Top 3 Tips Every New Natural Should Know/do

[WaistLengthDreams]

Hey guys, I'm newly natural (see siggy) and I'd love to get some sound advice from you ladies on what every new natural should know as she embarks on her natural hair journey. What 3 tips would you give to your newly natural friend?

I'll go first, but just know that I'm a novice over here still going through the trial and error phase:

1. Deep Condition with heat weekly.
2. Watch Youtube Naturals with your critical thinking hat on.
3. Don't touch your hair too much because it gives you the frizzies.

 

[discodumpling]

If you have a twa..go on and wet it everyday... water is your BFF!
Choose 1 or 2 simple styles and master them.
Go on and touch, pull, feel and love on your hair. A little HIF (hand in fro) addiction is a good way to INTIMATELY get to know your hairs properties.
Watch YouTube for general pointers only. There is no such thing as a hair twin!
KNOW that your hair is the boss and any attempt to make her do what she doesn't want to do on any given day will end in frustration for you and total victory for your hair.

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

1)Find products your hair loves and stick to them.
2)Have a 2 and 3 choice in case the company decides to revamp the ingredients
3)In the beg ur hair may be un naturally dry so play with products like shampoo bars or sulfate free shampoo for a more gentle wash until ur hair balances out.

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

If you have a twa..go on and wet it everyday... water is your BFF!
Choose 1 or 2 simple styles and master them.
Go on and touch, pull, feel and love on your hair. A little HIF (hand in fro) addiction is a good way to INTIMATELY get to know your hairs properties.
Watch YouTube for general pointers only. There is no such thing as a hair twin!
KNOW that your hair is the boss and any attempt to make her do what she doesn't want to do on any given day will end in frustration for you and total victory for your hair.

That last one, yes! I have a patch at the top that couldn't be bothered with anything that I have planned for it, lol. I guess I gotta just let her be her frizzy self.

3)In the beg ur hair may be un naturally dry so play with products like shampoo bars or sulfate free shampoo for a more gentle wash until ur hair balances out.

When I washed my hair after big chopping, I was little worried with how dry it was. Yikes! I'm glad that a month later and it's starting to soften up some.

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

That last one, yes! I have a patch at the top that couldn't be bothered with anything that I have planned for it, lol. I guess I gotta just let her be her frizzy self.



When I washed my hair after big chopping, I was little worried with how dry it was. Yikes! I'm glad that a month later and it's starting to soften up some.

Yeah mine too. I've never felt my hair so dry in my life. The only thing that could turn it around was switching to a shampoo bar. The first time I washed with it my hair actually felt like hair again and within a month it was like it use to be.

 

[sarumoki]

1.) The texture you see immediately after you big chop is probably not going to be your actual texture so give it time to "get ready."
2.) Just because a product is marketed for natural hair does not mean your hair is going to like it. Learn what ingredients work for your hair and shop based on that.
3.) Don't believe everything you see on YouTube.

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

Yeah mine too. I've never felt my hair so dry in my life. The only thing that could turn it around was switching to a shampoo bar. The first time I washed with it my hair actually felt like hair again and within a month it was like it use to be.

I've been using a shampoo bar too (and deep conditioning with heat). I'm glad I'm on the right track.

1.) The texture you see immediately after you big chop is probably not going to be your actual texture so give it time to "get ready."
2.) Just because a product is marketed for natural hair does not mean your hair is going to like it. Learn what ingredients work for your hair and shop based on that.
3.) Don't believe everything you see on YouTube.

How long does it typically take before you can claim your texture? I'm a month out and I still have no idea what my texture is. I'm know it's type four, but the texture could be wiry, thready or cottony. It's all very confusing and depending on what day it is, I could claim any one of the three, smh.

...and a hand clap for #3.

 

[sarumoki]

I've been using a shampoo bar too (and deep conditioning with heat). I'm glad I'm on the right track.



How long does it typically take before you can claim your texture? I'm a month out and I still have no idea what my texture is. I'm know it's type four, but the texture could be wiry, thready or cottony. It's all very confusing and depending on what day it is, I could claim any one of the three, smh.

...and a hand clap for #3.

I'm going to say maybe three to six months? It took me a little longer because I wasn't taking care of my ends and I thought the damaged texture was my real texture. I had to trim it before I was able to see my real texture.

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

I'm going to say maybe three to six months? It took me a little longer because I wasn't taking care of my ends and I thought the damaged texture was my real texture. I had to trim it before I was able to see my real texture.

Thanks! I'll take pics to see if I notice a change over time.

 

[RossBoss]

Keep. It. Simple.

 

[I Am So Blessed]

What got me out of the twa stage super fast that I hardly remeber having a twa....

Don't spray water in your hair every day instead use a good moisturizer with a good sealer over it to lock in the moistness.

Shampoo hair once a week or every two weeks.

Cover you head all the time. I wore hats and scarves to protect my ends until I could flat twist then regular twists once I gained inches.

I never pre-pooed or co-washed.

By the end of my first year I gained 8 inches total.

Moisturizer I used was curl activator. A good sealer is grease. Nothing fancy.

All the hair wants is to be left alone and be moist.

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

What got me out of the twa stage super fast that I hardly remeber having a twa....

Don't spray water in your hair every day instead use a good moisturizer with a good sealer over it to lock in the moistness.

Shampoo hair once a week or every two weeks.

Cover you head all the time. I wore hats and scarves to protect my ends until I could flat twist then regular twists once I gained inches.

I never pre-pooed or co-washed.

By the end of my first year I gained 8 inches total.

Moisturizer I used was curl activator. A good sealer is grease. Nothing fancy.

All the hair wants is to be left alone and be moist.

You know, I had been co-washing mostly and then I saw MoKnowsHair recent post on youtube. And she said something that really resonated with me. Something to the effect of: If you did X with your relaxed hair and it did well, then why would you abandon everything and do something completely different once you're natural.

And now seeing your post, I may need to rethink some things.

I shampooed every week for most of my relaxed hair journey and never cowashed. That got me to full mid back length. So, I really need to re-evaluate my hair regimen plans. Thanks for posting this, @I Am So Blessed

 

[IDareT'sHair]

1) Learn how to fully detangle properly
2) Learn your Protein & Moisture Balance (and act accordingly)
3) Learn your Natural Hair (dryness, moisture, tangles, ssks etc)

 

[Sally.]

1. Dry hair is never your friend.
3. Believe in the power of natural herbs/oils (study ayurveda).
3. A good trim/cut that is ideal for your curls will do wonders not only for the look of your hair, but for many styles you are trying to achieve.

 

[MilkChocolateOne]

Do what works for you.

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

1) Learn how to fully detangle properly
2) Learn your Protein & Moisture Balance (and act accordingly)
3) Learn your Natural Hair (dryness, moisture, tangles, ssks etc)

Thanks for the tips. Working on it!

1. Dry hair is never your friend.
3. Believe in the power of natural herbs/oils (study ayurveda).
3. A good trim/cut that is ideal for your curls will do wonders not only for the look of your hair, but for many styles you are trying to achieve.

Already obsessed with the bolded.

Do what works for you.

Thanks for your tips, ladies!