I can’t begin to count the amount of times I get stopped at the mall,
grocery store, doctor’s office, etc. and asked questions about hair.
This is mainly due to the way I style my girls’ hair. Their hairstyles
may look complicated at times (not sure) but honestly it’s so simple to
attain. I look forward to those conversations because I know what it’s
like being on the other end still trying to find what works. It can be
frustrating and overwhelming but don’t give up. If you knew my personal
hair story, you’d understand that it’s been quite the journey and I’m
finally HAPPY with my hair and my girls reap the benefits. Keep in mind
I’m still learning and I’m by no means ‘an expert’. I get excited
whenever I learn something new and I always have to find someone to
share it with. Like many things in life, you can never have enough hair
knowledge.
Here are a few tips if you’re beginning the natural hair journey or you are struggling with your daughter’s haircare.
1. YOUTUBE has been a tremendous resource for me. There are so many
tutorials and informative videos from everyday people who have tried
different products, regimens and styles and choose to share their
experiences and results. I’ve tried so many different processes from
watching YouTube. Some successful, some not so much, but you won’t know
what works for you until you try.
2. BLOGS like this one have also been a huge aid on the journey.
Read! Read! Read! It only expands your knowledge and will introduce you
to topics you’ve never even considered.
3. PRODUCTS can get expensive if you are shopping while overwhelmed,
especially if you’re now starting out. Pricey doesn’t always mean
better. Read the labels. Get familiar with the ingredients. Do your
research before hitting the stores. Instead of buying a huge bottle of
something that may not work for you, ask if they have samples you can
try first. Contact the manufacturers and let them know you’re interested
in their product but would like to try a sample first. You won’t get it
until you ask.
4. ASK QUESTIONS!! Don’t be afraid to inquire with someone who
demonstrates great results or a look you think you’d be comfortable
with. It may not be as difficult as you think. In the same way, share
what you learn and help someone else.
5. Create a GALLERY with all your favorite hairstyles that you can
always refer to. Play around and try to recreate them. I would not
suggest waiting until you’re ready to go out to try something new.
Practice first because your hair will not always cooperate when you need
it to.
Take a deep breath and embrace the beauty and journey that IS natural hair!!!
My mom introduced me to detangling my hair in the shower with conditioner in. It really helps. I'm so excited to share everything I learned with people. 🙂
You tube, naturallycurly.com and curlynikki helped me fnd products and to style and deal with my hair. Pre-poo with evco was great for me and it work. Evco has helped me retain length when I cut off all my heat damaged hair.
Megan Montgomery
I don't no longer answer any questions regarding my hair, especially from strangers on the street. I don't know where folks got to thinking that this is a good idea, that some random person should feel free to ask you about your personal groming habits in person, but these days I just say that I was natural before "that" movie came out so ask someone who cares.
Some of ya'll are straight up RUDE & ENTITLED when stepping to strangers about natural hair. Remember, you don't know these people and if someone says that they don't want to talk about it… DON'T STAND THERE AND ASK AGAIN.
My tip is wash your hair in sections! this has saved me so much trouble with detangling. Oh and watch youtube and visit the curlynikki forums. They help!
This was so helpful because I am still building up a routine and learning what products work for me and what doesn't. What I do is I write down what does wonders for my hair and what doesn't and then I write the ingredients and take it with me when I go product shopping and look for things with certain things that I know will work on my curls. I am still working out the kinks though because sometimes the ingredients are very similar on products, yet one works for me and the other doesn't lol.
I agree with your 5 tips for anyone who decides to go natural. I have to say that along with watching videos on YouTube and asking other naturals questions you must, must understand that no one head is the same. I struggled with thinking I could use the same products as one natural said in a YouTube video or on a blog because our hair "looked" the same. I'm not saying you can't try products that you see other naturals are trying, you just can't get discouraged when something does not work for you. The natural hair journey is such a great learning experience; Lots of Attention and Patience!
Great tips! I love youtube and natural hair blogs. I don't know what I would do without them.
Natural hair is like learning to ride a bike, you may fall off a few times, but eventually you learn & start to get the hang of it. Learning/teaching from others was very helpful for me especially this website & YouTube. Be patient with your hair it doesn't have to be an emotional roller coaster.
Brooke B.
I experiment with natural items such as EVOO and EVCO, gels, coco butter shea butter, and everything that in its natural state. Then I document which items has the best reaction with my hair, I then use this list to find products that have these items in there ingredient list. This method has help me in narrowing down my spending on expensive products plus finding prodcust that work!
I'm transitioning to natural hair and YouTube has been God sent! I love this blog and other blogs as well. All the information has been so helpful since everyone in my family has relaxed hair.
Besides Beads, Braids & Beyond,please check out "GirlsLoveYourCurls" on YouTube. She is hilarious (watch her "things mothers say video")
What youtubers do you look at for children's hair?
Youtube has been a huge help and source of information during my natural journey.
If it wasn't for youtube I would've been reaching my 1.5 yr mark later this month.
All the tips you gave were excellent. I find Youtube quite resourceful. I also use facebook groups such as Beads, Braids & Beyond. I blog and take pictures so that I can remember what I did to achieve the look I have created for me and my girls. This, by far, has been the best tip I have gotten since I started my journey 7 months ago.
-discoveringnatural.blogspot.com