Transition

African American women who for years have chemically relaxed their hair sometimes decide they no longer want to chemically straighten their hair. They decide to go from Chemically Relaxed hair to the Natural curl of their hair. This is called Transitioning. This process can be long, hard and daunting. The transition can challenge everything that woman thought of herself. Many times, she has to tear down what was taught to her about her hair and her beauty in order to find happiness in the transition. The transition takes her back to what her hair really was and who she really is.

Some women decide to partake in a big chop. The big chop consists of cutting off all of the chemically treated hair, often times leaving a very short afro.

Some women opt to letting the relaxed hair grow out. This process takes much longer depending on the length of the woman's hair.

Whether the big chop or the grow out method, transition is hard. Women have to look at themselves differently. You may be wondering why we are starting this reflection with a Cosmetology Lesson, what I want you to get is the imagery of transition.

Transition is not a single decision. It is a place of being. We don't make one decision and find ourselves in the midst of that change. No, instead, we are daily making decisions to transition us into the place of being that we want to be in.

Now, just as a woman cutting off all of her hair, transition takes consistent work. You don't wake up one day and say, "I have transitioned". Transition takes time. Like the woman growing her Natural hair, there will be days you wonder what you're transitioning for and want to return to where you were because that is more comfortable.

This is where groundwork comes in.

When we're in the place of transition between where we are and where we want to be we must return to the groundwork. To battle the uncertainty of transition one must return to what keeps them grounded.

Here is your journal prompt:

Am I transitioning?

Have a decided where I want to go?

Do I know the work it takes to get there?

Have I done my groundwork? (A few groundworks questions are below to get you started)

Who am I?

Am I loved? (Answer is yes, but you must know this for yourself not because I told you.)

Am I valued? (Answer here is also yes!)

Do I have purpose?

Where am I going?

Why is the groundwork important?

The groundwork is the fertilizer to your transition.

How can you be expected to grow if you've not done the groundwork? The groundwork is the soil to your transition and the healthier the groundwork the more you'll grow. So, take the time to ask yourself the tough questions and gather your groundwork. Because, when transition leaves you feeling uncertain and shaky it is back to the groundwork that you must go.