Journey with Individual Braids

So, I'm well into week 2 sportin' my individual braids.  Sigh... the good thing about having the braids is that I don't have to worry about what to do with my hair.  But for me that's the only good thing.  I absolutely hate that the braids have tugged and pulled at scalp and hair for days! Yes, they've loosened up significantly now but there are still braids that feel tight here and there and then I'm still struggling with some of the braids around my ears, nape, and edges.  Any little pull makes them uncomfortable.
The other thing is that my scalp is itching pretty regularly and I see very short hairs sticking out from the braids all over the top of my head.  My prayer is that I will take these braids down in a couple of weeks and I will have hair that has grown out and is healthier.
I've been moisturizing daily and doing everything I'm supposed to do so hopefully my experiment with braids (to hide my transitioning hair) will be a positive one in the end.

WHY DO BLACK PEOPLE HATE BLACK HAIR?

I guess I should correct that statement by saying "some" black people.  Its amazing to me hear of so many negative comments coming from the very people who should not only support but love natural hair...black people.  A friend of mines told me that her friend went natural and the friend's husband hates it! He also has made very negative comments about how so many commercials on t.v are now showing only nappy headed black women! WOW! Really?  I've been so impressed with how there are tons of commercials with black women sporting their natural hair! It made feel good inside and happy! It never even crossed my mind that their would be other black people out there who criticized it and were even possibly embarrassed by it.
Its really hurtful to think of how all other races of men and women (and black men included) can all wear their natural hair without it being called unprofessional or ugly.  Black women are the only ones pressured to put a very strong chemical on their hair to alter it.  Its ridiculous to think that we shouldn't be able to enjoy the same freedoms as everyone else.  And that's the freedom to rock our natural hair....if we want to!
To be able to work out without worrying about sweating out our "edges, to be able to go swimming, and not be afraid of water messing up our 'do.
All I can say is I hope that the women who have decided to go natural stay the course...including myself.

I don't have the soft silky curls that a lot of natural sistas have so I know it will be a challenge to get to know my own natural hair and care for it properly...especially since I've had some sort of chemical on my hair since I was at least 10 years old.  I know how to handle that straightened processed hair...I've had years of practice.  But I will need to be very patient as I learn how to care for and style my God given hair because its a stranger to me.

Stay strong!