Hi Melusine.  I'm glad you're discovering the beauty of natural hair.  My hair's been natural most of my life with "only" three detours to perms.  I still envy women who have a tidy style with a good cut, perm and set though they're becoming rarer.  Occassionally I see someone with a "natural" looking good perm and I have to fight the itch to follow in their footsteps.  It's just not for me.