The Coily Hair Chronicles (2)

5 Things You Should Know Before Going Natural



     With the new year just taking off, I am sure that many of you have made resolutions to make major changes in your life. Many have joined gyms and vowed to shed a certain number of pounds before the swim suit season hits. Others have made plans to get out of debt, or avoid the use of credit cards. Some have made spiritual commitments to re-dedicate their lives to their religious beliefs, or return to a place of worship. Some have sworn to ignore phone calls from an ex-lover or end the cycle of ephemeral relationships, and still there are others who have made personal goals of self-acceptance and self-admiration. If by chance one of your goals this year is to "go natural," I applaud you on this life changing journey of self-discovery. Beware; as this journey is not for the faint at heart, the weak, or those who cannot endure. I would like to take this opportunity to share 5 things that I wish I would have known before I took the plunge in the natural hair world. This post is by no means, an attempt to change your mind, but rather a caution statement to prepare you for the obstacles that await you.

 

1. Everyone will not appreciate or support your natural hair journey.
   

   It is extremely important to note that everyone will definitely form an opinion about your decision to make such a huge change, but not everyone will be supportive or as excited about  the change. Many people including some of your closest friends and relatives, will turn up their noses, suggest that you return to relaxers, compare you to other naturals and women on television, and even go as far as referring you to their on stylist for assistance. Please see #2 for how to combat this.

    
2. You don't have to care if "They" like it or not.
   

   Once you have this statement branded on your brain, the hardest part is nearly over. It is important when you decide to allow your hair to return to its natural state that you do so for your own personal reasons. You should also embrace the fact that you might not have ringlet curls like the girl who sits two cubicles down from you, or the lady at church . If your mindset is not right,  the negative opinions of others will quickly sway you back to chemicals. Having your own reasons for starting this journey will give you strength to continue when others are pulling you back to the mainstream idea of beauty.  

   
   
3. Don't Big Chop Until You're Ready   
   

   Cutting off all of your hair is a major change to both you and those around you. In fact, even your hair goes into shock from the sudden famine of chemicals to which it was accustomed. Cutting off your hair prior to being prepared for this event can be  a  major self-esteem blow, and could result in embarrassment, lack of confidence, depression, and social withdrawal. The key to pulling off  natural hair is confidence, or "swagg" as the kids are calling it now days.

   Please Note: Not all naturals who do a premeditated big chop  will hear air horns or experience a rush of freedom, as the heavenly choir sings in the back ground, (I know from personal experience. All I heard was crickets, and that stupid faucet dripping...smh) but, getting used to yourself looking a different way, once you have played it over in your mind a million times, is much different than just jumping on a bandwagon, and facing month after month of regrets. Plan accordingly, and don't cut until you're ready!

   
   
4. Find a Natural Hair Buddy
   

   This is very similar to finding a partner to go with you to the gym. You would like for the partner to be very supportive and to push you forward when you feel like you can't go any further. When looking for a gym partner we often do one of two things. A.) We look for someone who is equally or more out of shape than us. Or B.)We look for someone who is very much in shape and will be sure to motivate us without being hurtful.  Having someone to "grow with" follows the same line of thinking. Your natural hair buddy will need to be someone who you can rely on, and doesn't mind your complaints of kinks and knots. Someone who encourages and nurtures your dedication to be chemical free, and will tell you to snap out of it, when you experience curl envy. I vow to be that friend for you, until you find her, and after that I will still be here because encouragement is key to success. 

   
   
5. This is Journey, NOT a Race!
   
   While I have saved this point for last, it is the most important of the five. So many naturals chop off their hair, and from the very first day pine over the days when their hair will be long enough to touch their shoulders, or do pin ups, or buns, etc. Too often this rush to grow hair long, results in failure to ensure that their hair is healthy. If your primary focus is hair health, then the secondary focus of length will be sure to follow. Enjoy your first several months of short hair. In the words of Jenell of Kinky Curly Coily Me, "This is the 'shortest' part of your journey."

Hope this Advice Helps!
*Clarashands*                                                  "Whether you think you can, or can't; you're right."- Henry Ford