I hate my hair… I wish it were longer. Why won't it grow? Maybe I should just cut it all off and start over. Does any of this sound familiar? If so, know that you are not alone. We get it, and we are here to discuss it today. So, how can you feel confident with natural hair?
Embrace your hair… Love your hair…Your natural hair is beautiful.
Maybe you are thinking - that is easy for you to say - you are mixed. Well, this is true. I am mixed (bi-racial); however, I don’t have “typical” mixed-girl hair. I am sure you have seen it on TV where they get into the pool and have beautiful ringlets or waves... Nope, not me. In fact, if. I jumped into a pool - my hair would become a puff. So, I get it more then you know.
(Just sharing personal experiences)
Were you called names or teased in school because of your hair? Growing up, they called me “Nappy.” These situations can be damaging and cause you to feel like your hair is just a mess—and worst yet, you do not feel beautiful because of your curls and coils. Can you relate?
Relaxers seem to be the solution to fix it—straight, bouncy, and flowy. I recall telling my stylist, "My neighbor,” that my scalp was burning. She would say to me, “Beauty is pain.” It costs to be beautiful. Can you remember your first relaxer? What was the experience like? Let me know on Instagram - DM me @insure.beauty.
What are disulfide bonds?
Disulfide Bonds are found in the cortex of the hair. Once the relaxer is applied to the natural bond, the disulfide bonds are broken, the hair is dried and straight, and the disulfide bonds are reshaped. Just think of breaking down those bonds every 6-8 weeks and how that has affected the natural hair.
Transition. After researching and learning about the health effects and your experience, many have decided to transition from relaxed hair to natural.
Have you made the change? If so, how is it going? I made the change just about ten years ago. It was a struggle at first. Let’s be honest: change is not easy - no matter how long you have been doing hair - and how long I have been relaxing my hair. Recently, I was told by my family that I had my first relaxer at four or five years old.
So, the question is: Do you do the infamous big chop or transition gradually? What did you decide to do? I decided to transition progressively—in fact, about one inch at a time. It was challenging to step outside my comfort zone and try something new. I shed a few tears to cut away someone of my length. I will admit - for those women who chose to do a big chop - I thought they were so bold but beautiful - as they laid their edges and wore hooped earrings. Yes!
So, how can I feel confident about my Natural Hair? As we have discussed, our natural hair has endured a lot over the years, from relaxers to transitioning, not to mention the products we have tried and tested. Here are just a few tips that have helped me along the way:
- Learn the basics of your hair texture: Do you have 4C hair? I love the Carols Daughter Curl Quiz. The quiz is about 3-5 minutes long and asks you a series of questions about your hair texture. Ultimately, you will indeed find out if you have 4C hair. It will also advise you on what products work for your hair texture.
- Create a Hair Mood Board: Pinterest is a great place to start. Once you know your hair texture type, you will better understand what products and styles work best for you and your natural hair. With these inspiration photos, with this hair mood board - you will have visual guide to your personal hair goals.
- Find your community: Let’s talk about it—join community groups on social media, attend events, get together with friends in person, and share your personal hair care goals.
Feeling confident about your natural hair begins with knowing that not all products and styles are suitable for it. What works for you may not work for someone else. After all, you are redefining your worth and embracing your natural beauty. That is reason enough to have a conference on your natural hair and remember that this is your personal hair journey—you are beautiful.
Let’s talk about your hair journey - reach me on Instagram @insure.beauty or book a free consultation.
It is our goal to Insure that you always look and feel Beautiful.
xoxo