Hair Inspiration: "Be Youself, Love You", By Chelsyea

This is a repost from The Pure Journey natural apostolic blog. Chels speaks words of truth and beauty. Enjoy!

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Be YOURSELF, LOVE YOU

Today, as I was getting ready for service, in my mind, I had 2 negative hints regarding my hair that I received from church people. Basically, those 2 individuals didn't like the fact that I now rock my natural hair BUT I LOVE my glory. So as I was doing my hair, those comments were encircling in my mind and instead of going to church with a hairstyle that I like (twist outs), I started to transform myself into those comments, what others wanted me to be or look like. I already finished the style that I was going to wear to service (the twist outs), but as I thought more and more about what they said and what their facial expressions gave off as they looked at my hair, I began to try and do some updo ("apstolic do") that I used to do when my hair was relaxed. I got more and more frustrated as I was doing that "apostolic hairstyle" because I didn't like the way it looked and overall, it wasn't ME. I felt so inclosed in a box when I started to do that updo because I like my kinks and they don't do well at all with being contained.  I felt so confined, like I was forcing myself into someone other than myself just b/c of opinions that was meant to make me change. When I thought about how uneasy and boxed-in I felt, I started to do a hairstyle that was partly put up (in a french roll), but poofed out in the front (like an 80's look :); check out pic to the right and last pic at the bottom). I felt so happy and that I gained back ME, beautiful ME. I felt beautiful and I know my kinks were happy too.

I've noticed that no matter how we pin our hair up, those kinks speak for themselves and stick out. To me, natural hair is most beautiful when it's OUT. :) For an observer, you can see the female's hair in all of it's glory with it's kinks, strength, beauty, and power. So my beautiful black/african american, apostolic sisters, be YOU!!! When I had my hair relaxed, I ALWAYS wore my hair up; rarely was it down. Now, that I wear it down and out, I LOVE it. I feel free. I remember one natural sister saying that she doesn't wear her hair out because it becomes a distraction to others. When she said that to me, I was like "WHAT??? Do you know how many people would LOVE to have your length? People look at it in awe because natural hair is beautiful and not many have black sisters long hair like that. It's not a distraction". Ladies, wear your hair to show God's glory!!! Whether it looks like you just got electricuted or a lion's mane or whatever other silliness people are negatively directing your way, ROCK IT!!! If you like to wear it up, that's cool but if you want to wear it out, that's mighty alright too. Our hair is BEAUTIFUL!!! Don't let ANYONE make you feel small and ugly, but be CONFIDENT in the glory that God has given YOU. Smile with those kinks.

Love,
Chels
"Happy & proud, natural apostolic"