The Moment I Knew Something Had to Change
My hair damage did not begin with one dramatic moment. It was the result of several things happening at once—stress, changes in my diet and lifestyle, the products I was using, and the way I styled my hair.
For nearly a year, my signature style was a slicked-back bun. I would wash my hair, pack it with gel, pull it tightly into place, and repeat the same process again and again. The style was beautiful, but the constant tension, pulling, and product buildup were not kind to my hair. Over time, I began noticing significant breakage and thinning, particularly in the area where my bun usually sat.
Eventually, I could see a clear line of demarcation between my healthy new growth and the damaged strands that remained. My roots represented where my hair could go, while the weakened lengths reflected everything it had endured. At that point, I knew I did not want another temporary fix. I wanted to start over completely.
Shaving my head felt like shedding a second skin. It was my rebirth—my phoenix moment. I was releasing what was damaged and giving myself permission to begin again.
What initially felt like an ending became a redirection. Every door is not your door, and sometimes the one that closes simply leads you toward the one you were always meant to enter. For me, that new door led to tress. Looking back, I am deeply grateful that it did.
