MY GLORY ALSO SEEMED INVISIBLE

by Terell Kirven
(Greensboro, North Carolina,USA)

"I'm going to the Africans!" is what I was telling my sister as we shouted through the telephone.

It was a nice, cool day and I got up early to make sure I was the first in line for my new hairdo. I ate some breakfast and then it was time. "Ophenie!" she said as I position my body comfortably in the chair. "Invisible braids is what I want!" I explained.

Pointing to the picture
across from me on the wall, I asked " Can you please match my hair color?"
She said "That would be no problem". Ophenie began to open the packages of braiding hair, then quickly began to braid.

After about 7 hours of nonstop braiding, my hair was almost complete. Ophenie handed me a mirror and I was indeed delighted at what I saw. Shortly after I was calling my ride to come, pick me up and take me home. Finally!!

About 2 months later, it was finally time to undo the braids. The task seemed a bit overwelming to me, so I went back to Ophenie, she took out my braids for me and what a relief. Well...not exactly!

I arrived back home and immediately I began to comb out the dirt that was built up in my hair. When I began to wash it I noticed the built up dirt would not wash out. No matter how much soap I continued to use, nothing worked.(conditioner,grease,oil,etc) When my hair began to dry, I noticed I COULD NOT COMB IT! My hair looked like a cat's body that needed to be groomed. It was matted like hairballs of some sort of animal. Mortified, I dialed the phone and "Ophenie" was on the other end of the line. I explained to her what happened to my hair. Understanding, I realized that it was nothing she could do. She certainly couldn't make my hair come back.


I began to panic because I knew what I ultimately had to do. I HAD TO CUT IT OFF AND START OVER! I had a fro until it grew back. My current stylist believes that the texture and grade of my hair isn't recommended for for braids of this extreme.

So I guess my Glory was never invisible, I (me) just couldn't see it...literally