If you are in the process of transitioning or doing the big chop, the best advice I could give you is to be open minded. The worst thing you can do is to wish your natural hair will look like other women's hair--even your relatives. Years ago before the "natural movement" became popular, I wished I could have a hair texture similar to Ananda Lewis or Chili from TLC.
At the time that I went through this phase, I was relaxing my hair. My hair at the beginning of my childhood was always pressed. I was around eight when I started getting my hair relaxed. I did not know too much about hair when I was younger and wondered what type of product they were using to get their hair so wavy. Sad...I KNOW!
When I was in junior high one week at school we had spirit week. One day during that week was 70's day where all the students were expected to come to school wearing clothing from the 1970s. There was this one girl in my class who had this huge gorgeous afro. I knew I was black and typically black people should be able to have afros so I did not understand why I could not style my hair in that manner--again I was completely uneducated about hair and had no idea my relaxers were blocking me from "rocking rough and stuff with my afro puffs." (Bonus points if you know what song that's from.)
Fast forward to the 2010s when I finally decided I was tired of relaxing my hair: I was completely over wishing my hair looked like Ananda's or Chili's. I was just curious to see what my hair actually looked like. Had I gone into my hair journey wishing I looked like someone else I would have been greatly disappointed. This could have lead to me having low self esteem and possibly returning back to relaxers. I went into my natural hair journey completely open minded. The new growth I saw as I transitioned showed little coils peeking through. I was simply amazed. Today I am fully natural and I do not have the same hair texture throughout my head. The very front is 4c. The crown of my hair is 4b. The remainder of my hair is 4a.
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| Hair type chart from platinumwigs.com |
I am aware that some people do not feel the hair type chart should be used because they feel it divides the natural hair community. However, I feel that it is helpful because it can guide you when purchasing products and to keep realistic hairstyling expectations. For example, I have watched tutorials of other women on YouTube slicking their hair back and achieving waves while wearing an afro puff. As much as I've tried, I cannot get my 4c hair to behave in a similar manner. I have learned that this is okay and to just slick my hair back the best I can. I have not been able to get my hair to slick back neatly, so I just put a hair band on the front part to lay it down. I do not feel my hair is inferior to anyone else. I think it is cool that everyone (even within families) have their own look. The world would be so boring if everyone looked the same.
I love MY natural hair. It is very versatile. I can go from coils to picking it out and having a beautiful fro. I can do twistouts, I can even flat iron it straight...and when I get bored of that I can do something else. I love that I am not stuck looking the same every single day. Also, since I've gone natural, my hair is in the healthiest state it has been in years. When you go natural you have to find reasons you love YOUR hair. Being content with what grows out of your scalp is the key to having a successful natural journey. If you are not, you will lack confidence and no matter how your hair looks, a person without confidence is prohibiting their beauty from showing.
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