Freedom — arguably the most powerful and thought-provoking concept of humanity there is. There are many different forms and levels of freedom, and it lies at the root of the most basic of our motivations. As a young adult, you move out of your parents’ home in pursuit of personal freedom, the ability to establish your own set of rules and not have to adhere to the bidding of someone else. You find a job and work hard to achieve financial freedom, and the ability to spend money on the things that you like to do. You buy a car to have freedom of transportation, and be able to go wherever you want, whenever you want.
When Mia Waters decided to do cut her hair in 2009, she was in search of a different type of freedom. A child of the 70s, she’d spent her childhood wearing her hair naturally. But like many others, especially during that era, she began using relaxers in high school.
After years of dealing with the rigamarole of bi-weekly salon visits and uncomfortable sleeping positions, Mia finally decided enough was enough.
“I just wanted something easier and more carefree,” she admitted.
So after a six-month period where she stopped using relaxers and wore her hair in braids, Mia committed fully to her natural lifestyle and did the big chop — coincidentally on the same day Chris Rock’s Good Hair, a documentary exploring the history and business behind African-American hair and its cultural perception hit theaters.
Mia was quick to note that the movie didn’t have any direct impact on her decision to big chop, and she admits going natural was everything she’d hope it would be.
“It was freeing. It was kind of liberating to do it – to actually take the plunge and make that decision,” Mia explained.
Making the decision to big chop can often bring with it commentary from our friends and family. Which is why Mia was excited to receive generally positive reviews. Although, she does acknowledge that it took some a little while to get used to it.
“My husband was not happy about it initially. But, it’s what I wanted to do – so he began to love it,” Mia laughed.
With that step taken, it was time to find a product and routine that worked. The money Mia saved from her salon trips was now being invested in products. Mia searched far and wide, trying everything under the sun, but never really came across anything that gave her the look and feel that she wanted.
That is, of course, until she discovered Uncle Funky’s Daughter in 2011. Mia bought her first bottle of Curly Magic and hasn’t looked back since.
“I saw a video on YouTube [featuring UFD products] and I read the company’s story. And I said ‘Ok, let me give this a shot’,” she recalls. “What made Uncle Funky’s Daughter stand out initially was that the scent was different. That was a plus. And then, my curls really popped. It really changes the look of my hair.”
Overall, Mia says her natural hair journey has taught and afforded her a great deal –– a new perspective on herself and her appearance she may have never gained otherwise.
“It’s been fun going on this journey. You discover more about yourself, and more about your natural beauty. It teaches you not to be boxed into that old stereotype of how you’re supposed to look or be, and to embrace something more natural. I feel more beautiful naturally than I ever did with relaxers.”
That sounds a lot like freedom, doesn’t it?