Simple Simon was that dude that tried to catch a whale with his mother’s pail and it didn’t work out because all he got was water, go figure.
He did quite a few things in that famous nursery rhyme that did not quite work because of his inability to plan ahead and think things through. Yes I know this is kind of random, but humor me….
Anyway I decided that I am more akin to a ‘Practical Suzy’, she doesn’t have a nursery rhyme like Simon does but she is that girl that likes to make things easy and when trying to get to a certain goal but the goal also has to be useful.
I am like that with everything and my approach to my hair is no different; it is very practical and drilled down to simple things like moisture, protein and cleansing.
Everything I do surrounds those three things and because of that there are quite a few hair practices that I have found to be a little overrated and in some cases not very practical either.
Just like the overrated products and hair tools we wrote about some time back, I felt that overrated natural hair practices deserved a post of it’s own. Check 9 of them out…
1. Going to a salon
This might be a touchy topic, and if you own a salon you might not like that I would suggest that going to a salon is overrated. Well this is an opinion post and some might agree that going to a salon, monthly or even weekly is not necessary and can certainly get costly.
For years DIY-ers have gotten a lot of flack for taking their hair care into their own hands but after years of unsuccessful attempts at having someone else care for their hair they figure they can’t do much worse on their own.
Don’t get me wrong there are some sharp salons out there with some serious talent and every now and then to go and spend a little money on your hair and get pampered a bit just might be what the doctor ordered.
All I am saying is that caring for your hair on your own is entirely possible and with the wealth of information out there on hair care and health you have no excuse not to take the care of your hair into your own hands.
2. Parting with a comb
Phew! Now that we have the hard one out of the way, let’s talk about combs and brushes and “cool” inventions like tangle teasers. Many women who have been successful at keeping their hair healthy and retaining length have professed that they do not use a comb at all. As a matter of fact they do not use any sort of hair detangling or parting tool because their fingers do such a great job.
Your fingers are the best tools for your natural hair particularly in situations where a comb is not absolutely necessary like parting your hair in sections for a twist out. Come on, nobody is even going to see the parts while you are rocking your twist out so why use a comb to part?
Combs and brushes can easily break or pop your hair in places that you could have saved if you were patiently using your fingers. Not to mention they don’t cost you anything and your hair will be noticeably healthier I guarantee it.
How is going to the salon overrated? DIY has some people hair looking terrible. Also going to the salon can be therapeutic.
Can’t say I disagree Candice, salons are very therapeutic that’s why we suggest going every now and then. Don’t get me wrong you can choose to go as much as you want we are just saying DIY is a great alternative. It isn’t fool proof but it’s an option.. 🙂 thanks for reading love 🙂
If you have a good stylist yes it’s therapeutic. But the prices of ‘natural hair salons’ in these parts are off putting and even when you use them, it’s not something you could not have done yourself at home. Waste of money IMO
As a natural you know best how to maintain your natural tresses. You’ve done the research and put in the time to get to really know what’s best for your hair and what’s not. Now just because you have a cosmo license doesn’t mean you have a good amount of knowledge on natural hair and the maintenance that involves keeping your hair looking so awesome. Heat damage is a set back and you took care of hair to grow it healthy often times the answer to gaining that length & health back is cutting it again. If one has already transition or worse done her big chop…now you have to endure a set back that comes along with going to the salon. I would suggest that one maybe schedule an appointment at a natural hair salon. Once again no one can tell you EVERYTHING about YOUR individual hair but they have vital insight from personal experience and done the research unlike some other peeps 🙂
I loved this article and agree with so much of it. It’s well written too!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Love this article!! Every word is true! Need to check myself…
Thank you Andrea… Sometimes we all need a check from time to time …
I love this site! It’s so refreshing to have a site that embraces natural hair. Kudos to the creators of this site. You are doing more than teaching us to love our hair, you are teaching us to love our selves!
If you have suffered a loss and are in need of comfort please check out my book “Falling in Love with God: A Guide to Overcoming Grief” available at Amazon.com and michellelivous.com Have a blessed holiday season!
Aww thank you Michelle,.. Glad you are enjoying it
This was a very informative artical. I had no idea.
Hi! I am so glad I subscribed to your newsletter as it has been so informative and inspirational. I will start by saying that i am 49 years old and i will not lie: I lot of the ‘natural’ style would not have been acceptable when i was a child/teen. Back in those days one keep their hair neat and together. My sisters and I wore two plaits ‘Indian style’ down to our waits until we were teens—with mom doing the brushing! I always fought my fluffy hair (I guess it’s 3a??) while my sisters had more like 2a hair. To say the least, I relaxed it for yearsup until last october because I never was consistant w/ the relaxing process which i did maybe 2x year. I was transitioning and not realizing it. Then I discovered YouTube in feb of this year. wow. I been on a Natural kick since. I’ve done it all with the moisturizing and wrapping and deep conditioning. I have always worn my hair in a top knot and I am just about to take the dive and get a bob or pixie. I like neat—not comfortable with twists or wash n go’s–at least not yet. My eyes have been opened and I see sooooo many sisters natural that I am not ashamed to have my curls go all cray cray! I love them. My hair is all Nat and my hair hasnt been this thick since childhood. My ‘shiggys’ (baby hair) and hair line is not what it used to be, but it homecare 🙂 they have filled in nicely. ahh, the styles I couldve worn back in the day when I had ‘all that hair’. I am so thankful we are embracing what God gave us without shame. Like Tracey ross said, ‘why i am I fighting what God gave me’..or something too that effect. Thank you for this site for keeping ot real.
sorry for some of the errors in my letter..I’m typing on one of the new-fangled phones 🙂
That’s ok Theresa thank you so much for sharing your story ,the process you went through is very similar to a lot of … I know I defin. Can relate.. Good luck on the rest of your journey and maybe try a wash and go one day… You never know , you just might like it!!!
Salons are overrated and beauticians will destroy your hair…Most beauticians hair also look jacked up, so they are not experts!
There are salons and beauticians that specialize in natural hair. Diy styles are fine and dandy in some cases….in others, they are not. But if ur like me (when I had hair) I desired more than the just twist outs…I wanted some fresh intricate cornrow and twist styles that I couldn’t do myself.
As always informative, and enlightening; thank you again for your time and dedication.
Love love love the article. Its a big help!
Thank you Jocelin
Washing your hair in sections is greatly overrated for me as my hair and scalp aren’t really clean when I use that method. My hair and scalp actually appreciate the whole ‘Tasmanian devil’ routine of shampooing when under the shower. The end result being that both are clean and don’t have a residual funky smell. Note I said overrated for me, as this method may be the bees’ knees for others.
ITA with u Michelle! I’ve attempted the “washing in sections” during my 6-month relaxer stretch twice, & each time my relaxed hair AND my new growth came out to be a crazy tangled mess, worse than what the regular washing for me would do! Lol, I guess we just gotta try a few techniques then just stick to what we know works best.
The purpose of washing in sections is to prevent it from getting tangled. You still are supposed to wash your scalp the same way just smaller sections for the detangling process.
Um …not all beauticians are terrible …there are some that care more about your hair rather then sticking weave on top of your head just to make a quick buck…I take pride in healthy hair .
Thank you for this article. I agree with a lot of the points made. When we go natural, we go from one end of the spectrum to another with hair care; either destroying (for lack of a better word) to over-managing our hair. We need a healthy balance with our hair. Earlier this month, I visited my stylist for a much-needed trim. I got a great wash, condition with steam treatment (my second one) and tons of love for my hair. But I do my hair most of the time. You need the healthy balance to check that you are on the right path. Thanks again!
Great article! and I agree. especially about Starbucks..lol
Haha… Had to throw that in!
Sorry to hear I hope we’re not cheaping ourselves but going to sub standard salons. You do get what your paid for.
Great points Emily. Since I haven’t invested in the essential heating tool for the DC (hooded dried) I have decided to do those at the salon once per month, everything else is done at home . Otherwise I do the DC the old fashioned way; put on a plastic bag then a shower cap and let the Caribbean sun go to work LOL (or I do the five hour thing).
Thanks love, oh how I miss the Caribbean sun!! Lol
They now have heated caps. I put mines in the microwave. It easy and convenient.
I’m not understanding the whole issue of cost. Do women “go natural” simply because they believe it’s cheaper? I mean, if u weren’t a DIY queen and hair expert when u were relaxed, how do u just automatically become one because ur hair is natural?
I don’t think most women “go natural” because it’s cheaper but spending less is defin. A great benefit. I know for me it took a ton of research and practice and even now I am still learning. I did not do that while I was relaxed and I often say if I were to relax tomm. I think I could do it right the second time around. The natural hair thing doesn’t come natural to some of us (pun intended) it took awhile so I was not a DIY queen overnight even though it seems that way. This is me 4 yrs later and I am still studying 🙂
I dnt understand y ppl can’t take advise & jus let it b that there always has 2 b a debate. As a stylist I understand that we all cant b at our best bcus we r helping others beautify themselves b4 we can get 2 ourselves. As a stylist u.learn 2 appreciate ur clients & do wat it is u need 2 satisfy the client. U do get 4 what u pay 4!!! I jus say if u like it do it im not the person that has 2 wear it u r so choose wisely good luck
Love the article. A definite must read. As a newbie naturalist, there was SO much information on the internet about taking care of natural hair to the point it became confusing. I love that your article help provide relief and clarity when it comes to managing our beautiful tresses. Thanks for the valuable info and thank you Black Hair Information for providing us sisters with jewels of information on taking care of our hair no matter how we choose to rock it!! Keep up the great work!! Be blessed!!
Man, I am with you on ALL of those practices!!! Too overrated and need to be wiped out. Girl, I have left Starbucks alone a long time ago. I got a cute and functioning coffee maker (one cup at a time) and with my International delights Southern Butter Pecan creamer I am happier than any cup of expensive coffee from Starbucks could give me.
I like my natural hair. However, I have tried LOTS OF product and have yet to find a product for my thirsty tight coiled, dry, course hair. My hair literally drinks the moisturizers! What do you suggest?
Hello Linda, Sometimes it really is not about product but rather technique. Curly hair is naturally dry, we spend our entire regimen trying to combat dryness. What I would suggest is search porosity on this website and do a porosity test. your hair might be porous which means you add moisture and like a strainer it just leaves immediately. Do the test to see where you are, and if you have highly porous hair, protein treatments are in order to fill some of those gaps.
The other suggestion I would have is to up your sealing game, this means add your moisture product (water based) and use oil on top of it to seal the moisture in. Do this in sections to make sure your hair is fully done. Additionally maybe do some protective styles for awhile as you treat your hair just to help it store moisture and get healthy. I hope that helps
Em
Thanks! I did the porisity test on my hair before and it is highly porous.
Yes!!!
I agree with some of these
Good post. Going to the salon is really overrated. I used to go every 2 weeks for 3 years until I realized my hair was remaining the same length. Now I go to the salon every 4 months and I have been able to retain much more length by taking care of my hair at home.