I have encountered a good number of people that have been attracted to me because of my hair. They are of different categories, the "Oh! you are trying o, I don't think I can manage my natural hair" category, the "I have not relaxed my hair in like 2 months, shebi I am natural too?" or is it the "I have not relaxed in a while but I cannot carry it like that o" and the list is endless. I am sure you as a naturalista have encountered such. The new ones I am meeting now is "I am tired of the hair, I don't know what to do with it. I am going to relax it"
I overheard a lady ranting about her hair and all she was bothered about was length, she kept on and on about how her hair still looks as it was exactly a year ago and how it would be longer if she relaxed her hair. I was like
Now, I don't know why she decided to go natural in the first place but it's evident that it was for the wrong reasons and I am so over people saying "It's hard", "I don't know what style", "My hair is not growing" etc. I acknowledge that maintaining your natural hair can come with it's own set of challenges and that goes with every other decision we make in life. Get over it!
Here are my 4 reasons why you should not grow your natural hair.
1. It's the new trend; If this is the reason why you want to grow out your natural hair, then trust me you should just go with the next hairstyle. You will be relaxing your hair in another month and if you are resilient 6 months.
2. Your hair will be more manageable; err....Sorry Sister! You'd need more patience with your Natural Hair and if you don't have that, you'd end up frustrated in a very short time.
3. Length; Natural Hair can be very deceptive and it shrinks. If you don't have the knowledge and you are looking for loonngg hair to flaunt... I don't think you should grow your natural hair because after one year and it "appears" that your hair length has not changed, in comes the frustration.
4. You are not willing to do the work; Maintaining natural hair is not exactly a walk in the park, except you have your regimen on a lock down, there is constant trying out products to see what works for your hair and the routines you have to do. *Phew* If you think it will be easy, you'd end up with probably more unhealthy hair than when your hair was relaxed.
In that light, I think the only reason you should want to grow your Natural Hair is because you want healthy(ier) hair. While this can be very broad, it is important to count the cost of whatever decision that is being made, which involves doing the research required. It is not just about ''Stop using relaxer" on your hair. It's about taking good care of the hair and giving the hair the opportunity to flourish and when you do have the proper knowledge, you won't be bothered if after on year your hair "looks" the same as long as your hair is healthy!
What other reason do you think people shouldn't go Natural for?
You are so right. I know two people who went natural because it became trendy. They were not natural for up to a year.
ReplyDeleteTrue Talk! This can serve as a Disclaimer to Future Natural hair newbies. Get your reasons and facts right before making any decision aside hair even life.
ReplyDeleteExactly oh!!
DeleteAh! If I had a dollar for every time I've heard one or a mix of these comments loll!!! Truth is your reason for going natural will determine your staying power in the long run. Quite apart from that I've found out that it's not just about going natural but a willingness to learn, understand and do things differently. I have a friend who's on a healthy hair journey, she's relaxed but puts in more effort into her hair than I do mine! It's really about doing what is required to get what you want once you've made a decision. Just like anything else in life actually.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you.
DeleteVery true.. natural or not if you dont put in effort , No good result.
DeletePlease don't go natural because your hair is breaking. Natural hair still breaks. But with the right care and maintenance you hair will not break as much as it used to. Don't go natural because you saw someone's curly and glossy hair, yours may not come out that way but there are always ways to show off your hair and its uniqueness
ReplyDeleteTell 'em...
DeletePeople go natural for many reasons. That's why we have put a poll on the right to sample the motives of people going natural. Please fill if you haven't.
ReplyDeleteThe people that went Natural for other reasons except healthier hair are not here trust me! Lol.
DeleteReason number 2. You hit the nail on the head!
ReplyDeleteReason number 2. You hit the nail on the head!
ReplyDeleteLol... Interesting.. The post long o
ReplyDeleteIt's all so true.
ReplyDeleteI wish people would read this before they transition or do the BC.
Nice write up.