On April 23rd I will officially be a natural hair veteran (joking) I am however celebrating 6 years since my big chop. My how time flies! The above photo is a length check of sorts, I straightened my hair in January and was surprised at the amount of growth I noticed!
I’ve learned a few things along the way that I’d like to share with you all - here are 5 things I’ve learned since going natural:
1. It’s a lifestyle
For me, going natural was a personal choice and journey that I embarked on almost three years ago. Since going natural I have adapted a whole new lifestyle: new friends, a new business, overall knowledge of self, and I pay better attention to my health and body.2. Patience is a virtue
Going natural can sometimes be annoying, tedious, and time consuming. But if you stay patient and don’t go off the deep end (chopping all of your hair off or relaxing it out of frustration) it will be worth it!3. Work with what you have
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having “curl envy” or “curl crushes.” But sometimes we covet what someone else has and don’t appreciate our own. If you take the time to learn to care for your hair, develop a proper care and maintenance regimen, and figure out what products work best for your hair then you will have a rewarding experience.
4. Don't be afraid of change
Luckily I've noticed a bunch of naturals that experiment with beautiful hair colors, stylish cuts, and even heat styles so this isn't as much of a problem any more but in the past people were afraid to experiment with their hair. I've maintained healthy hair through all of my experiments - from shaving the side of my head, to a second big chop, dyeing it a bunch of different shades of blonde, light brown and dark brown, and even straightening it. If a drastic change is what you desire, go for it!
