On the Couch with Naturals: Jody Jackson

Hey everyone!!!

My name is Jody Jackson and I have been transitioning for about 14 months. My last relaxer was on April 27, 2011.

It’s actually a funny story how the whole natural idea surfaced. I was just researching how I could take better care of my relaxed hair, and learn how to retain length and keep it healthy. During my research I was constantly stumbling upon natural women. And to be honest, the first couple of times that I saw them I would say to myself “I don’t know how they do it!” “Too much work for me… uhhh-ahhh”. But the more research I did, the more I started to fall in love with how the same styles on relaxed hair look soooooo much better, healthier, and BIGGER on natural hair! I also began to get a bit curious as to what my natural hair would look like! Would my hair be curly/wavy?!?! So around the ending of May of that year I made the decision to give it a try.

But I have to be honest, when I initially made the decision I really just thought it was pretty cool! I understood that it would have been a lot of work but I don’t think I was fully convinced and committed at the moment to put in all the work necessary. One thing I will truly say is that if you’re on the fence or even close to the fence about going natural, I think you should wait until you’re far far FAR from the fence before you start your endeavor on this natural journey! One thing about going natural is that you truly have to be sure that this is something that YOU want to do! Or you will retreat to the “cream crack”!!!!! I promise you. Don’t do it because you see others doing it and you think its “cool”. Do it because you have researched it and based on the research that you have done, you believe that this is the best decision for the overall health for your hair. So, make sure you research and know and understand the positives and the negatives of going natural. Be willing to put in the effort. Making this step to go natural takes great amount of patience, courage, time and MONEY! Initially. So if it is something that you are not sure about I would suggest you wait till you are FULLY convinced.

Throughout this journey I learned that my natural hair is beautiful! I have had a relaxer from a very very very young age and I really didn’t know the true texture of my natural hair, or how I even look with it. So being able to see my texture in its natural state is AMAZING!!! I also learned that my hair is versatile! When I had relaxers I would pretty much just wear my hair down and straight! No curls, hardly any pins-up styles, nothing! Now, I do so many different things with my hair it’s unbelievable. But with all good things and usually things that are beneficial for you there has to be challenges.

One of my biggest challenges, which all newly natural girls have to deal with, is finding what YOUR hair loves! My hair talks to me (and I talk back to it… shhhh… don’t tell anyone, don’t want people to think that I am crazy.. lol) and trying to understand what it was trying to tell me was so difficult at first and is still pretty difficult. But once you learn the language that your hair speaks, you’re golden! Another temporary challenge that I am having, being a long term transitioner, is having to deal with two textures of hair. I have gotten better at finding tricks on making washing my hair a bit easier, but the one thing that gets a bit difficult is the constant styling to hide the relaxed ends of hair. Its takes a lot more styling to create a style that camouflages the two textures. But this is only temporary and I believe that is the thought that keeps me encouraged.

The main thing that inspires me and keeps me focused on this journey is remembering the reason why I started on this journey in the first place; to learn to LOVE ME, the natural me, the way God made me! I have kept a hair journal of my progress from the beginning and seeing the progress that I have made also keeps me inspired! I also watch A LOT of youtube videos of others that are transitioning and those that are fully natural, look at blogs (Kendra’s blog is actually one of my favorites) and connect with other women in my circle that are either completely natural or are also transitioning. It also hurts me to see the struggle that many young women, especially in the African American community, have with accepting their natural selves. They sometimes hide behind make-up, relaxers, weaves and clothes. But this journey has inspired me to stand up and stand out as a Pentecostal-Apostolic young lady in such a dark and dying world, by first going against the grain and accept my unadulterated self!

I use to call this my “LOVING ME JOURNEY”! But after writing this blog post I have decided to call it the “UNADULTURATED ME” journey. I have truly learned so much, not just about my hair but also about myself overall; spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically (every “ally” according to my grandpa... LOL!) I have no regrets! But if I could start the journey over again I definitely would…….. NOT!!! Lol… too long of a journey. I have made my choice forever and that’s to be unadulterated and naturally me!