low porosity hair at the roots. Not to mention, natural hair products were very scarce then. However, with what I knew about my family’s genetics, it was best for me to persevere, and that’s exactly what I did.

From that day forward, I learned a lot about my natural hair, including products that worked, techniques that made wash days easier, and how to manage my hair when it did not want to cooperate. Throughout this time, I helped a lot of family members and friends do the same and eventually, created my YouTube Channel, Starring Lia. Many of you probably first met me virtually on YouTube and have been on this roller coaster ride with me, including when I had to do a second big chop. Moral of the story is, it was not easy, but it was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

Last May, I decided that I would no longer cover up my natural hair. I would embrace my natural hair in places where I was deemed the “minority.” I would blind the people sitting behind me with my big afro and enjoy the freedom of wearing my hair naturally. I would no longer allow my hair to be something I stressed about before an interview. I finally concluded that if my hair disqualified me from a position, it was not meant for me to fulfill that role anyway.

It took me over seven years to get here and I want to help others develop this mindset too. And so, I welcome you to Blogs with Lia. Here, I will share many stories ranging from natural hair all the way to certain life experiences that I have learned from. You will be in for a ride! Subscribe to my email list here, so that you will not miss a notification when another blog is live!