Do you ever feel like you're running a continual race? By continual, I mean a race with no finish line. You're running and progressing and you think you're almost at the end AND THEN you realize that you've only just begun. Well, that's where I feel I am with my natural hair. I've come a long way, but I'm still just at the beginning of my journey. I'm getting tired...AGAIN (i.e. I'm going to start locs for myself this weekend).Those of you who know me know that I am very impatient when it comes to my hair. I just want it to grow like white people's weeds. I'm at a point again where I have little fairy knots at my ends and I don't know what to do. I keep it moisturized, clean and stylish, but my hair continues to outwit me. It's as if it has its own personality, or almost as if my hair has an alter ego. I wish I could talk to my hair and say: "What the feezy HAIR? Why don't you just grow? Stop knotting at the ends and absorb all of the goods oils and conditioner I give you and grow."
Hey, it's Nina H. I just made the big chop and am finding that Carol's Daughter's Healthy Hair Butter helps but it isn't quite doing the job. Nothing I really had pre-chop is doing the job! I'm going to try the hair milk from CD and see how it goes. I'll keep you posted.
ReplyDeleteOMG we are on the same hair emotional roller coaster. I want to cut my hair, braid it up, or it has even crossed my mind to "relax" again..I know its that bad!!! So, right now I am re-evaluating why I went natural in the first place and that was to achieve healthy hair. I am truly reprogramming my brain that length isn't important as achieving healthy head of curls. No product, no growth exlier, no pill, can make my hair grow to its full potential without proper hair care. So like you I am listening to my hair to figure out what it needs. I may do another BC and start over and that is just what my hair may need. :/
ReplyDeleteWe are all in this marathon together and I am happy that you posted this because I feel exactly the same way!
@Nina - Congrats on your Big Chop, WOOT! I personally don't love Carol's Daughter products b/c I feel like it leaves a film on my hair (prob b/c most of her products have beeswax, which I don't like) but I'm glad it works for you!
ReplyDelete@EMF - Girl I hear you!!! I never think to go back to relaxing, but I think there are certain things to remember as a natural like SHRINKAGE IS REAL! Also, significant growth takes time. I'm going to discuss this soon :)
I think we have the same hair type...
ReplyDeleteI transitioned for a year and cut, off all the relaxer a couple of weeks ago, I think the key is protective styling and a good diet.
Also having a fotki album seems to help keep track of progress, and you can make notes of how your hair looked and what you used, etc.
Aww Mo, I feel your pain! Even though my hair is growing, I still wish I could just wake up and have it past my shoulders, or be able to do a wash and go and get fabulous 3C curls. Ha! That ain't ever gonna happen. :)
ReplyDeleteBut, just imagine how fab you're gonna be once you finally reach that goal! With locs or without, I think all us naturals get tired of the monotony, but we've just gotta stick with it. It will get better!
Sam
@ prettydarkthing - it's SO HARD for me to find a hair twin, feel free to email me and let me know how your progress is going!
ReplyDelete@ Sam - GIRL, I would LOVE to be able to do a wash-n-go sometimes, but I know that's just not my hair. I'm not giving up though...I love it too much :P
You know it's not just the styling that can be daunting, it's also the maintenance, and impression on others. I have a new BF, and when I met him my hair was straight (had it "done" Christmas eve) and in the back of my mind I just kept thinking "I wonder what he's going to say in a couple of weeks when I revert (to what is normal to me)". I allowed him to be around the whole pre-poo, shampoo, condition, leave in condition/bantu knot overnight procedure last night. He seemed intrigued by the process. He laughed at the idea that I put eggs/mayo/honey/olive oil in my hair(even wanted to whisk it), but in the end declared that he didn't know beautiful was such process & hard work :o) and still hadn't seen my curls released until this
ReplyDeletemorning, to which he responded "WOW your hair is really curly, that's real !?!?" It's a wonder the appearance of my hair was causing me that much anxiety....It's a trip....
A Jeanninne - Releasing our natural hair to our significant others can be a daunting experience. Natural hair is truly a lot of work (it can be if you're main goal is health & length). I'm glad that he loved it. Just shows that sometimes we hype it up to be more than it is...
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