Because I work in corporate America I felt I had to compromise my hairstyle in order to obtain and then maintain a job. I wanted to go natural years before I did but was afraid to do it. When I wore my hair in cornrows, co-workers and supervisors would take double looks at my hair. In addition, they used to stare at me in amazement when I made comments during meetings. That didn’t happen when I wore my hair was straight. With all of that, plus whispers behind my back, I became fearful and thought I had to maintain a certain polished look to keep my job so I continued to perm my hair.

Now when I think about the compromises I made regarding my hair I feel silly. How could I? My God given natural hair is polished enough. How could I let an institution make me feel otherwise?

Today I let go of all of those fears. There is no way I am going to continue to compromise the health of my hair and body for a position that will only be a part of my life for a short time. I started to think about long term affects.

Currently, my hair is completely natural, and I wear it in different styles for every event. My favorite hairdo is a twist-out afro! I don’t feel the need to straighten my hair for any occasion and that includes my upcoming wedding. I have been asked if I am going to flat iron or even perm my hair for my wedding day. The first thought that comes to mind is, what is wrong with my hair the way it is? But then I simply say, “NO!”

I do not love my hair. I am in love with it. There’s a difference. And that is why and how I stay fierce without compromising.

So – with that said – feel good about whether you’re wearing your natural hair in tightly-coiled curls, loose ringlets, flowing waves or super straight (if that is your choice). To maintain your personal style new Motions Naturally You products are specially-formulated to moisturize your hair with essential natural oils. Embrace the incredible beauty of your natural hair with Motions Naturally You. For more information visit http://bit.ly/zxbd4g.

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Now is not the time for my left hand to look like this. In less than a month I am going to jump the broom. This jacked-up finger is going to be in all of the pictures. Everyone said add a Lee Press On or something like that but I don’t know if I want that pressure or glue on my healing skin. That won’t be healthy.

The good thing is – it didn’t hurt. I don’t know why but it didn’t. I am happy about that. However just the sight of it gave me nightmares. It is an ugly cut.

How could I be so reckless?!

Check out the video and story below. Afterwards, share your thoughts and experiences on Corporate America and natural hair.

Her black, female, co-workers pressured her to re-consider, but Ivy Grant, an associate partner in a marketing consulting firm decided to make the transition from her processed straight hair, to her naturally textured hair twelve years ago, and has no regrets.

“Everyone has this fear that you’re not going to be accepted in the work place with this kind of hair,” Grant said referring to her curly afro. On the other hand, financial executive Michele Chowtai is only eight months into the transition process, and says she is still not sure if she will go “fully natural.” She fears there is a negative stigma she can’t avoid and wonders, “How am I going to be perceived in the work place after I go completely natural?”

More and more black women are grappling with these decisions. The percentage that say they do not use chemical products to straighten or relax their hair increased to 36% in 2011, up from 26% in 2010, according to a report by Mintel, a market intelligence firm. The desire for healthy hair and an escape from damaging chemical products are two of the reasons why women are choosing to go natural. After years of torturous treatments, scalp burns and high costs, Grant walked into a salon, cut all her hair off and decided she would never go back to chemical relaxers.

Recent numbers in the sale of chemical relaxer kits also indicate other black women feel the same. Sales dropped by 17% between 2006 and 2011. Natural hair experts say this decline reflects a growing movement within the billion-dollar black hair care industry.

“Natural hair is not a trend, it’s here to stay. You’re going to see more women going natural than ever before,” said professional stylist Tracy Robertson.

But, the reason why stylists, like Robertson, say most of their clients continue to chemically straighten their hair is because they don’t understand their styling options and worry about maintaining what they perceive to be a corporate look.

The lack of knowledge black women had about their hair texture compelled hair care professionals to start natural hair product lines designed to help them make the transition and also show them that there are other styling choices suitable for corporate careers.
“When people say ‘natural hair,’ the first thing they think of is Afro texture, or braids, or locks, when natural hair can also be hair that is smoothed without the damaging heat or chemicals,” explained Robertson, the co-owner of TAG Salon, a company dedicated to educating black women about their hair texture’s versatility.

The author of “Textured Tresses: The Ultimate Guide to Maintaining and Styling Natural Hair,” Diane Da Costa is known for her step-by-step hair guides, and has encouraged women to go natural in and out of the workplace for over twenty-five years.

“It is an exciting time for women to transition to a natural hair style, and it’s also an exciting time to live through it with all the products that are out there. 15 years ago you had limited choices. Now you have options,” said DaCosta.

Professional stylist and self proclaimed “texture guru” Anthony Dickey also launched “Hair Rules,” a product line offering solutions for all types of hair textures.

“It’s important to offer education to women on their hair texture because a lot of women are just under the impression that their natural hair is only going to have to be worn [kinky or curly],” said Dickey. Wearing a natural hair style can mean maintaining a natural curly pattern, but it can also include straightened hair styles.

When Michelle Chowtai noticed her hair was falling out in patches she knew that she had to find an alternative, but was nervous that if she wore a style with her natural hair pattern, she could be stereotyped as “unkempt” or “uneducated.” After a consultation with Dickey she found a look she says she is comfortable with at work.

“I don’t know if I will be willing to go completely natural, and I think that’s because there are other avenues, other things I can do to get my hair to look the way that it does today and I’m satisfied with this look.”

I had a weeks worth of heavy product in my hair, and because of this, I thought I would have to shampoo several times to at least get a lather. But during the first wash I moved the bar across my wet hair a couple of times and a healthy heap of foam started to appear.

It felt nice.

As I massaged the product in my hair, I smelled a sweet minty aroma from the peppermint that caused my scalp to tingle. I was pleased. After rinsing – my hair squeaked. But I wasn’t satisfied yet. I just didn’t think one wash was enough. So I ran the bar across my hair maybe twice and another healthy group of suds started to form. After rinsing right away, I felt satisfied that my hair and scalp was clean, even though it was clean after the first wash.

I like the Peppermint Tea Tree bar, as perhaps a clarifying shampoo, but as a conditioner, I would not recommend using it alone. I let my hair air dry, and when all of the water had evaporated, my tresses were dry and hard. It felt as if I used a product without a trace of conditioner in it. As a shampoo this is a great product to use. As a shampoo and conditioner, I wouldn’t rely on the conditioning part.

So on a scale of 1 to 5 curls I give Oregon Soap Company’s Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo bar part – 5 curls. The conditioning part – 1 curl.

I am 37 years young. I love to shop, read, sew and crochet. I currently teach English to Israeli youth in Southern Israel.

Tell us about your hair.

My hair is my crowning glory although there are times when I just want to cut it all off!

What inspired you to go natural?

I really don’t remember exactly. I do remember being in college and dating this “conscious” brother. I’m sure he influenced me. It was 1996 when I last had a perm. That was 16 years ago. It was kinda the thing to do with the people that I was hanging around.

Did you transition, are you currently transitioning or did you do the Big Chop? Why did you choose to do your selected method?

I have always had a lot of hair. I cut it to shoulder length and wore braids for about 2 years. I decided to choose this method because I couldn’t bring myself to cut off all of my hair. I also wore it pressed, for years once it all grew out.

Was this your first attempt going from permed to natural hair? If not, how many times have you tried? What made you go back to permed hair and what made you decide to go natural again?

There was only one attempt and I have never looked back.

Have you ever done anything to your hair that you now regret? (Aside from getting a perm if that is what you regret)

No.

What is your favorite hairstyle(s)?

Small two-strand twists.

Which products do you like to use?

Castor oil, olive oil and even body lotion by Queen Helene. I use Queen Helene’s Cocoa Butter formula that I purchase at Wal-Mart. It makes my hair easier to comb after it is washed.

What is your hair care ritual? Do you do it yourself or do you go to a salon?

I don’t really have one. I just started getting it done by a friend of mine once a month. That has been working out well. Oh, and, I wash my hair once a month now as well. I used to wash it every week, then every two weeks. I guess as I am getting more mature, and spend less time worrying about my hair, the washing process has dwindled down to once a month.

What do you want Permed to Natural readers to take with them after reading your story?

There is life after chemicals – a very long and healthy life!!

So, when my skin started to break out this time, I knew what I had to do. It took several months to find a new cleansing method my skin liked. I experimented with a variety of skincare products as well as homemade remedies but nothing worked.

After feeling sort of hopeless with the results of my search, one day, while in Whole Foods, I decided to purchase Alba Botanica’s Natural Acne line in maximum strength. Each item cost $9.95 with the exception of the Natural Acnedote Oil Control Lotion which is $15.50.

Honestly, I would not have cared how much these products cost because they agree with my skin. When I first tried the line, I used it morning and night and the acne dissipated in just a few days! I was relieved. I could have kicked myself for taking so long to try Alba Botanica. It’s not like I didn’t see it in the store. I saw it. The line has been available in health food spots for years - I just by passed it – every time.

So, until my skin tells me otherwise, Alba Botanica Natural Acne line in maximum strength will be my product of choice in maintaining healthy looking gorgeous skin.

The entire line is 100% vegetarian with no animal testing, artificial colors, artificial fragrances, parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium methyl sulfate.

You guys know I like that!

On Good Friday, like many others, I made a pilgrimage to Tome Hill. It took me 16 minutes, including breaks to hike to the top. Everyone said it would take 45 minutes to an hour so I was surprised that I was able to do it in such a short amount of time.

It was a wonderful day. I am happy for the experience. Check out the pictures below.

Path to the hilltop.

People bought their pets to Tome hill.

Tome Hill

I can never do this enough.

The path down hill.

I’ll be back on another Good Friday.

Using my background in public relations, I was able to set up various interviews for the MLK Council. It feels really good to be a community servant.

AND, Thanks to products by Qhemet Biologics, my fro looked and felt great!

Don’t ask me what happened to my fro. It didn’t look like that in the morning.

But this time I used Light Mountain Henna – Color the Gray, in hopes this line would make my gray disappear into the rest of my hair color.

I like the ingredients on this product, and because of that, I didn’t mind giving it another shot.

I selected the color Mahogany because the box read if your hair color is black than Mahogany would make it warm black. So I thought that would be a cool color for me. But, I guess, what I should have done was consider the color of my gray hair and not the color of my actual hair.

My gray before the henna.

My hair after the Henna. I don’t like this color. I just wanted the gray to turn black or something close to it. When will I learn?