From Chemicals to Cornrows: My Hair Journey to Peace and Zen

For as long as I can remember, my hair was my crown — and I wore it proudly. From childhood, strangers and family alike would stop to compliment my texture. It was manageable, beautiful, and full of life. I never had to wrap it up at night. It just... kept.

But behind that crown, I was quietly doing damage I wouldn't fully understand until years later.

The Years of "Doing Too Much"

Relaxers. Chemicals. Blow dryers. Flat irons. Hot combs. If it promised sleek, shiny hair, I tried it. Some of it was vanity — I loved the compliments and I chased them. But over time, the years of constant heat and chemical processing began to take a serious toll on my scalp.

A cyst appeared on the crown of my head. At first it was a nuisance. Then it became constant pain.

Going Natural — and Finding Locks

After leaving a 20-year career in corporate America, I was ready for a change — inside and out. I decided to go fully natural and got braids. Three weeks in, the itching on my scalp became unbearable. When I removed a few braids to investigate, I discovered something unexpected underneath: dreadlocks had begun to form on their own.

I washed and washed my hair — and the locks stayed. They looked like braids. So I kept them.

For 15 years, those locks grew past my waist. They became a part of my identity. When I'd run into people from my past, they'd celebrate me by placing cowrie shells on them. It was joyful, spiritual, and deeply personal.

Until it wasn't.

Letting Go

I began to feel that too many people had walked across my hair — energetically and literally — for far too long. It was time to let them go. And the cyst, which had been growing larger with every passing month, made that decision even more urgent. The constant pulling on my scalp was making things worse.

I had the cyst surgically removed. Two hours on the table. And finally — relief.

Three weeks later, the pain returned. I went back to the dermatologist and learned the cyst had grown back — this time, there were three. The doctor had failed to remove the cyst wall the first time, allowing it to regenerate. I had to go through the procedure again.

After cutting my locks, strangers would stop me on the street: "Why did you cut off your beautiful locks?"

My answer was always the same: "It's only hair. It will grow back."

The Cyst That Kept Coming Back

With a shaved head, the cyst became even more sensitive. Sun exposure, dirt, anything — it would flare up and hurt terribly. Over the next several years, I had it drained three times in a row. It was one of the most painful and exhausting experiences of my life.

But today? I am cyst-free.

Peace, Finally

What I've learned through all of this is simple but profound: leave the hair alone. The scalp is living tissue. It breathes, it heals, and it thrives when we stop fighting it.

Today, I proudly wear my hair in cornrows — letting it grow on its own terms, without interference. No chemicals. No heat. No pulling. Just patience and care.

And my hair accessories? They've become my best friends. Gentle, beautiful, and intentional — just like the journey that led me here.

That's why I created Peace and Zen Design. Every wrap, every headband, every scrunchie is made with the understanding that your hair deserves protection, not punishment. Because self-care isn't just a trend — it's a practice. And your crown deserves to be treated like one.

Welcome to the journey.