"After 'going natural' in June 2001, I was the lone natural in many of my circles. While I loved my new natural journey, I really had no one else to relate to or look to for guidance. Later that year, in September, when I began attending Northwood University in Cedar Hill, Texas. Little did I know, the person I would meet in the coming months would be the catalyst for the natural hair gatherings that have been going on in Killeen for the past six years.  A group of African dancers were invited to visit and perform at Northwood I attended with several of my friends but I was still the lone natural in the group.Because of this, I could spot a fellow nappy head in any crowd and was always excited to spot someone else with "kinks."  

On this night, I saw the kinky head of "Mosetta" and a few of her friends, gathered on the same lawn, watching the African dancers.

I managed to make my way over to say hello.  During our conversation with her, Mosetta told me about her group called A Nappy Hair Affair and invited us to her Hair Day gatherings and other ANHA events. Some friends in my group replied, "I still need my perm!" or "I can't do the natural look." But years later, after I graduated in 2005, I would drive all the way from Killeen to Dallas, just to attend Mosetta's Hair Day gatherings.

I really enjoyed those gatherings and I figured that we had many naturals in Killeen who would enjoy having that same sense of community.In November, 2005, I held our first Hair Day gathering at Under One Roof, the only black bookstore in Killeen. It was only right that Mosetta would come to the first one! I invited her to come and speak and participate.

We had regular gatherings at the bookstore until it closed in 2007. After the bookstore closed, Luvina, who attended regularly, wanted the tradition to continue. So ,in early 2008, she opened her home to the natural community and held monthly hair days much like those that were held in Dallas.We styled hair but we also learned about eating healthy and organic foods. We learned how to make our own products and went to community events as a group.

I have a memory of that first hair day that still makes me laugh. A sister came to the Hair Day with straight, pressed hair. We don't discriminate against hair textures so everyone was welcome. But halfway through the event, that sister went into the bathroom and doused her hair with water to prove that even though her hair was pressed, she was really natural!

That was a classic moment and there were many more that followed."