#TransformationTuesday

Yeah, it's just a trendy hashtag and a great excuse to post old selfies that have been bomb from day one, but just haven't made it onto social media yet. But it can also be a time for reflection on the important things in life--you know, like your hair.

Wait! Just hear me out!

It shouldn't come as a surprise to you that I'm African American--and if it does, please go visit my "Bio" page and be prepared to be utterly shocked. A hot topic in today's society is that of afro hair: is it really as important as we make it out to be? For me, it's a symbol of my culture and heritage. It's a part of me that I was not comfortable with until the past couple of years. I relaxed my kinks and curls when I was eleven years old, and for years, I wore my hair straight. After some time of not taking care of it like I should've, it became damaged and started breaking off. I went from having long, thick hair in sixth and seventh grade to having a bob by the end of high school. That was when I decided to "go natural," grow out my straight perm, and make way for the 'fro.

It took years of patience, hundreds of dollars and hours spent on braids and protective styling and for a time, I didn't want to wear my afro out because I didn't like how short it was. Fast forward to summer 2016 when I decided to chop almost all of it off for a tapered cut. Tears were so close to falling from my eyes, but somehow, I held it together as my beautician chopped off the curls I'd worked so hard to grow out. I loved it--but it was so different from what I was used to seeing when I looked in the mirror.

In a sense, hair is hair is hair. You can cut it, dye it, do whatever to it, and it'll grow back. But hair can also be a sense of identity and pride as it has been to so many African American girls and women for so long. For me, it was a step towards self acceptance and appreciation. I am not my hair, but my hair is me--does that make sense?

Yeah, I think it does. I think I'll keep that.

Now. Please enjoy some ridiculously old pictures of teen Reina as she transforms into the hungry, homework-swamped young woman she is today. You and I can both be horrified as we watch me gain weight, confidence, and a whole lotta fro.

All the Best,

Reina