Passion writes:
It seems that I spend a lot of time on blogs, youtube and the internet in general searching for new techniques and products to improve the health of my hair. I would say that I spend anywhere between 20-40 percent of my time doing all of the above; and that doesn’t include the time spent taking care of my hair! Is this too much? I’d like to know how much time other naturals spend on the same activities?
How much time do you spend on natural hair related activities daily?
CN Responds: Yeah… you don’t even wanna know! Let’s just say I often feel guilty 😉
No bueno ladies!! My advice is eat right and just leave ur hair be! it will grow!! been doin it all my life as a natural chica..its not worth the stress or time I see some women go through..REmember, hair can come and go..life doesn't wait!..EVER =)
I'm transitioning and I spend so much time doing research because I'm scared that there's something I don't know that will change everything! It's not really like research to me but sometimes it feels like an information overload. I find that when I spend less time on hair related issues I notice so much growth!
I agree with many other posters. I consider it a pleasurable, fun experience/hobby, not like research at all. I at least check this site and one other every day, and I have a whole list of others I check if I have more time. I thought I was the only one who was this naturally hair obsessed, lol. But I feel like naturals have a whole culture that goes along with our hair, and thats what I feel like I'm beign a part of when I go to these sites, cause we talk about way more than hair!
I used to spend all of my time researching natural hair trying everything i saw on any website or blog but my hair never came out "right". I wore braids for a while so i stopped researching awhile and now i do my own thing my hair has never looked better and i'm so in love with being natural go figure!
It's not only that I spend too much time on natual hair research. I just spend too much time on the internet, period. If I'm not visiting the various natural hair blogs, I'm at my farm in Farmville, my cafe in Cafeworld, or on Ancestry.com. I end up on the computer all day. Sometimes I just have to shut the computer off and go outside.
I don't even count the time; it's just a part of my regular activities! It isn't daily, but pretty much it is (* in Andre 3000’s voice* "I'm just being honest, I'm just being honest… All right, all right, all right…" LOL). I feel knowledge is power and when it comes to natural hair, there can never be enough advice. Yes, it can be an overload, but I’d rather be overwhelmed with information than not enough. Even before I went completely natural, before that while transitioning, while I was still relaxed and still to this day, I research. I'm thankful for all of the information out in the stratosphere of natural hair and I don't just look at natural hair-related things, I look at healthy hair-related vehicles by way of YouTube videos, blogs, forums, suggested articles, product ingredients, etc. etc. etc. (We should get paid for this because it is like a job, but more a hobby. Where's my check? LOL). I don't know how to really describe it, but it is a part of me. I will always want to know what is working or not working for other natural and healthy (non-naturals included) heads. I feel like I've taken courses, but I'm waiting on my degree in natural, healthy hair. I don't want to graduate yet because I feel I'll never know everything. So I need to see what else I can fill my knowledge stores with today and tomorrow and the next…
OMG!!! i thought i was the only one! im completely addicted…my husband laughs at me and we fight over the computer!! i get on curlynikki everyday and im always on youtube researching and looking at videos!!
I have been natural 3 years and I am still very obssessed with hair, hair blogs, youtube sites about hair, I am typing this at work right now, because I am looking at CurlyNikki's site. Yes I'll admit, I am an addict! (LOL) It's my hobby and I love it!
Guilty! LOL I spend a lot of time looking up stuff!
My hair is my new hobby since i have been transitioning!I love it the information makes my life easier handling the two textures, and minimizes breakage.
I really feel empowerd not having to rely on people to do my hair so that means i got a lot of homework to do and i get to apply it too!
I love this site as it is very consitent and the forum is so helpful.I have my staple sites and videos i got to and the way i see it there is always room for one more as long as there is good info!Plus i see the results, and i get complimenst so the way i see it its a good thing! 😀
This is a journey so i guess different stages require different things
Seriously? I read hair blogs and look at youtube several hours a day. Some days I spend a little less time than others, but everyday, I am reading/watching something related to hair care. I don't think it's a bad thing though. I love that so many of us sistas are going natural and there is so much info out there to help us have beautiful, healthy, sexy hair! So I say rock on laides!!
@Edyne: I completely agree with you. Unfortunately, those who do not remember our history call our research an addiction instead of a thirst for knowledge of our culture and heritage.
This is my second time transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. The first time around, there weren't any blogs or Youtube to help me out. Now, I'm educating myself to the max, so I will never feel compelled to go back to the creamy crack. I love natural hair blogs and read them daily, so you are not alone! -RB
I don't think there is anything wrong with the time I spend researching natural hair. If the info that we know now or search for was ingrained in our culture (prevalently) we would have all grown up knowing how to take care of our natural hair. Since that was not the case we have some catching up to do : )
I am not surprised that other people are on here as much as I am cause I see all the regular posts. I've been on here since my BC in January and the addiction is just as strong as it was in January.
I spend too much time on curly hair related "research" LOL!!
….yes I admit, I'm an addict. I enjoy researching though. It's my
"me time". I always get "are you on that computer again?"…um yeah! and?
Personally, I spent all summer and three months before that, learning about developing a healthy hair care routine. It was time well spent for now I feel confident taking care of my hair, and it is no longer a mystery why some products work well or don't work for my tresses.
At this time, I find myself researching about the benefits of ingredients and if the products are essential to my routine. I am also interested in learning how to trim my hair, styling options, and retaining length. But in my heart, I really think it all boils down to, I am not alone in this healthy hair care journey and there are beautiful people out there that love their natural hair just as much as I love mine. It is inspires me to continue on when I get frustrated and appreciate my beautiful hair.
Live, Love, Peace. ~OrganicallyGrownCurls
I'm entering a plea of guilty as guilty can be. In my defense, it has replaced my unhealthy habit of going on Bossip, they are so trashy to me now. I'd rather have healthy hair and a clear mind to go with it. I can't wait to go home and put my concoction in my hair and rock my braid out tomorrow, I'm off EVERY FRIDAY… I use the weekends to experiment and keep the successful attempts the entire weekend and then I research more and try those things the following weekend.
Oh goodness, i can't even say how many hours i've spent reading and researching natural hair. From youtube to random blogs to longhaircare forum i do it all. It is truly an addiction and i love it. I read curlynikki daily without fail and when there isn't a new post i have a mini panic attack like "where is Nikki, i hope she is ok, i wonder when she's gonna post something" doesn't matter if its hair related or not…lol.
If only my friends knew how much time I spend researching and reading about hair they would have an intervention for me. Help! I need a twelve step program. 🙂
GUILTY 🙂
I cant help it…Im finding that I love natural hair and also inspiration is a must even though I've been natural for over 10 yrs!! Blogs provide me with my pleasure reading, youtube is like my favorite reality show and they really do make the difference when I feel like a mess! As another mentioned, the downside is I do get overloaded with info but thats when I detox, twist my hair up, and step away from the blogs, etc!!
Yes girlie, I feel you!!!
I spend way to much time on youtube & blogs etc. lol
Its like I cant help it.. ahh… Im addicted to Nautral Hair everything…. we need help ladies 🙂
I work on my computer so I have to have some discipline when it comes to researching natural hair. My natural hair research tends to happen in waves sometimes I spend all my recreational computer time researching hair. Then I'll go for months without looking at any hair sites.
Wow I thought I was the only one. Can't even get on a computer without cheching curl Nikki and other sites. smh…
I think I spend 40% of my free time researching..I'm a longterm transitioner (oktober 24th 2 years) and I'm still not comfortable doing a BC, because I still haven't yet found a good way to manage my hair. As I live in the south of the Netherlands I do not have the possibilities for buying hair products suitable for managing my 'new' hair (besides on the internet)So keep the tips & tricks comin'!
I basically check this website every day of my life.. even though theres no new post, I go back to read the older articles.
If someone actually observed me throughout days.. I wouldnt be suprised if they said that I spent 90% of my online time on this website.
I'd say about 70% of my online time is spent at CN.com and similar natural hair blogs/sites. I spend maybe 10% of my time at YouTube and probably because I stick with my subscriptions and don't really search for new videos.
It evens out in the end to me because I spent almost all of my life taking care of a completely different head of hair. Being on this journey for one year hardly makes me a pro and I'm still learning. I never styled my hair in more than two styles the entire time I was relaxed, so any and all natural styles are brand new to me, as are the products and other options. I have no idea when I'll feel fully armed with enough info to cut back on my natural hair obsession online…at least I don't spend any money on hair magazines. I get all that info for free online.
Isn't it funny that almost everyone feels the same way? Being Natural has a life of it own and it is so refreshing to learn that you are not alone. I admit, I spend a lot of time learning about my hair but but I think it has lessen the frustration of taking care of my hair.If I had known ALL this info couple years back, just imagine what my hair would be like today.
The whole Natural Hair culture has become somewhat of a hobby to me.
Yeah I personally find myself being on the internet to much for hair sites. I can actually spend my whole weekend on here and not go anywhere except for the bathroom. Yeah I know pitiful huh..lol..lol. I think at times that my butt is becoming one with the chair, it has a nice dent from me sitting it in so long.
It has been 5 months since my BC and it is a running joke with my husband how much time I spend on youtube watching natural hair vids & reading blogs. So, I decided to go on a 2 week fast from watching hair vids & reading hair blogs (lol)…I used the extra time to learn how to use coupons when I grocery shop! Saved $80 using coupons-so time well spent…but I am glad to be back! lol
Yep I'm obsessed too! Blogs Youtube and books. At one point i told myself i will only go on the computer every other day….yeah right Rach..lol!!! Our computer crashed the other day and my fiance said it was because i have too many things in my favourite menu….lol…he's a joker
OMGoodness! I'm not the only one. I feel so much better! Thanks for posting my question Nikki!
I'm guilty of it but mostly when I'm at work! lol Sometimes while I'm at home and am planning to style my hair soon, I go to youtube for ideas. But overall, I think it's a curlynikki.com obsession. ~KF519
Guilty as well!! Between this site and youtube videos, I'm looking at a few hours a day. But it's sooooo worth it!
I'm with sara Yve, if someone posts a great response – it's off to their blog I go. I spend about 70% of my downtime at work reading hair related sites. I'm not looking to change my regimen but I like to be able to provide some kind of answer when I am asked a question – that's the main reason I started my blog, all the questions. I love it!
I say spend to about 1-2 hours max on the internet and enjoy the rest of your day, if you feel bad:) You can browse everything within that time-frame.
The first year and a half as a natural it has been my main, if not only, hobby. I have spent a LOT of time online and experimenting. But it has been like going to a university LOL: I needed to learn all that stuff and now I'm equipped for life. Now I look at the ingredients of any hair product and in 5 seconds I know if it is for me or not, I know what to mix when I'm out of products, I have predictable results in any weather, I don't spend hours trying to detangle my hair, I spend less money and time on my hair than EVER, I do everything by myself, I feel in control and confident, and if all my favourite brands stop making hair products for me I will be able to make something from scratch.
Very worth it.
I spend at least 30 minutes a day checking natural hair sites and googling products and processes. I check CN's site several times a day because the content is useful, interesting and constantly changing. My experiences are usually uplifting, but sometimes frustrating when I send myself into information overload.
@Anon 12.50p
when i first started out, i realized that you could click the usernames in red on this site and it takes you to their blogger profile, if they have one, and you can see their blog and all the blogs they like. i have a favorites list of about 25 blogs (sad, i know). i check them everyday during my lunch break. now THAT's a guilty pleasure.
as for recommendations, MopTopMaven, Naturally Obsessed, Mane and Chic, Natural Chica, and Black Girl Long Hair are great. the dialogue and environment are similar to Curly Nikki.
I spend a lot of time looking at hair sites and gathering a lot of information. I love it. Do I think it's too much time? NOOOOOOO. It makes me happy; especially on CN. It's like chatting with friends and I am learning something new all the time. That makes me more informed.
I probably spend 30-60 minutes a day checking my favorite natural hair blogs (CurlyNikki is always my first stop). I agree w/Afro Adie that I spent a significant amount of time taking care of my relaxed hair for 20 years and now want to be equally diligent in caring for my natural hair (1 yr and 3 months natural). I had long, thick, healthy hair (well, as healthy as relaxed hair can be, I guess), and I expect the same from Cirrus (my natural hair). In order to get the results I want, I have to be willing to put forth the effort. Besides, it's fun!
I spend a lot of time on blogs for various topics, but I have tried to limit natural hair research. My pockets can't stand it and I don't enjoy comparing my hair to others lol.
I spend a lot of time at work looking up things, and then when it's blocked at work, I go home to look up more things. I know that I spend alot of time learning about my hair and doing my hair. I've often wondered the same thing. Then I answer myself with a "NO". After finally convincing my mom to get rid of my gheri curl and get a relaxer in 7th grade, I spent every bit of 10+ years learning to do things with my relaxed style. I mastered cutting my own Halle Berry style, shaping up my edges with the clippers, putting in relaxers, all of it. So now, I don't mind spending that much time and more to learn how to do my natural hair. I can't imagine doing anything else in my spare time-and my not so spare time. LOL
when i first went natural it was ALL that i did, literally spending the whole day reading this blog and newlynatural all the way back so that I could see stories and tips, just was OBSESSED lol. Now it's dwindled down and I have a pretty set regimen, but I do keep up with the blogs still and of course write my own with natural hair tips. so about 20% of my day now involved natural hair thoughts/reading/writing instead of the 80% previously 😛
Vonnie
Natural Hair Help Guide/
Hi Nikki,
Is there a site for HA (Hair Anonymous)? If so, I will be the first to attend. I am so addicted. I'm on curlynikki.com just about all day (at least 6-8 hours). I can tell you what time you will post something new. Not only that, I've become a PJ bcuz I'm trying everything that's mention at least twice. I surf other sites as well but of course I end up back here. HELP!!!!!
Learning how to take care of my hair and my daughter's hair is my new hobby. I just bc'd three months ago and curlynikki, youtube and others have taught me so much about hair. I didn't have this knowledge when I bc'd twelve years ago. I'm spending my lunch time now on curlynikki!
I spend a LOOOT of time on natural hair blogs. I have a routine I do every morning. I check out CurlyNikki, then NaturallyCurly. After that I go to KinkyKurlyQueen's blog before I check out Bead, Braids and Beyond and HappyGirlHair for my daughter. All of this takes about thirty minutes or more of my morning an sad to say I mostly do this at work. I need help. 🙂
smh, at least i know i am not alone lol.
I spend a great deal of time on curlynikki. But I enjoy it. I glace at other sites a few times a week but I check this one daily. I only feel guilty when the impulse hits me at work. But, like everyone else I really enjoy it, and it has helped me alot with my hair care, so why deny myself this?
oh YES, way too much. Its part of the ADDICTION. lol
I'm on every chance I get. I just made the decision to go natural 4 weeks ago, so I'm on curlynikki, youtube, and anything else that talks about transitioning trying to pick up tips here and there. So far so good. Any sites you guys recommend I check out?
I spend most of my time on curlynikki, but I also go to You Tube for information. My problem is that I still havven't found anything that works for my hair, but I love seeing what everyone else is doing.
i check a blog or forum or website like youtube everyday. So about 20 minutes a day. Mostly at work during down time. Some days when i dont want to go out for lunch, ill eat at my desk and read hair sites. I dont feel guilty…..i love it. The only time i feel a little obsessed is at night after my son's put to bed and my hubby's chillin and i just want some me time so off to the computer I go.
@sara_Yve – Gossip Girl is one of my guiltiest pleasures LOL!
Yeah I definitely spend more time researching than actually trying different products. I need to get on the stick.
Guilty as charged. Natural haircare has almost become an obsession.
I think you get out of it what you put into it….with all the compliments I now receive on my hair I figure it's worth every minute of research and time I invest into my healthy hair routine :).
Guilty! When I saw the title of this post, I thought Nikki was trying to tell me something…LOL. Phew! Glad to know it's not just me. For the last few weeks, searching for blogs, youtube and information about natural hair has definitely taken over my time. Especially while I'm at work It used to be facebook (could be a good and bad thing) but since I'm newly natural, I'm just excited to learn so much about hair care and different styles that I could wear. But I honestly do feel like I spend way too much time on websites such as this one. Maybe I'll calm down once I get use to my new hair =)
I spend a lot of times on blogs I know provide consistent information, like CurlyNikki. I used to browse for new blogs all the time, but I realize that not everybody with natural hair is a natural hair expert, and I kept getting caught up in things that didn't work for me.
http://collegecurlies.blogspot.com/
I think I did this more when I was transitioning and probably the first year of being natural. My obsession with blogs/YouTube/etc. has tapered off a bit… but I still check in a few times a week! I learned a lot doing that, though. I don't think anything is wrong with it.
LOL. I spend 80% of my free time reading blogs, on youtube. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. It is a guilty pleasure! I love it and I need it. I spend about 50-60 hrs/wk at work, so any free time I have goes to my family and my hair.
I have become a curly nikki junkie, I am always on here while I'm at work and I am constantly doing stuff to my head….I need to get a grip! LOL when will this obsession subside?!
I'm with Nikki lOl…too much time. Usually on blogs, staying away from vendors to reduce my pj'ism lOl. But I try to "reward" myself with one blog at a time after studying or something, the only way to be productive 🙂
I spend entirely too much time on natural hair sites. I have SO much going on in my life that needs to be taken care of before I get on Curlynikki.com…yet and still, here I am. lol
most of my day is interspersed with checking various hair blogs and youtube. sometimes, i grow a little weary from all of the information, but i think of it as pleasure reading, not really research. mostly because 80% of what i read is taken with a grain of salt. i enjoy it though; it's a real guilty pleasure, like Gossip Girl.