What Did You Do/ Would You Do Differently Starting Your Hair Journey Over?

[julzinha]

I would study the Science of Black Hair and the Curly Girl Handbook before making any product purchase.

I agree! This site taught me everything I needed to know, but it was so overwhelming in the beginning because I knew absolutely nothing about hair care. It would have been great to read a book as a foundation to learning about products, techniques, and terminology.

 

[11228]

I wish I found nexxus emergencee earlier.

I wish it was sold locally instead of ordering online.

 

[mshoneyfly]

I would have cut about 3 inches at the onset and done castor oil massages for thickness.

I would not have become a product junkie either. Now I have all these products in my stash to use up :rolls eyes:

 

[GettingKinky]

I wouldn't have wasted 2.5 years transitioning to texlaxed. I would have gone straight to a transition to natural. I would have 3.5 years of natural hair now.

I wouldn't have bought multiples of a product before I found out if I was really going to use it. I have so much stuff I may never use.

 

[mschristine]

I'm currently starting over and I am keeping it very simple. I will continue to protective style during the winter, no new products. I know all my staples and once I get a little bit more length, I can throw my flat iron under my sink for a while.

 

[julzinha]

I would have shown my scalp more love. Oftentimes, hair is the largest focus, but keeping your scalp clean and lightly oiled goes a long way in terms of follicular health that also improves the health of your hair.

 

[Bibliophile]

I would've mastered twists and braid (French, Dutch, herringbone, flat twists, corn rows, Goddess, etc.) techniques instead of buns. Now my hair is long and I'm out of styling ideas.

 

[naturalmanenyc]

I'd start doing curly styles sooner during my transition. I never did a big chop. I spent a lot of time and effort trying to make my curls straight to match my relaxed hair. It would have been easier to curl the relaxed hair.

 

[Aireen]

I would've...

Definitely started my journey earlier; I started caring for my hair in my mid-teens, I would've started in my pre-teens when I relaxed for the very first time. Even though products weren't as great as they are now, I think starting earlier and basically slathering my hair in conditioner would've provided some benefit.

Kept it simple and just stuck to mostly drugstore/beauty supply products. I feel like salon products are decent but they're not worth the hype for me. (Again, products are definitely better now – especially those from the drugstore/beauty supply – but I think my hair would've reaped some sort of benefit.)

Tried to master my blow-drying technique sooner. I've only NOW gotten results that really make me happy thanks to a wide-tooth comb, paddle brush, a good blow-dryer, and great drugstore serums.

Bought multiple Tangle Teezers. I have one and I LOVE IT, waited too long to try it out.

Kept it simple and consistent – my setbacks have been caused by doing the exact opposite. My hair ≠ home remedies; all these avocado/mayonnaise/egg/honey masks are just a nightmare or provide absolutely no real benefit. Curiosity and neglect always make my hair dread.

Had a set vitamin cocktail sooner. Vitamins make my new growth so much stronger. I have to have at least a multi-vitamin, biotin, and fish oil. For extras, I like to take collagen, silica, and MSM.

 

[LadyPBC]

Great thread - will continue watching/reading!

 

[maxineshaw]

Very nice ladies. This thread is so educational. Here is my contribution:

• Henna. I would have NEVER let that stuff touch my hair. No color deposit and it altered my hair texture.
• Concentrated more on learning styles and techniques as opposed to hair routines.
• Taken a multivitamin/supplement more consistently. My hair is soooo weak.
• Kept my routine super simple. You don't have to do a whole lot of have healthy hair.

 

[ezina]

I would have started my natural hair journey the moment I started my overall healthy hair journey. That's an extra two years of learning about my natural hair, which I would greatly appreciate right about now. I do nothing with my hair nowadays. Back then, I was extremely experimental because I was so new (and thus, very excited) about the idea of having healthy hair...too bad all those "experiments" were done on relaxed hair. Now, I'm natural and lazy. :/

 

[imsovain]

I would have kept my relaxed hair, which was long and beautiful, but I would have learned to relax it myself. Any damage my hair sustained was because of relaxers not properly rinsed and neutralized.

 

[abioni]

I would have not done BKT on my hair. I really regret it. I tried 3 BKT products and they all broke my hair badly, I had to start over. Four years of hair barely retained.

 

[trclemons]

I would have done more protective styles at the beginning of my journey because my hair was too weak and unhealthy to handle the constant manipulation.

 

[iLurk]

Looking back I would have used more protein products and doing braid outs to help keep my hair from matting up. Would have done self trims more often too.

 

[sunnieb]

I would have done a Major Haircut at the onset....instead of 'tryna' fake it till you make it'

I would have been much further along.

This! I wish I'd taken one for the team and cut about 3 inches on the beginning. I think hair would've gotten healthier much faster.

 

[Ogoma]

Probably keep things simple; not spend so much money on hair products, tools, etc. But I had so much fun playing with my hair at the beginning of my hair journey, I don't regret it. My current routine is very simple now.

I would have trimmed less and not used henna at all. I don't think henna did anything for me, but leave a red tint in my hair.

 

[aishasoleil]

If I were to start over right now, I would 100% stick to a water-rinsing method. I'm currently water-only (with the exception of using an oil as needed) and I love it. I've learned that my hair doesn't *need* product unless I desire a very specific look. My clients look at me like I've lost my mind when I reveal that I follow a water-only routine. Lol! They're like, "You're a stylist, but you don't use product on your hair?!" I would say it's not for the faint of heart. You have to be pretty dedicated in the beginning as you wait for full sebum coverage. I feel that if I had started this routine the last time I cut my hair, my hair would have flourished so much more. I've been toying with the idea of cutting again. However, I have cut my hair so many times in the past 5 or 6 years that I really don't know if I want to start over again...

 

[movingforward]

I'm transitioning back to natural. I regret fully relaxing my hair; my hair is thin and lifeless.

I'm thinking about going back to texlaxing.......I'm so over dealing with the relaxed and natural state of my hair.

 

[curlyhersheygirl]

I've been regrowing my hair after various haircuts in '13.
This time around I'm "listening" to my hair more. I no longer just stick to a schedule, I adjust my regimen based on its needs.
Also I'm sealing first. I've noticed that doing this helps my hair retain a lot more moisture and I also use way less products.

 

[uofmpanther]

I never would have relaxed my hair. I didn't do it until late high school,and it was only due to peer pressure. I was relaxed for about 9 years.

When I big chopped, I should have worn my hair out more. My short hair was easy.

 

[Nightingale]

I would study the Science of Black Hair and the Curly Girl Handbook before making any product purchase.

This plus reading thenaturalhavenbloom.com and science-yhairblog.blogspot.com. These blogs weren't around when I first started, but they've helped immensely with this 2nd transition to natural.

 

[mscheergrl]

I would have immediately gone natural. My hair and relaxers do not mix.
But everything happens for a reason. I actually learned the most from my mistakes.

 

[Tyra]

As far as I'm concerned wet buns are the devil and wng's are his mother.
I grew out to mbl only to have to bc again.

Granted, if I was thoroughly detangling, I would've known early that my hair was choking.

If I had to narrow it all down, I'd say that I wish I would've kept it simple the first time around. That goes for styling and products.

 

[contsantia]

I wld enjoy my short hair more. Dye it, go to a barber, be more confident

 

[30something]

Started protective styling earlier.

 

[nothidden]

This plus reading thenaturalhavenbloom.com and science-yhairblog.blogspot.com. These blogs weren't around when I first started, but they've helped immensely with this 2nd transition to natural.

I've looked into those sites, too.

 

[snookes]

I have noticed that my hair is completely different this time. The first time I went natural I transitioned...I guess during that time I didn't take care of my hair properly because my curl pattern is sooo much more defined this time. It was extremely difficult to keep it moisturized when I first BC'd but now since I've shaved it off and I'm only concerned with one type of hair my hair is tremendously reaping the benefits of it! Another X on my list is Henna! I wont Henna this time nor will I try to "naturally" alter my hair color using any other methods. It only resulted in lifeless, no curl pattern... fluffy hair. Oh, I also wont be using heat AT ALL well perhaps with the exception of a hooded dryer. Previously having heat damaged hair on several occasions I just can't risk it. What about you? What would you do differently? Natural or relaxed...

Deep condition from day one.

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

I wish I would have found this site earlier and paid attention to LHCF when I found it. I wish I would have kept up my trims. I wished I would have not forced myself to remain natural while I was approaching hair burn-out. I wish I could have gotten over the guilt of not being natural, but killing my hair in the process just to remain natural.