Naturals: does it get easier

[Nasdaq_Diva]

I'm at an inbetween phase with my hair. On one hand..it's getting harder (ie. time it takes to detangle, twist, how fast I run out of product) but it's also getting easier for me (ie. the length, and the big fro') because I'm finally learning so much more about myself through this natural hair journey.

If you had told me 3yrs ago I'd be this in love with my hair, I would've thought you were crazy!

 

[cluelezz]

detangling and washing are getting so hard. I got lazy and now... setback city.

 

[Qurlyqt]

Mine has gotten easier... because I've gotten lazier! I don't know what's come over me but this is the laziest I've been since I stopped relaxing my hair.

 

[naturalgyrl5199]

I think it gets easier if you dig in at the beginning of the journey!

Now that my hair is longer I think I have to be more diligent with my hair care. Especially to prevent my almost 2 year old ends from splitting...
More care is involved, but its easier because I have embraced my nappy roots and mild shedding with love.

The longer my hair is, the more versatile it is. I have also taken to wearing fun hair styles. I am wearing braids now for the hot summer because I did need a break with all the traveling I have planned...But I have already hunted for some YT vids for new natural hair styles like twists with designs and all that when I take these babies down! ANd I've only been braided for like 3 days!...I hope to get at least another 2 inches in 2 months...so That extra length will be encouraging.....

My advice is to take a hair break with braids or a style you can wear for a month or so and start practicing some NEW natural styles that you will enjoy while taking care of your hair! I am enjoying it each day. Not to say I don't upset when I end up with a bad twist-or braid-out....it happens....But I can always just re-twist it and put on a cute beret or tam with some twists hanging out in the front and go......I Hope this helps....

 

[naturalgyrl5199]

Thanks ladies for all of your responses! I think I have pinpointed the issue. I was talking with my mom last night and it came to me. She said her hair had a huge knot in it after shampooing with Ovation cell therapy poo and using the creme rinse. She said it was so bad she had to cut it out. She said she tried everything to loosen it- oils, condish, etc but all efforts were futile. She felt like kicking herself b/c she hadn't used ovation in forever and she'd been using Carol's Daughter and it worked wonders for her. She said she doesn't know WHY she even used that other shampoo.

And then it hit me: I've veered waayyyy to far from what was working for me! I've gotten lazy and just been bunning since the beginning of this year- which is no problem - I retained a LOT of length. But I was cowashing a lot and after 3 months of bunning I was getting bored so I tried to do wng (no-no) or some updos (which were hit or miss for me). But before, I would wash/protein/deep condition once a week and then twist my hair and wear a twistout until next wash day. No problems, no tangles....I was happy. But it takes a long time for me to do twists. Larger ones don't always look great on me. But I'm gonna go back to what I KNOW was working for me and stop being all over the place.

I think that may make me happier with my hair again.

What a GREAT point you've made here! I experienced this recently, so I went back to my initial regimen when I first hit APL...I was trying new things and doing something different with my hair and my hair started tangling more....which sucked because with my first regimen I barely had problems with tangling etc....so I went back to my Regimen Roots.....! I think that when I get BSL perhaps I will explore adjusting my regimen....Plus getting too comfortable with your hair care can cause small problems like SSK and minor splits to creep up and go unnoticed until a major setback occurs....

 

[chebaby]

for me..its both..gets harder and easier.

harder, because of long detangling sessions..more knots(inevitable) and easier, because i can easily just throw my hair in a bun or pony puff and it looks decent.

every time i get frustrated w/my hair..i just protective style until i actually MISS my hair

i agree with everything youve said. ive only been natural for a year so my puffs are bigger, my twists and longer and my braid outs and fuller. i love my hair. detangling doies get longer but i do detangling in the shower with lots of conditioner and under running water so it can only be but so bad.

 

[westNDNbeauty]

Easier.

By the time you've grown your hair to longer lengths, you've learned it how to care for it and gotten used to the time it takes to do it. Maybe your would of even learned a few short to your weekly routine (i.e.- detangling with conditioner instead of after washing out your conditioner).

For me, I figured out a style that's easy for me to do, lasts and is also versatile = Key to loving your natural hair at whatever length it may be.