Going natural can be confusing and exciting at the same time. Do you big chop, transition, or both? There are many mistakes made while going natural but that does not mean there are not ways to avoid them.
Here are 4 mistakes made while going natural:
Not reading Ingredients
Reading ingredients can be something new to many naturals. When we had relaxers we never looked at what was in it, or at least I didn’t. We just applied it! Little did we know that the ingredients in relaxers cause medical issues. Now that we are more educated about our natural hair we know that reading the product labels is essential. Make sure the products you are using do not contain harsh sulfates or parabens.
Not changing relaxed hair regimen
Many naturals make the mistake of thinking that they can use the same regimen they used when their hair was relaxed. Such as washing your hair every 2 weeks or longer, using the same products, and over-manipulating. For example, I over-manipulated my hair so much when I went natural. I loved to comb and brush my relaxed hair, so I thought I could do the same with my natural hair without moisture. My hair broke off so badly! Change your regimen.
Using too much heat
Many of my natural hair setbacks resulted in using too much heat. I loved the hot comb and the flat iron so much. I didn’t love my natural curl pattern, so using heat to straighten my hair was the next best thing to having relaxed hair. My flat iron would be set on the highest rating there was and every week it would be used for. Even for touch ups throughout the week. Needless to say, when wanted to stop flat ironing to give my hair a break, there was no curl pattern and my hair was badly damaged! Use a heat protectant and the lowest setting possible when applying heat.
Using too many different products
Going natural can be exciting and with that comes all these different products. Finding out which products work best for your hair is key to styling, and having healthier hair. My mistake as well as many naturals make was becoming a product junkie. (I still have this issue lol) I’m a work in progress. But buying every product on the market just because it says its for natural hair is not the answer. Switching up your regimen (products) too much can wreck havoc on your hair.
Let me know if you have made similar mistakes in the comments below!
Kineatra Jones, MS founder & editor of NaturallyNex.com. She has a passion for educating women on all things natural: hair, beauty, and life. NaturallyNex.com was created in August 2015 to share and connect with women who have a passion for natural hair and beauty. Overtime NaturallyNex has evolved into a beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment blog. Kineatra is focused on discussing natural hair, beauty, fashion, and travel as well as providing encouragement to others.
