Blog ~ Thursday, 12 July 2007
Hair Issues
Tomorrow Is One Anniversary.
It was on July 13, 1995. I was going to the get my hair fix. At that time I had a Jerry Curl. I grew tried of the Jerry Curl. Through the years decided to return to a perm. I waited a while to make the change. Then that day came for my perm. [The photo was taken in February of 1994. When I had a Jerry Curl.]
I don't know all what goes into the chemical process and so forth for the hair to break down in becoming a perm. The hair stylist notice that my hair was not breaking down as it should have. I have thick hair. So the hairstylist put more chemicals on my hair to make it straight.
To make a long story short.... Something was starting to happening to my hair over a period of a few days. It appeared very thin and very dry looking. It started to break off as I comb my hair. Through the process of a day or so, more hair fell out. I had hair on my scalp as I would comb my hair.
I had a sister in law at that time who knew something about hair. She call me. I told her what the hairstylist did. My sister in law said that ALL MY HAIR COULD FALL OUT because of too much chemicals.
After I got off the phone with her. At first I was silence. But what came out of my mouth as I spoke to God and I quote "I could lose all my hair but I can't lose You, Jesus." Yeah, I started to cry....the thought of LOSING MY HAIR!
Through the days that followed more hair came out. My sister in law at that time was trying to help me with my hair issue. She braided my hair so that there would be less breakage. She discovered that I had a bald spot about the size of a dime on the top of my head. It was noticeable with my hair braided.
I had my hair braided for about two months so. I had so many hair dos back in those days. Even then still more hair come out. I was depressed. I did all that I could to keep my joy. I read out loud from the entire Book of Psalm. I learned that from Pastor L. The psalms are spiritual uplifters for the soul.
There was one major thing that I did though out this ordeal. I prayed and I prayed and I prayed and I prayed. I don't remember all what I did but I recall that I laid hands on my hair. I actually spoke to me hair. I told it that "you will grow. You will not die but live!"
I don't consider myself a "spiritual giant". I did what I did. I did not know what else to do during this issue in my life. I thought about getting a wig. I said "NO!" I want to have my own hair...."the home grown product". I remember when I went to church, I would see babies with a lot of hair. They had more hair on their heads than I lost.
What was so amazing during this time in my life, was when I would go to family gathering, church or other meetings. I did not tell people that I had a hair issue. Some in my family knew and others around me. I remember a family member motioned to me that I had a gray hair. I thought at least that gray hair did not fall out.
But when I went to church only a very very little knew. I had at least two people prayed for me in church. These two people who prayed for me, pick up something in the spirit. One ask me was I depressed? The other ask was I worry?
Yeah, I was....This issue was a trial from July 13, 1995 to about Feb 8, 1996. In that time spand, I did not want any hair stylist to touch my hair. I though about going back to an Afro. I came to my senses in February. I allowed someone to look at my hair. My hair was a total mess.
[Footnote: I did not wear hats in those days. This was also the time, I was about getting ready to join the WOLC special choir. I was going through this issue with my hair while doing something that would get my mind off my troubles at that time.]
In February of 1996, the hairstylist said that she could do something with my hair. But my hair had to be cut. That was the shortest hair cut that I have ever had. Through the many months ahead, my hair grow back. I had many hair dos as the years went by. I had a thought of when I was in the choir. If anyone would look back at the archives, they would notices all those many different hairs dos that I had.
The photo below is of me in November of 1998.
This was the time that I had the desire for hats. I made that discovery and started to like them. I might share that story on how I got inspired to wear hats. Who knows, I might even share how many hats I have in my collection. Some of my hats were given to me.
Back to my hair issue... By 2001 till now, I had more hair issues. That was related to the attack of Lupus in 2001 and 2004. I decided not to get a perm because I had to be on chemo for six months during both years.
In 2001 and 2004, I thought it would be wise to lay of perms for about 6 - 10 months while I was on chemo for six months during those years. The kidney doctor told me that I could loose all my hair from the chemo.
But by the grace of God, I did not lose any hair from my scalp during any time when I was on chemo. The only hair that I believe that came off my head was the hair that broke off because I stop getting a perm. My hair grew back. I believe that is still growing back.
Back then, after the first hair issue, some times I thought that I cannot never have a bad hair day. After all what I have been through! But when my hair kept getting shorter and shorter and shorter forming into an Afro, I started to wear hats a lot more during the 2004 year. I had to get use to short hair again. It's not that I have a bad hair day.
Then there was something going on with my hair starting the last two summers, especially last year after the shingles issue. My hair started to break off. Some of my friends said you cut your hair!
At times I didn't say anything. I thought to myself, "it's a new look." I may have needed a change back then. I was introducing a new me.
I believe that I have been growing in the Lord since this issue. In the way that I needed to change and believe that God will comfort me and guide me through. I believe that God brought me through in times of not knowing. He is a Great Comforter.
There are some things that I have experienced by going through this hair issue in LIFE. Through my pursuit in God's help, I become closer to Him. I had other issues going on in my life as well during this time. Through the comfort of His words, His presence and the longing to keep going, that keep me in tact. I believe that only God could have keep me going and brought me through this time in my life.
I set in my thinking, it's not matter the length of my hair that counts. It's the length of time that I have in Jesus that matter to me the most. With or without my hair I believe that I will make it. I prefer my own hair though. And I got to have Jesus in my life.
In the word of God, there's a verse that says that He knows the numbers of hair that I have on my head. God cares even about my hair that He numbered them. That comforts my soul. I thank God for blessing me with hair.
May you grow through whatever issue that comes your way. May you realize that no matter what you're facing,Jesus is the most important factor than your issue in life.
