I know you still get questions related to your natural hair: “Why did you go natural?” “What do you like about being natural?” “What are your goals now that you are natural?” And you always have an exciting and optimistic answer for each question.
I know for me I get those questions all the time but one threw me off guard when asked about my natural hair journey: “Now that you are natural, what are some habits that have changed and what are some habits that have stayed the same?” Honestly, I never thought about it but now I had to come up with a quick list and thought I would share so you won’t be caught off guard like me:
Habits That Changed When Going Natural
Styling options – When you were relaxed, the two most common styles would be a flat iron* or a roller set. You can add a few flat twists and buns in there but that was about it. Now that you have gone natural, your hair is even more versatile you can do a flat iron*, roller set, Afro, finger coils, etc. Natural hair gives a broad range of options that relaxed hair is not able to fulfill.
Reading labels of hair products – Now I’m not the only one that reads every hair product that has come across my path. When I was relaxed, I did not do my own hair let alone buy hair products besides a comb, gel, and a satin scarf.
But once I crossed that line of being a naturalista, I would became selective in what I would put on my hair. I always want to make sure certain, harmful ingredients were not hidden in the hair products I would be curious about.
Hair routine – A naturals hair regimen is very different from being relaxed. You may have added more products or extra steps, for example: pre pooing and lets not forget detangling.
Detangling alone has really made the natural hair regimen very different than having relaxed hair because even though the technique is the same, it takes way more time in comparison to straight relaxed hair.
The effects of humidity and weather – Well, you may not run from your job to your car when it is raining because your hair is in an Afro puff or two strand twists…but best believe, we don’t do sun and the hot weather in general when our hair is straight.
No amount of serum, anti-frizz, or humidity-resistance potions and concoctions can save your flat ironed style from becoming a frizzy twist out-like style by the afternoon if humidity, rain, or even the wind are present.
Tolu says
I love the list! I’m transitioning and loving my new growth texture so very much. I’m a candidate for HIHS already :-D.