I Wish I had Your Hair

One of the common questions you hear naturals ask each other is, “What is your hair type?” For many naturals, determining their hair type is the guide for how they should care for their hair. For others it’s not as important. I did not know my hair type until earlier this year because honestly I didn’t find it necessary.  I’m in no way stating that knowing one’s hair type is useless because clearly it has its benefits.  We shouldn’t get hung up on this one thing though.

As human beings, I think it’s only natural for us to form groups based on similarities or common interests. The natural hair community is full of these likeminded groups, especially on Facebook. Women can ask questions, share tips or just encourage each other. There is a little drama added in there too.   I post pictures on many of these pages and I’m bombarded with the same questions/comments: “I wish I had your hair”,   “How did you get it so thick?” or “What is your hair type?” Again, I try to be humble but as women we tend to compare ourselves on just about everything. I’m just as guilty of this.

I remember when I first went natural I was absolutely OBESSED with Taren Guy’s (YouTube Vlogger) hair. I must have spent countless hours watching her videos and praying that my curl patter would equal hers. Thankfully it didn’t because I grew to love what God gave me.  The change for me occurred when one of my subscribers commented that I was her new hair crush.  Imagine that. I was coveting someone else’s hair and I was this young lady’s HAIR CRUSH.  I must have smiled a week after that. It was during this period that I started to reflect on why I went natural and the appreciation for my own hair formed.

One of things that I try to encourage other naturals to do is to embrace their hair and its challenges. STOP THE COMPARING. You may NEVER have Taren Guy’s curl pattern or my hair thickness. AND that’s okay. You are a unique individual with a unique head of hair. We all have hair problems. Lord knows I do.  There will always be something that you wish you could change. Instead try to focus on the journey itself. Set small goals. More importantly, have some patience. You’ve probably been relaxed longer than you’ve been natural.  It’ll take some time to learn the new natural you. Lastly, reevaluate why you went natural. It’s through this self-evaluation that the appreciation for YOUR hair will start to develop. Remember it’s the journey not the destination.  

Stay tuned next month where I discuss moisture retention and how to prevent dry/brittle hair.