AsTheCurlzTurns
Active Member
Thanks ladies!!!
for more responses!
for more responses!
Naturals: WORST mistakes you ever made as a natural?
- Thread starter AsTheCurlzTurns
- Start date
jevetta
Member
Going to the stylist for a straightening and cut. Despite all my preparation and instructions, I have three areas of heat damaged hair. 50% loss of density and absolute loss of all hair in these areas. Good thing is I know exactly how fast my hair grows.
Same thing goes for my daughter, same stylist. Her last straightening was 12/06. All that hair is gone. The current hair is new growth which is about 10 to 12 inches in length. She is not happy its as short as mine, but she likes how easy it is to detangle now. The new growth is better than the thick damaged hair.
Moral of story, STAY AWAY FROM THE HEAT.
Jeve
Same thing goes for my daughter, same stylist. Her last straightening was 12/06. All that hair is gone. The current hair is new growth which is about 10 to 12 inches in length. She is not happy its as short as mine, but she likes how easy it is to detangle now. The new growth is better than the thick damaged hair.
Moral of story, STAY AWAY FROM THE HEAT.
Jeve
redeemed516
New Member
my biggest mistake was thinking "i don't have to do much". My natural is simple because i don't wear it straight that often (probably 2 weeks in 2 yrs) but i completely threw all hair care basics out the window. I stopped using my satin caps and cases, end trimming was gone and for whatever reason i went back to fine toothed combs. My mistakes. My hair broke off really bad in the back where i would lay on it. it took/ is taking some serious tlc to get it back.
1. Trimming my hair every other week for three years because I thought the ends were split. They were just dry. Weekly DCs have eliminated that problem. I could be full WSL by now!
2. Using the maxiglide with the pin plate. I'd say that the last four inches of my hair is heat stretched due to it. Those pins are the devil!! I got rid of the maxiglide and got a FHI platform.
2. Using the maxiglide with the pin plate. I'd say that the last four inches of my hair is heat stretched due to it. Those pins are the devil!! I got rid of the maxiglide and got a FHI platform.
vpoetic
New Member
My worst mistake was letting other people do my hair and tell me what I need to be doing. I now learn that nobody care about my hair more than I do and nobody knows my hair like me. SO I try to do everything myself. This doesn't man that I don't take advise from others. I just don't let them in my head..
november wind
Member
This is all great advice! I'll keep this in mind if my stretch turns into transition. Thanx ladies.
BlkOnyx488
Well-Known Member
My worst mistake
I was natural for a year before I found out about LHCF.
2 months before I learned about LHCF I relaxed my hair. Had I known about LHCF I never would have done that. As a result 5 months into going natural for the second time all my relaxed hair fell out.
Granted I would have had to cut it eventually but I feel like I lost a year of growth, by relaxing my hair after being natural for a year.
So instead of completing 2 years natural in September I will be at one year.
I was natural for a year before I found out about LHCF.
2 months before I learned about LHCF I relaxed my hair. Had I known about LHCF I never would have done that. As a result 5 months into going natural for the second time all my relaxed hair fell out.
Granted I would have had to cut it eventually but I feel like I lost a year of growth, by relaxing my hair after being natural for a year.
So instead of completing 2 years natural in September I will be at one year.
CurliDiva
Well-Known Member
1. 
Henna - it may work for some, but it turned my hair into a brittle, orange mess!
2. PJism - I love LHCF, but I spent hundreds $$$ following after the latest fads. I give away lots of stuff to my family.
3. I still comb my hair dry and don't wear a scraf at night.
4. LAST WEEK: I almost apply color (some grey only at my temples) and relaxer to my front hairline in preparation for a date because I was upset with how my hair looked!
Luckily, the BSS did not carry LYE relaxers (I at least remembered that this was better than No-Lye), so I calmed down and left empty handed.
Correction - I bought a hair color wand (think large mascara tube)to darken my hairline temporarily.
Henna - it may work for some, but it turned my hair into a brittle, orange mess!2.
PJism - I love LHCF, but I spent hundreds $$$ following after the latest fads. I give away lots of stuff to my family.3.
I still comb my hair dry and don't wear a scraf at night.4.
LAST WEEK: I almost apply color (some grey only at my temples) and relaxer to my front hairline in preparation for a date because I was upset with how my hair looked!Luckily, the BSS did not carry LYE relaxers (I at least remembered that this was better than No-Lye), so I calmed down and left empty handed.
Correction - I bought a hair color wand (think large mascara tube)to darken my hairline temporarily.
Bigghair
New Member
I did not fully detangle a twistout from tiny twists I wore. I then hopped in the shower to wash my hair and still had tangles and some twists in there. I was struggling trying to comb through it when I should have sat my hips down in front of the mirror and detangled properly after having those small twists.
Moral: Always fully detangle using your fingers after twists or a twistout before attempting to comb detangle in the shower.
Moral: Always fully detangle using your fingers after twists or a twistout before attempting to comb detangle in the shower.
vpoetic
New Member
I did not fully detangle a twistout from tiny twists I wore. I then hopped in the shower to wash my hair and still had tangles and some twists in there. I was struggling trying to comb through it when I should have sat my hips down in front of the mirror and detangled properly after having those small twists.
Moral: Always fully detangle using your fingers after twists or a twistout before attempting to comb detangle in the shower.
That's a good one. I just did that one today
NaijaNaps
Well-Known Member
I thought that because I didn't have a relaxer anymore that coloring my hair would be a-ok. My hair ended up a dry, damaged mess and I had to slowly cut off all of my length.
Moral: Color is a chemical. Even if you're natural, you need to maintain your moisture and protein balance.
Moral: Color is a chemical. Even if you're natural, you need to maintain your moisture and protein balance.
NewYorkgyrl
Well-Known Member
Worse thing I ever did was get my hair pressed (one time) at a salon. I have strands that never reverted.
I still regret what I did till this day. I'm still not over the trama and that was back in November.
I still regret what I did till this day. I'm still not over the trama and that was back in November.
BillsBackerz67
Well-Known Member
erplexedusing wash n goes as a main style. doing this constantly gives me single strand knots galore.
AsTheCurlzTurns
Active Member
I am so glad I started this thread!!! I love it!! Thanks ya'll!
Thanks ya'll!Serenity K
New Member
"Dominican Blowouts-I got one this summer and I'm still recovering from it. No joke!! Stay away. I had splits, tons of breakage, uneven hair, see thru areas of hair from that friggin blowout. Did I say I was STILL recovering."
This is my mistake as well. I got one in December, and it took a couple of months for the damage to show, but not its very apparent. I had to trim a good two inches, and it is still damaged now!!!
"This is my mistake as well. I got one in December, and it took a couple of months for the damage to show, but not its very apparent. I had to trim a good two inches, and it is still damaged now!!!
tkj25
Member
1) using shampoo -- i tried everything, no sls, moisturizing, botanical, all natural -- shampoo is just too drying for my hair. once i gave it up & embraced no-pooing, the moisture retention of my hair has completely turned around.
2) washing my hair in twists -- some people can get away with it.erplexed i can't. as my hair dries, it draws up, constricts, matts & tightens those twists to the nth degree. i wondered why i'd have to have marathon detangling sessions sometimes lasting weeks from all the starts and stops -- detangling w/ conditioner, & then co-washing hair in sections or large braids works much better.
3) triple processing -- coloring/bleaching/texturizing -- resulted in mushy, spaghetti hair -- the worst section would literally tear when wet.
2) washing my hair in twists -- some people can get away with it.
erplexed i can't. as my hair dries, it draws up, constricts, matts & tightens those twists to the nth degree. i wondered why i'd have to have marathon detangling sessions sometimes lasting weeks from all the starts and stops -- detangling w/ conditioner, & then co-washing hair in sections or large braids works much better.3) triple processing -- coloring/bleaching/texturizing -- resulted in mushy, spaghetti hair -- the worst section would literally tear when wet.
glamazon386
Well-Known Member
Never try to comb or brush dry hair. 
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Well-Known Member
Yep
I have tons of knots and at this point don't even care
quasimodi
New Member
Hmmmm. Let's see. Where do I begin?
Top ten reasons, in no particular order, why I've been natural for a couple of years, but have never really retained length...Was it because...
1.) I braided my own hair into teeny-tiny braids (not twists) and kept them in there for MONTHS without shampooing or conditioning? DRY! DRY! DRY HAIR!! ....FUNKY hair with an itchy, flaky scalp. Now, I'm the deep conditioning, co-washing queen. Thanks Suave Humectant, Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose, Yogurt, Honey, Suave Tropical Coconut, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and/or ORS Hair Packs mixtures. Hurray for plastic heating caps. Excellent for deep, deep conditioning.
2.) When I did shampoo I used a shampoo full of sulfates or with a ph WAY, WAY too high for hair to be safe? DRY! DRY HAIR! DRY = BREAKAGE! BREAKAGE MEANS I GET NO LENGTH!! ARGGGHH!! ...I feel myself getting frustrated at the memory and I'm only on reason #2. Now, I mostly use baking soda and water (does this trick) or , if I do shampoo, which I'm slowly moving away from, I use natural shampoos/shampoo bars (aubrey organics, jasons, etc.)
3.) Took the teeny-tiny braids out...DRY! DRY! DRY! with a small-toothed, rat tailed comb? I was a walking endorsement for Rice Krispy Treats. Can anyone say, "Snap, Crackle, Pop"?
4.) In the early days, I hard pressed my hair (sizzzle, sizzle, snap, snap, Is that burnt hair smell coming from me?) with a nasty wax that gave my hair shine, but didn't allow any moisture to penetrate? HEAT = DAMAGE for me.
5.) Didn't moisturize daily? No S-Curl, no distilled water mixed w/ rosemary and lavendor oil (nice) , No Kids Organic Shea Butter Detangling Moisturizer, No Qhemet Biologics, (one of my favorites) no growafrohairlong leave-in conditioner (love it!)
6.) Wore my hair in teeny-tiny braids, which, over time, dissolved my edges like acid? Still recovering, thanks to scalp massages, Boundless Tresses, hair stimulator oils such as a mixture of peppermint, castor, tea tree, lavender, and coconut oil, and low manipulation (loose, loose braids, not tight, hair follicle-killing braids *sigh*)
7.) Didn't use a detangler or sleep in a satin night cap? Rat's nest anyone? Good grief, what was I thinking????
8.) Didn't have patience with my hair? See #2 and break out a bowl, a spoon, and a slice of toast
9.) Didn't take the time to actually find out what works and what does not work for my hair? Be it conditioners, moisturizers, etc.
10.) Expected my natural hair to do things that my relaxed hair did rather than workin' my thing and learning to love my hair as it is for what it is? My hair's not going to lie flat, but when deep conditioned, moisturized, detangled and loved on will blossom into a glorious, wild, soft, beautiful mass that my fingers just keep wanting to reach out and touch and that attracts strangers and family members alike.
I wish I had found LHCF A LOT sooner. But, better late than never.
Top ten reasons, in no particular order, why I've been natural for a couple of years, but have never really retained length...Was it because...
1.) I braided my own hair into teeny-tiny braids (not twists) and kept them in there for MONTHS without shampooing or conditioning? DRY! DRY! DRY HAIR!! ....FUNKY hair with an itchy, flaky scalp. Now, I'm the deep conditioning, co-washing queen. Thanks Suave Humectant, Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose, Yogurt, Honey, Suave Tropical Coconut, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and/or ORS Hair Packs mixtures. Hurray for plastic heating caps. Excellent for deep, deep conditioning.
2.) When I did shampoo I used a shampoo full of sulfates or with a ph WAY, WAY too high for hair to be safe? DRY! DRY HAIR! DRY = BREAKAGE! BREAKAGE MEANS I GET NO LENGTH!! ARGGGHH!! ...I feel myself getting frustrated at the memory and I'm only on reason #2. Now, I mostly use baking soda and water (does this trick) or , if I do shampoo, which I'm slowly moving away from, I use natural shampoos/shampoo bars (aubrey organics, jasons, etc.)
3.) Took the teeny-tiny braids out...DRY! DRY! DRY! with a small-toothed, rat tailed comb? I was a walking endorsement for Rice Krispy Treats. Can anyone say, "Snap, Crackle, Pop"?
4.) In the early days, I hard pressed my hair (sizzzle, sizzle, snap, snap, Is that burnt hair smell coming from me?) with a nasty wax that gave my hair shine, but didn't allow any moisture to penetrate? HEAT = DAMAGE for me.
5.) Didn't moisturize daily? No S-Curl, no distilled water mixed w/ rosemary and lavendor oil (nice) , No Kids Organic Shea Butter Detangling Moisturizer, No Qhemet Biologics, (one of my favorites) no growafrohairlong leave-in conditioner (love it!)
6.) Wore my hair in teeny-tiny braids, which, over time, dissolved my edges like acid? Still recovering, thanks to scalp massages, Boundless Tresses, hair stimulator oils such as a mixture of peppermint, castor, tea tree, lavender, and coconut oil, and low manipulation (loose, loose braids, not tight, hair follicle-killing braids *sigh*)
7.) Didn't use a detangler or sleep in a satin night cap? Rat's nest anyone? Good grief, what was I thinking????
8.) Didn't have patience with my hair? See #2 and break out a bowl, a spoon, and a slice of toast
9.) Didn't take the time to actually find out what works and what does not work for my hair? Be it conditioners, moisturizers, etc.
10.) Expected my natural hair to do things that my relaxed hair did rather than workin' my thing and learning to love my hair as it is for what it is? My hair's not going to lie flat, but when deep conditioned, moisturized, detangled and loved on will blossom into a glorious, wild, soft, beautiful mass that my fingers just keep wanting to reach out and touch and that attracts strangers and family members alike.
I wish I had found LHCF A LOT sooner. But, better late than never.
LiveLoveLife
Well-Known Member
Ok I've been relaxed for the past year and a half but...when I was natural, the worst mistake I made was daily co-washing with shampoo and then brushing my wet hair back into a TIGHT ponytail...my hair was dry as ever and broke off like crazy...not fun
cmw45
Well-Known Member
This was my first and (knocks on wood) only set back thus far.
DivaD04
New Member
1) just the other day i went to get my hair braided and now my edges are too tight...i took down my temples an rebraided them, but had i known this lady braided to tight, i would have just braided my own har.
2) not going natural sooner
3) not being able to find protective styles besides braids for my 1" of hair
2) not going natural sooner
3) not being able to find protective styles besides braids for my 1" of hair
Social.Buttahfly
New Member
I was frustrated with wash n go's and buns so I wanted to do something different and I have paid for it dearly.erplexed
At this point I will either texlax or stay natural with my new growth and not BC.
erplexed At this point I will either texlax or stay natural with my new growth and not BC.
- HEAT DAMAGE - Did not put on heat protectant during blow dry or flat iron.
- MICROS - thinned and broke my hair off (had them in for 4 wks Dec-Jan 08)
- KINKY TWIST - same as micros (had them in for 2 wks (Feb 08)
- LETTING STYLIST "TRIM" MY HAIR. (Jan. 08)
1QTPie
Elder Sim
Not combing it for a month.
Using a curling iron on it.
Using a curling iron without detangling first.
lovinmylocs
New Member
I've made a few starting with:
1) Mistaking my co-rinsing for co-washing and then wondering why I have so much build up on my scalp....ewww.
2) Thinking that because I co-washing (really rinsing) daily, and didn't need a dc at all.
3) Not respecting the moisture/protein balance thing. My hair needs both too much of either is a no - no for me.
4) During my transition I had braids and I didn't detangle before I washed (I really didn't know any better) and I ended up losing handfuls of hair. I cried every time I took them down.
1) Mistaking my co-rinsing for co-washing and then wondering why I have so much build up on my scalp....ewww.
2) Thinking that because I co-washing (really rinsing) daily, and didn't need a dc at all.
3) Not respecting the moisture/protein balance thing. My hair needs both too much of either is a no - no for me.
4) During my transition I had braids and I didn't detangle before I washed (I really didn't know any better) and I ended up losing handfuls of hair. I cried every time I took them down.
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