Don't be impatient! This is key. It will take time for you to adjust to your hair if you have never had it natural before, or have never done it yourself before. Allow sufficient time for the learning curve to teach you what you need to do. Nothing worth doing comes without effort. You can take less time, be less careful, but you get what you put into it.
Don't be careless. If you try to treat silk (kinky hair) like cotton, by throwing it in the washing machine everyday (i.e. putting it through the ringer), you'll destroy it.
Pay attention; don't make assumptions. Your hair is curly. Curly is not synonymous with coarse, rough, thick, or wiry. Evaluate your individual strands to find your hair type. If most strands are fine, be light-handed with product. If most strands have a tight (tight, TIGHT!
) coil, know that each bend leaves strands more vulnerable to moisture loss and stress with every pass of the comb, so be gentle.
Don't rush. If you have to "hurry up and do your hair", you may as well put a scarf on and not bother. The damage you will do by ripping through snags, and overstretching strands until they snap, and binding the hair too tight before it has shown you how much room it needs "to breathe", will outweigh all of your previous careful effort. Remember, if you put your precious silk blouse in the washer "just this one time", the fabric will still suffer.
Don't listen to people's comment's. There are things in life everyone is entitled to; a belly button, and an opinion. Only one can be changed by seeing your long term results. Do what you know to do and the rest will come through research and trial and error.
Do listen your hair. If you need to clarify, you'll see the signs. If you need a protein treatment, you'll see the signs. When you're in dire need of moisture, you'll know. Know the signs, and give your hair what it needs.
Do enjoy your curls. When they are well taken care of, they beg to be touched. Let them loose and give 'em a squeeze every now and again.
Do stick to a regimen. The only way to know if something really works or not it to stick with it for a while. Yes, today's society is "gimme now", and this is an unrealistic approach to really learning anything about the effects of various products.
Do bind your hair up before bed. If you have have curls, you have probably suspected them of being alive at one time or another. They may be, because they sure love to "get together with friends" and "get all wrapped up" in conversation when left to their own devices too long
. Braid it, twist it, wrap it, tie it. Do whatever works best for you, but make sure there isn't too much socializing while you sleep, or you'll look a hot mess in the morning.
That's all I can think of right now. HTH!