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BRAND new natural here...mistake advice?

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mamauv2

mamauv2

New Member
It has been 24 days since my big chop and I am excited, nervous, but mostly excited. I told my husband it's like being pregnant and not knowing the sex of the baby. :grin: Basically I started from scratch, just shaved it all off right after I got out the military. I feel I have a great opportunity to grow healthy, natural, beautiful hair. I co-wash every other day with either Avalon Organics or Giovanni's moisturizing conditioner. Shampoo once a week with a homemade concoction, DC once a week with a heated cap and I've been using Sta Sof Fro as a daily moisturizer and sealing with coconut oil. Anyone have any advice on those "mistakes" new naturals make so I can avoid any setbacks? I've enjoyed reading the posts and you ladies are truly inspiring. Thanks!
 
:welcome3: Congrats on your BC!

Don't ever comb your DRY hair (that was my mistake :nono:) and keep doing what you are doing, b/c it sound just fine to me :yep:.
 
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First of all, Congratulations on your BC!

My mistake was stretching my wet hair too much by brushing, it led to split ends and I basically spent a year (went back to relaxers) trimming away the damaged weakened hair.
 
Congratulations!!!!!
I can only think of one and that is don't think that your hair is now indestructible. If you dye your hair and don't take care of it you could potentially get split ends or damage your hair, just like when you were relaxed. Have fun trying out new products!!
 
Well don't go to extremes doing things and taking advice. Learn to listen to you own hair...it'll tell you what it needs and when. You WILL make mistakes, that's life, but don't panic and make it worse. Ask someone before you do anything drastic.

LOL...your hair isn't as big a deal as a pregnancy nor is it as complicated as physics. Be gentle and be patient. That's the best advice I can give and the hardest to follow.

Welcome!
 
Thanks ladies! I've wanted to go natural for a long time but I was LAYZEE with my relaxed hair and between home, work and school, the wrap was easy and low maintenance. I never flat ironed my hair, except when I'd wash it. I wrap, comb it down, and roll. Working out was a nightmare though, but I'd just rough it and keep it moving. LAY-ZEE!

The pregnancy metaphor is because I have no idea what my natural hair will look like (DH laughed at me too). I don't ever remember not having a relaxer.
Before and After...I really love my new look!
 
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Congragulations! I done a Big Shave in may, I mean I was Bald, so I had no hair whatsoever LOL!! But I have been down this road before, You will be fine, My advice would be Patience, I had to learn that and still learning, I get so mad because when you have have a Twa that is like the hardest way for most to go natural because later on the excitement is gone and we want a new hairstyle or it seems like your hair isn't growing and then you will want to relax or texlax it(leaving the perm on for a shorter amount of time and still have curls and waves) There will be days of frustration but we will help you, I also went and bought wigs for when I need a change of style, because wearing a Twa everyday does gets boring.

But you will do just fine!
 
Moisturize and keep a helathy balance of protein products. Try not to coat your hair with too many products. Happy naptural growing.
 
First of all, let me say that your hair looks great. I went from about collar bone length relaxed hair to about 2 to 3 inches of new growth only when I did the big chop. It was a dramatic change for my now ex-bf and my family. I love it and my love and desire made everyone around me love it too. Now don't get me wrong some brothers can be difficult and say things like when are you getting your hair done. I just quip, when you get yours done, I will consider it. When my stylist initially cut my hair, I just rinsed with water and applied a creamy leave-in that was discontinued. It worked great, my hair out grew it and it stopped working as well. Then, I learned about co-washes and moisture, later henna, etc. It has been a great 5 year journey. I prefer to keep my hair at a certain length that I can manage and well the other day I found out that certain people felt that meant I couldn't grow it any longer, so not true. Mind you the person speaking started dreads from kinky twists that they were too lazy to take out and they still have some perm on the end of them 4 years later.

Don't let your nay-sayers discourage you. If your hair needs moisture or protein, give it to it. Take your vitamins, drink lots of water and exercise. Sometimes finding the right product can be challenging. One thing that was helpful to me was finding a couple of hair twins and seeing what they used, asking questions and trying those products myself, it worked. HTH.
 
Congrats and welcome!

first thing is to learn your hair because your mistakes will be your own and wont be quite the same as anyone else's because all of our hair is different and likes different things and responds differently to all kinds of things than others, but yeah you can learn from some of the things that will be listed here by other naturals too, just weigh them out for YOU :yep:

your regimen sounds good! I feel your excitement! :yahoo:
 
Conditioner washes are a good send when you have thick, extra coily (nappy) hair.

Less is more, so far as products and manipulation.
 
LADIES, THANK YOU! I thought I was gonna have to do that "bump" thing to get some help! :grin:I appreciate all the advice and the love. Thanks again! I DO know I gotta keep my hands out my head! I can't stop touching it!
Be blessed.
 
BTW I have to give props to the ladies that just go ahead and shave off their hair and rock the TWA. That takes alot of guts and self-love. Kudos to you!

OP - had to mention your daughter is adorable!
When I cut my hair I couldn't even put it in a ponytail! As my hair grew I noticed that my old favorite products just didn't cut it anymore. As the months pass by and my hair grows longer I have to tweak my regime or products. Don't let that discourage you though, I'm learning more and more about my hair every day and it makes my journey that much more fun. :drunk:
 
Congratulations!! and Welcome!!! Most of the ladies touched on some of the "don'ts".

With my personal experience, direct heat is not good for my hair, and dyeing my hair made my hair feel weird. The lighter the hair color for me, the more it changed my texture, which was a bad thing in my case.
 
BostonMaria said:
BTW I have to give props to the ladies that just go ahead and shave off their hair and rock the TWA. That takes alot of guts and self-love. Kudos to you!

OP - had to mention your daughter is adorable!
When I cut my hair I couldn't even put it in a ponytail! As my hair grew I noticed that my old favorite products just didn't cut it anymore. As the months pass by and my hair grows longer I have to tweak my regime or products. Don't let that discourage you though, I'm learning more and more about my hair every day and it makes my journey that much more fun. :drunk:
Click to expand...

Thank you! I have to refrain from telling her all the time because she is smelling herself something AWFUL these days!:naughty:
 
Here's another one...if/when you get braids that someone else is doing, make sure they are NOT too tight. If you start seeing white bulbs pop up around the edges take them out. If you have a braider that you tell "too tight" and they keep on, get a new braider.

Watch for braid tightness because sometimes it's stealthy.
 
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