Its been little over 2 months since my big chop and it seems more people have boarded the natural hair train since then.Chapeau ladies, from those who have just made the decisions and are transitioning and to those who took the leap and did the big chop. Some may say it is turning into a trend but then again relaxing is also nothing more than a trend that many of us follow simply because "everyone seems to be doing it".
So if you are considering joining it to be part of the trendy new fad, that is as commendable as the most health conscious fanatic or Afrocentric of us.
Obviously though , the path will have its ups and downs and before you reach the versatile, voluminous lion mane of natural hair we all aspire to eventually sport there will be a lot of frustration trying to figure out what works and what does not for you personally.
I recently visited my sister over Easter who commented on how her hair would not look like mine if she stopped relaxing. Whilst that is a fair observation I want to comment on the false belief out there that we can or should try to make our hair look like each other.Not to mention the surprising flood of *natural hair sisters* with super bouncy and wavy hair as aspirations for afro, kinky and nappy hair sisters who are relying on chemical straightening and perming to help manage and style their hair. Since the basis of going natural is to allow your hair to be what it actually is, it is redundant if you go natural but want to change your hair to look like something that it is not!
One of the first research I conducted whilst toying with the concept of "Going Natural" was into the hair types and their limitations. I say limitations not because I think one type is better than the others but because knowing your hair type helps you to know what to look for in terms of natural inspirations.
Knowing that I have a mixture of type 3 and type 4 hair gave me tangible examples of what my hair would be like and possible styles I would be able to try according to the different hair lengths I would inevitably go through.
Despite being siblings, my sister's mixture of type 4 hair will not look exactly like my mixture of type 3 & type 4. Whilst her afro would hold a more uniform shape , mine is growing with a crater at the apex of my head because my type 3 hair prefers forming softer curls than the kinkier mixture of type 4 hair around my crown.
This difference is something I have to take into account when choosing what to use in my hair even more so now as my hair is getting longer
The softer and curlier crater in the center of my scalp does really well with gels and the *wash and go* styles but simply refuses to hold its shape when I coiling or braiding. The same principle applies to find the best products for your specific hair or combination of hair.
Eg. While flaxseed gel naturally accentuated the kinks of my type 4 into super cool tight coils, it left my hair too dry and crunchy for my liking unless I am willing to wash and reapply on a daily basis.
Aloe Vera leave in conditioner on the other hand gives my hair the moisture and the softeness lasts for atleast 2 days and the day after I can simply redo the LOC method and be set to go rather than rewashing and styling.
So my advice for today , regardless of if you are contemplating joining or are already on the train, is to realistically determine what your hair is like and how you can potentially style it. Do not be put off by the disproportionate representation of what natural hair is supposed to look like.
So if you are considering joining it to be part of the trendy new fad, that is as commendable as the most health conscious fanatic or Afrocentric of us.
I recently visited my sister over Easter who commented on how her hair would not look like mine if she stopped relaxing. Whilst that is a fair observation I want to comment on the false belief out there that we can or should try to make our hair look like each other.Not to mention the surprising flood of *natural hair sisters* with super bouncy and wavy hair as aspirations for afro, kinky and nappy hair sisters who are relying on chemical straightening and perming to help manage and style their hair. Since the basis of going natural is to allow your hair to be what it actually is, it is redundant if you go natural but want to change your hair to look like something that it is not!
One of the first research I conducted whilst toying with the concept of "Going Natural" was into the hair types and their limitations. I say limitations not because I think one type is better than the others but because knowing your hair type helps you to know what to look for in terms of natural inspirations.
Knowing that I have a mixture of type 3 and type 4 hair gave me tangible examples of what my hair would be like and possible styles I would be able to try according to the different hair lengths I would inevitably go through.
Despite being siblings, my sister's mixture of type 4 hair will not look exactly like my mixture of type 3 & type 4. Whilst her afro would hold a more uniform shape , mine is growing with a crater at the apex of my head because my type 3 hair prefers forming softer curls than the kinkier mixture of type 4 hair around my crown.
This difference is something I have to take into account when choosing what to use in my hair even more so now as my hair is getting longer
 |
| Homemade Flaxseed Gel |
 |
| Homemade Aloe Vera Leave in Conditioner |
Aloe Vera leave in conditioner on the other hand gives my hair the moisture and the softeness lasts for atleast 2 days and the day after I can simply redo the LOC method and be set to go rather than rewashing and styling.
So my advice for today , regardless of if you are contemplating joining or are already on the train, is to realistically determine what your hair is like and how you can potentially style it. Do not be put off by the disproportionate representation of what natural hair is supposed to look like.
