(photo by Teck)
My first and MAIN regret is coloring my hair. I know, I know, some of you said not to do in the first place but I wanted "something different" when in all actuality I should have left my hair alone! Yes, overtime I experienced some breakage which in turn stunted any type of length retention I was trying to achieve. To this day, I wish I would've just gotten highlights or maybe even nothing, versus having my whole head dyed. My advice to new naturals is to not color your hair right away. Wait, at least 3 years. That may sound like a long time but you'll have some length and hopefully would have gotten to know your hair by the time you choose to "spice it up" a little bit. I know that some may think their TWAs are boring but would you rather have boring healthy hair or borderline damaged "cute" colored hair? There is too much to loose especially if you have fragile type 4 strands like me and are trying to grow your hair to great lengths. Just a suggestion!
I have also come to accept that my hair needs to have a low maintenance regimen. Nothing "extra" because then she, LOL, yes, "she", will not flourish. That color really set me back and I would say that last December,when I started protective styling nursing my strands back to health, I can definitely see the difference.
Speaking of protecting strands! I wish I did more protective styling when I first BC'd, I regret that I didn't. I would dabble in it here and there but I used to have a bad case of "hand in hair" syndrome so I really wouldn't give my hair a break. A tip for my new natural's, "keep it simple sistah," for real! If you want healthy hair with some length, you will have to sacrifice somethings and have patience to get your hair where you'd like it. I've always struggled with hair patience but now my regimen and routine is second nature. I am retaining length and most importantly my hair is healthy!
For the most part, those are the things that I look back and say "Dang, I should've or shouldn't have..." Lesson LEARNED! Do you have any natural hair regrets? Share your experiences and learned lessons below.
xoxo,
Alex
12 comments :
I've never had a perm, but I definitely did neglect my 'fro from the time I left home behind (and mom's growing hands) for college in 2000, until the summer of last year. I started off with bra strap length hair my freshman year, and was down to shoulder length hair by summer break, where it stayed for the better part of a decade. I regret the horrible hair care (or, more accurately, hair DON'T care) practices I had for all those years, because my hair could be even bigger today, if only I'd done right by it. I'm still learning what is truly ideal for it to retain maximum moisture and length, but after just a bit more than a year of actually looking after my hair properly, I've had amazing progress. Rather than dwell on regrets of the past, I focus on being excited for the present, and my hair and I are both doing great!
http://hairitis.tumblr.com
I also regret not doing more protective styles. My 2 year anniversary will be this December and I didn't start protective styling until about 10-11 months ago. I also should not have put off getting a good trim for as long as I had because I had some single-strand knots & raggedy ends that had to get the boot. Overall, I'm still happy with my growth and the condition of my hair. As long as I take care of it & remain patient the length will come eventually; I have the rest of my life to growth beautiful, kinky, curly, coil strands.
I can relate. Last night when I was washing my hair and looking at it, I had a thought that I wish I had never colored it. Most of my color is gone now from trims but my ends def took a toll when the color was there. My hair is much healthier now. I've also been keeping it up more rather than wearing it out and I've noticed less single strand knots and little to no split ends. I'm learning and the more simple I keep it, the better my hair becomes :)
Great post!
Yup, I can relate to this. When I first did the big chop, I colored my hair a month later because I wanted to (as you say) spice things up.
I knew I wasn't going to rock a TWA for long because my goal was to dread it. It looked okay at first, like my dreads were tipped in light brown dye or something.
But then I got the crazy idea to dye my hair a copper red color (why, oh Lord, WHY?) That was huge mistake. The color looked cute (when I kept it up), now that my hair is growing out, I am just going to leave it alone.
This is post is right on time. I will be 2 years natural in March. I keep wanting to color my hair. Probably because I haven't dyed it ever. Now I will wait for sure. The only regret I have is that I wish I would have tried protective styling. I just don't like my hair being tucked away, and I don't like weave on myself :/
What color was your hair??? Did you cut the dye off? What exactly is your hair color story?
Wanting it be long; now that it is where I (thought)wanted it to be I'm like OK what now? But I really dont want to cut it. I wish I enjoyed the freedom I had with short natural hair more than obessing over shrinkage,growth/length. I love my shrinkage now. Oh and being a PJ, my wallet is STILL kicking me. LOL!
I agree with wishing I hadn't dyed my hair. I have this area in my hair that I think is damaged and I can only blame it on the dye.
Side note: Your hair looks a little red. Did you dye your hair or is it just the sun? :-)
Who took that lovely photo? So nice...
I wish I wouldn't have dyed my hair as well (insert sad face). My hair became dry and thirsty. BTW, where did you get the cute bow, are they/will they be for sale?
I have some regrets too but we need mistakes to understand life!
26th september is my birth date!
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