That’s me, Egypt Pearl. I was about 2 years old with a full head of beautiful kinky curls. When I was younger I’ve always noticed that I had more hair than most but I didn’t realize why until I got older.
In middle school kids would tease me because my “puff” was so big and called me names like “Afro Thunder”. I couldn’t take it anymore and wanted to be like every one else.
In fifth grade I begged my mother to blow out my hair for our school photographs. My hair went from straight to poofy by the time I got off the school bus. When we received the photos back the only thing you could see was my face. My hair blended in with the background!
In sixth grade I begged my mother for a perm. Literally begged. She repeatedly told me no then finally caved in and said “Are you sure? Is this really what you want? You know you can’t go back right Egypt?”.
I didn’t know what “go back” meant until recently (2011) when I moved to Maryland for school. I went to an HBCU (Aye , Aye , Aye, Aye Bowie!) and this was the first time that I’ve seen anything like this.
Black women with big beautiful curls, just flourishing! After a year I was so inspired that I decided to take the journey myself. We need more Black women like my beautiful alumnae to show our young queens that natural is okay and to accept their beauty.
We are one of a kind.
Follow me on my natural journey as I discuss transitioning from natural to perm and back to natural.
I will also be discussing health and beauty in future posts. Until next time.
Naturally,
Egypt
