Mom does not always know best

by Shardae
(Maryland)

My horror story starts when I was a very young girl. My mom who has extremly strong thick short hair decided that I needed to get my first perm at the very young age of 5, yes I said 5. You see my mom discovered the perm after the 70's and gets a touch up every month so she decided that it was no big deal and that if it did not hurt her hair then mine would be fine.

Boy was my mom wrong she began taking me to the hairdresser every 6 - 8 weeks to get a perm and she would buy whatever child perm was on sale. At first everything was great I loved my straight hair and I thought that what was being done was correct until my hair stopped growing completly. At the age of about 12 my hair was so damaged that there was no saving it and I was told that if I cut if all off it will grow faster. Mom was wrong once again.

I got a really short hair cut that I hated so my mom started taking me to get braids every few months and as I sat in that chair crying from the pain I just knew something was not right, but being 13 I did what I was told and sat through the pain.

Once I stopped getting the braids we went back to the relaxer and my hair still would not get any longer but at that point I was addicted to the creamy crack and the ease of dealing with it and I did not know any better having perms my entire life. So my hair continued to break and everyone kept telling me that I dont know how to take care of my hair and gave me so many suggestions that worked for them but not for me.

After buying numerous books I decided that I have to just stop that no more creamy crack is going to touch my head. Some friends embraced my conclusion some told me I was crazy but I have been perm free for 8 months now and although I have to keep my hair in twist or extensions(which I am doing myself now without the tears or tightness) because of the difference in textures I love my roots I love their strength and their thickness and although I am not strong enough for the "big chop" I can not wait till I am all natural and I can have the love for my hair that I have always wanted.