Beautiful Natural hair
Let’s admit that we are always amazed by the beauty reaching for the sky when we glimpse an amazing head of black African hair. But, not everyone can overcome the hate for their natural hair. The movement started long ago and has slowed now. YouTube has an archive of hundreds and thousands of naturals claiming they have found the recipe for best hair care practices. Information is always at our fingertips so why can’t we achieve the goals we set out to attain? It’s simple really, we’re asking the wrong question. The right question is, are you ready for the information?
There is a reason why children learn different things at different times. We may think we want to know something but our minds aren’t ready for the truth and don’t know what to do with it. Let’s arm ourselves with knowledge and information but also know how to use it. There are no quick fixes, be satisfied with what is. Here are five things I learnt, re-learnt and unlearnt after taking the natural hair journey for the past six years.
1. Natural Hair types, Density and Porosity
I’m sure you’ve already heard the different classifications of natural hair types from 1 to 4C. You’ve probably already been exposed to the differences and even know that we tend to have multiple textures on our heads. Being a Jamaican all my life, unfortunately, we’ve inherited colonial issues of classism and colourism instead of racism. Everyone wants to be mixed so they will have ‘Good hair’ and or brown skin. Even now I struggle to deal with this and still catch myself glancing at other people’s hair and thinking, they’re so fortunate. By now I know there is no such thing as good hair, only healthy hair.
I soaked up all the information I could to crown my hair queen and I did. But I also had to fight off new battles. My hair type is mainly fine 4c with low density and high porosity. I was deflated when I realized my expectations would not be met. You know those expectations–black, thick fros with vibrant vim and vigour. Those pictures we see posted on Instagram, feeding our expectations. I had to learn to appreciate its beauty before I could hope to wear it as a crown.
When I started my natural hair journey I had to learn the significance of these three things, how they impacted my hair care routine, my goals and expectations and how to love the reflection that looked back at me while I wore it out in whatever style.
2. Less is More for Natural Hair!
The excitement of starting a new journey always makes us take action but the real trouble starts when that excitement fades and we have to maintain things. I learnt fast that there was no point in becoming a product junkie and instead to find two or three important products and use them regularly. I followed a lot of Natural hair YouTubers because I wanted to know their tips and tricks and learn from them.
Throughout that time I learnt the importance of consistency and that less is more. I quickly switched to sulphate-free condition and shampoo, got myself some natural oils and a leave-in conditioner and that was it for the next five to six years. Of course, I tried out a few additional products along the way but never really committed to any. I also did ACV rinses, hot oil treatments and a few concoctions every now and then. It was fun and it certainly built my self-confidence. I knew my hair was doing well!
3. Low Manipulation Styles = Braids and Extention
The less you manipulate your hair, the better! Life can make us busy and that makes us turn to wigs and braids. However, can I dare to say it doesn’t always work out for the best? I tried braids multiple times as a protective style and no, they weren’t done too tight. Fine, 4c hair was not the type that could handle the extra weight. Extensions were my worst nightmare. My natural hair was always brittle even if I hydrated it before and while I wore the extension. They would only last three to four weeks but my hair would be nearly locked when I remove them. Regular braids without extensions left my strands brittle when I took them down but fortunately, the two-strand twist was a go.
4. Realistic Expectations-Gels and Edges
Online, natural hair girlies manage to make even the craziest styles look glamorous by touching up their edges. 4C, fine stranders like me were left out of that circle. To this day, I have not found one single gel that could hold my wayward edges in place for longer than 30 minutes. Even if I tie them down. Of course, to make edges you have to have edges. I may not have a lot but I at least have a little!
It would be nice to join the swooping edges club but if I’m to be realistic I know that dream is still just a dream in the far future. So my advice is to rock it however it wants to be. There is no point in forcing your hair to swoop if it doesn’t want to. You will break your own heart and save yourself the heartache by starting with acceptance.
5. Environment
Since I relocated to the TCI I realized for the first time that your environment plays a major role in the condition of your hair. Unlike Jamaica with a nice balance of warmth and moisture, the salt air of the Turks and Caicos islands can shrivel your hair dreams and goals instantly. My hair struggles even more to maintain moisture and the sun burns through my strands making my dark brown hair even more apparent than before. I always had frizz but it intensified and my go-to cornrows could hardly save my weak edges. But she still tries to stay true to herself and fluffs up like locs whenever I throw in some two-strand twists. I have to moisturize more often and be even more gentle with her but she still tries to keep it together and I love her for it.
Conclusion
Time changes a lot of things. I am no longer free and single so the approach to my hair has to be adjusted to match my current lifestyle. The one thing we always need more of is time. As a teacher and a mother, 24 hours a day is insufficient for me to keep up with my regular hair care routine. Not to mention low manipulation styling. In addition, my daughter’s hair is almost the same as mine so now I have to choose between hers and mine. Of course, I chose hers because I am already old and scarred. I don’t want her to feel the shame or dislike I felt for my hair and had to unlearn. I want her to grow up seeing me being gentle with her natural fro and loving it.
When trying to break a status quo you can sometimes be bombarded with opinions and comments but you have to be resilient. Though my loose natural journey has come to an end I will never resort to a perm or braids but I believe a new horizon is coming and I’ll document that journey also.
