Afope: Is Natural Hair for Everyone? 5 Tips & A Video to Help You Figure that Out!

I’ll admit it. For the longest time I struggled to wrap my head around how anyone could feel natural hair was not “for them”. I mean, it grows out of your head, it couldn’t be any more “for you” than that…right? Well, turns out it’s not that straightforward.

The decision to go natural is usually taken with the intention of having healthier hair. However, if the right precautions are not taken, said naturals may end up more frustrated and with hair just as damaged as it was  prior to transitioning.

In light of this, I’ve drafted a list of some key tellers to let you know if natural hair is “for you” or indeed “not your thing”. So let’s get to it ladies – natural hair is not for you if…

1. You have not done your research
Going from relaxed to natural hair in the space of anything from 1 day to 1 year is a big transition for anybody. It only makes sense that adequate research is done prior to making your final decision. Not everybody has (or is willing to do) what it takes to care for natural hair, so it’s important that you know where you stand before you make such a drastic and (may I remind you) permanent change.

2. You only want natural hair on the condition that your hair will look & act like that of your biggest curl crush
We all go through this stage and it’s perfectly natural – no pun intended (okay maybe a little bit). But the point is this; if you are so caught up in having hair like another natural, then you will be one dissatisfied girl if your hair doesn’t turn out exactly like you fantasized. By spending so much time trying to make your hair like that of another girl’s (which cannot be done without chemically altering your hair), you may be keeping your hair from reaching it’s own full potential.

3. You are not wiling to put in the work
If natural hair was a week, this factor would be ‘hump day’ – it seems like the biggest hurdle, but once you get over it, everything else seems to, well, flow. Most people are unwilling to put in the work but putting in the work is the most fundamental factor in the equation for healthy natural hair. Granted, it’s more work than what you may be used to, but with good time management and savvy practices you’ll soon find that a little work goes a long way.

4. Patience & Consistency are not your thing
Not only do you have to be wiling to put in the work, but you also have to be willing to put in the work consistently, and be patient with yourself and your hair. It’s new territory so for optimal results, it would be most beneficial to take your time and treat your hair with the care it deserves.

5. You cannot do without constant heat styling
For most non-naturals your flat iron is more than just another styling appliance, it’s your best friend. It’s been there through all the tough times, the emergencies and bad hair days so it’s understandable that a break up would be somewhat painful. So perhaps you shouldn’t think of it as a break up. Heat styling is not 100% off limits, however on the road-trip to healthy natural hair, that flat iron may have to take the backseat and not the wheel. Flat ironing 24/7/365 will most certainly be counterproductive to your healthy hair goals.

So there it is, if you’re thinking about going natural but aren’t sure whether it’s really “for you”, perhaps these factors could help you make your final decision.

And just in case you need some more insight, watch this Essence.com video with Hair & Beauty Editor, Deena Campbell with Jane Carter (Founder/CEO, Jane Carter Solution) on what you should ask your hair stylist before going natural.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime/Jason Stitt/Antonio Guillem | Video Credit: Essence.com