Wow. Where do I even begin? It's been nearly a year since my last blog post on Sept. 24, 2018. So much has happened since then....I had just released Orange Marmalade on Labor Day, I had a full-time job working for someone else, I had around 300 followers on Social Media and a grand total of ZERO Ecoslay hair care retailers. Fast forward 1 year later and Orange Marmalade has blown all the way up, I am full time self employed (and employ 3 others), just hit 15K followers on Instagram and work with 15 Ecoslay retailers around the world.
Wow. Where do I even begin? It's been nearly a year since my last blog post on Sept. 24, 2018. So much has happened since then....I had just released Orange Marmalade on Labor Day, I had a full-time job working for someone else, I had around 300 followers on Social Media and a grand total of ZERO Ecoslay hair care retailers. Fast forward 1 year later and Orange Marmalade has blown all the way up, I am full time self employed (and employ 3 others), just hit 15K followers on Instagram and work with 15 Ecoslay retailers around the world.
On the outside looking in, it seems that all of this is an instant success story. What most folks don't know is that this, in actuality, is my 3rd attempt at starting a small business and that Ecoslay itself is 5 years old. I say all of this to say, "You Reap what you Sow". It doesn't happen overnight. This applies to life, gardening and yes, even hair care.
Wait, gardening? Yes, ma'am. I don't count it a coincidence that life began in a garden. There is so much that we can learn from plants and their care. The picture above is of my beloved hibiscus. It made the trek with my family down the street last year when we moved over a couple of zip codes. At first, it thrived. Then, slowly, it began looking sadder and sadder. Many of you are familiar with my obsessive attachment to gardening and therefore will not be surprised to hear that I went immediately into action. I must've moved that plant 20 times all around the outside of my house. I stalked this thing, looking for any sign of improved health. When it failed to show me significant gains in a couple of days, I moved it again. And again. Then, something told me, "Adria, just stop". I went to good ole Google, learned that the spot that I currently had my hibiscus in was as good as any and left it the hell alone. And I waited. And waited. And waited. Watering it every other day. Fertilizing it on schedule. Peeking at it from inside the house. Praying for it nightly. Pruning the yellow leaves when they popped up (and calming my panicked reaction to wanting to immediately move it when they did). Until one day, I noticed this bloom. And then, more importantly, I noticed the 10 other nodes showing me that there would be plenty of additional blooms.
Ladies, this is crazily symbolic of our Natural and Curly hair journeys. They call it a "journey" for a reason. Your natural hair is not going to look like your inspiration pic next week and probably not even next month. Or next year. But, one day, if you stick to the process and stop being so damn extra, it will. You already know what to do - you've read the hair care blogs about when to clarify, co-wash, moisturize, protein-treat and trim. You own a couple of satin pillowcases and bonnets. You've traded in your janky ponytail holders for satin scrunchies. You're drinking your water, eating your veggies and exercising when you can. You avoid cones (even the water-soluble ones) and can translate an ingredients list in 5 seconds flat. So, now it's time to trust the process and wait. And one day, you're going to look in the mirror and you're going to see that bloom. And the rest will be history.
