My First 'Fro: A Journey to Love
- Ashleigh Armstrong
- Jan 16, 2023
- 3 min read
The "Big Chop"
I went natural in 2015. I had just turned 30, was just about to get married and decided that I would move to Switzerland from New York City, to be with my then husband.
Big chopping seemed like exactly what I needed: I was starting a whole new life and I felt like my hair should match. I'd taken decisions to improve my life and I wanted my hair to follow suit. On top of all of that, my hair was severely damaged after going bleach blonde by a stylist who did not give any supportive information about how I could maintain the health of my hair, despite my best attempts at communicating. My hair was thin, broken and sad-looking at best; and so was my spirit.
Little did I know that this act of big chopping would be the catalyst to an actual journey towards self-love and acceptance. I hadn't seen or touched my natural hair since I was 13 years old, so I had no clue of how to treat it. No idea of how to retain length. No idea of how to keep my hair healthy. And thus, I fell into lazy habits because I just didn't have the support I needed available to me, particularly not in a country that was new to me and where I could not yet speak the language. Besides, we come to things when we come to them, right?
Trying to figure it out
As a matter of ease, for more than 3 years, I did a daily wash 'n go and simply pulled my hair into a hair band. I was known for wearing this style. But it was just a style to help me as my TWA was growing out. While my hair was healthy (read: not breaking), I wasn't retaining length, I wasn't detangling properly (more like ripping knots and accidental locs out), I wasn't getting trims at all and I couldn't figure out how to style my hair either. My twistouts always sucked and I didn't know how to braid.
I spent 8 years coveting the hairstyles of all the women who seemed to have it figured out. I've always been in awe of their big, luscious curls and I knew what I wanted: a big-ass fro growing towards the heavens. But how?
Demystifying greatness
Enter Charlotte Noire. Going to The Curl Sanctuary has always been quite an experience for me. Seeing all the hairstyles gave me new inspiration to love on my hair, which is really loving on myself. Jess and the team have been supportive in helping me learn techniques to achieve and refresh my favorite hairstyles, namely, a fantastic and fabulous 'fro.
Combining Charlotte Noire products with some basic techniques have changed my life and now, I'm styling out the afro of my dreams, all by myself from the comfort of my own home!
If you're finding it hard to achieve the styles you love, I highly recommend that you #JustAskJess. Make an appointment and ask your questions! The entire team is ready and willing to help you with product information, showing you techniques and talking about tools that are the most useful for you to have and all of their support has really helped me to not feel defeated by my lack of knowledge and skill and I'm saving tons of time and money as a result!
This is such a heartfelt journey and beautifully expressed — thanks for sharing your experience! 💖 It’s amazing how personal stories like this can inspire connection and encourage others to reflect on their own paths. If any creators or small business owners are reading this and looking to grow their presence online, don’t forget it’s important to Get Listed Today in a trusted Local business directory — it can really make a difference in helping people discover your work or services. Keep sharing your voice!
Such a beautiful and vulnerable reflection—thank you for sharing your journey with authenticity and openness. Embracing your first fro and the personal growth that comes with it is truly inspiring. For Black-owned businesses and creators building community and visibility, it also helps to be present online in meaningful ways. Utilizing a free business listing for black owned business can boost exposure, and doing a Business directory submission for black owned business supports discoverability within communities that want to uplift and support Black entrepreneurs. Your courage and insight make this space richer—thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing your powerful and beautiful journey to self-love — it’s inspiring to see how embracing your natural texture can be such a transformational experience. Taking care of your hair goes beyond aesthetics; it’s part of honoring yourself and your roots. That’s why intentional approaches like scalp treatment and nourishing solutions like Hair Repair Treatment can play a meaningful role in supporting confident, healthy growth. Grateful for your story and the encouragement it brings to others!
Such a beautiful and inspiring story — thank you for sharing your journey! 💛 Growth, self-love, and resilience are such powerful themes. It reminds me how, in unexpected ways, we all have layers to protect and nurture — just like marine pipe insulation safeguards comfort and stability on ships. When skilled marine insulation companies approach their work thoughtfully, they transform harsh environments into spaces that feel supportive and secure. Wishing you continued confidence and joy on your path!
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful, personal journey — your confidence and self‑love really shine through! Stories like this are a great reminder of how important it is to care for ourselves in every season of life. It also got me thinking about preparing for the future with intentional Retirement Planning so we can continue to celebrate life’s moments with peace of mind. And for many people, whole life insurance can be a meaningful part of protecting loved ones and building long‑term security.