Can you believe that we’re only two weeks into 2021? Lawwd…what a difference a couple days make.

I don’t know why we think the minute the clock changes from 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31 to midnight on Jan. 1 is different from any other minute of that day. Your issues definitely carry over.

I’m late in posting this blog post. The reason is a mixture of procrastination and frustration with a hint of not wanting to publicly face the reality of it.

So, as my avid readers know, I get my hair straightened twice a year. The last post I did about it was a week after my dad died. I was happy with the results, but my heart wasn’t in the right place to really celebrate that I was a few inches away from making it to waist length.

Fast forward to seven months later (last week) when I got my hair straightened again.

I went in like any other time, but I noticed that my hair specialist kept making comments and asking questions pertaining to the condition of my hair.

“How often do you moisturize?”

“How do you usually wear your hair?”

“Have you tried twists to keep your hair detangled?”

Whatchu talkin’ ‘bout, Willis? You know me. I’m the most low-maintenance hair person ever. Nothing has changed.

Finally, when she was blow-drying my hair, I realized that I was in for a rude awakening.

“I’m seeing a lot of breakage toward the scalp.”

Huh? How? I haven’t worn any tight styles. I haven’t done anything differently.

“Have you experienced a lot of stress lately?”

Those words echoed in my head.

My mind immediately started racing with the images and sounds of 2020. My father’s death, the demanding preparation and journey to get to his funeral amid a pandemic, the initial headache of virtual learning, trying to keep household safe from a mysterious virus—all piled with the usual strains of everyday life—made me realize that I severely neglected myself.

While everyone was showing off their summer bodies, I was adding pounds to mine. And, as I realized in my salon visit, I did not care an ounce about what my hair was up to.

I moisturized it whenever. I’m sure it wasn’t consistent because I barely even though about it.

Plus, I later read that extreme stress shocks your strands and disrupts their growth, which causes breakage. I was also not paying attention to nutrition, so the vitamins my body needed were probably also lacking.

Go figure. My strands were choking and dying one by one without me even noticing.

Back to the salon. So, after the blow dry and straightening, I saw the remnants of 2020. Everything I didn’t show emotionally was looking right back at me.

Mangled. Tangled. Broken. Just… sad.

To get everything back on track, the specialist took off a good 6 inches of hair. They were see-through and pathetic-looking anyways.

Goodbye, progress! How the heck did I get to this point?

After the initial shock of an unexpected cut, I had to suck it up and decide how to make my setback a major comeback.

I was already a month into my workout routine and cleaner eating, so I was feeling results and creating new habits.

Now, I had to put that same amount of energy into getting my strands back to full health.

Working out will help. Drinking more water will too. I GOTTA stay on top of my moisture levels and scalp massages as well. And since I need to ensure I’m getting all the nutrients, I added hair vitamins to my routine.

I still keep it simple, but I’m being intentional—rather than neglectful.

With this new beginning, my goal is to grow a head of waist length hair that is full from the top to the bottom. (That’s key because as my hair grew longer last time, it was tapering off into a “V” shape. Nope! I’m not counting it if only 5 strands are hitting my goal.)

New year, better me. It’s about rejuvenation. I got in survival mode in 2020; but now, I’m going to flourish into who I’m meant to be.

And this is not only about hair or fitness. Those are just two aspects of it. You’ll hear about more in due time.

Also, I can’t stand when people say, “It’s just hair.” Well then, shave yours off and keep it pushing.

But seriously, I never hear people say, “It’s just clothes. It’s just an accessory. It’s just fashion.” When it comes to hair, though, something that grows out of your scalp, we shouldn’t care about it? Okay oo… suit yourself. Me, I will care.

I won’t obsess, but I will care, because it’s part of the overall package.

Anyways, I’m entering 2021 with 6 inches less of hair, but a great outlook on what’s to come. Let’s see if I can get back to where I was (with much thicker ends) by the end of the year.

Of course, there will be a video about this as well. See you this weekend to talk more about this setback turned comeback!