I have realized that there are some things that I am hesitant to try--or won't try--with my natural hair. These hesitations usually occur if I feel the process will cause breakage or damage to my natural hair. Below I have listed a few of my fears for my natural hair:
1. The ponytail. I used to be a person that would rock a ponytail in a hot minute (during my relaxed days). I then thought that when my natural hair got to the length to wear it in a ponytail that I would rock it a lot. However, I don't. I am so afraid of the ponytail. Simply because I feel that the ponytail would cause stress to my edges and breakage around the area where the band is. Maybe my fears are crazy but, I do feel it will be awhile before I can rock a ponytail comfortably.
2. Pressure. This is probably my BIGGEST fear for my natural hair. I had a major hair mishap over a year ago from having continuous pressure in one spot. I pretty much lost hair in the spot and had a bald patch. And even though that spot has grown back now, I never want to repeat that mistake. For this reason, you will hardly ever see me rock headbands or even wear bobby pins in the same spot. I love hairstyles that require no outside force to hold it--such as twists, cornrows, out styles, etc.
3. Applying gel to my edges and brushing them. I see other naturals do this but, I don't think I will ever start brushing my edges. I just don't think smooth edges is that big of deal to me so, I just don't go there. I want to maintain as much length on my edges as possible and don't want to damage it.
4. Sleeping with my hair out. I can't sleep with my hair out. I won't sleep with my hair out. Enough said.
5. Dry hair. Dry hair = Breakage. For this reason, I embrace moisture, moisture, and more moisture.
6. Straightening. I don't have plans to ever straighten my natural hair. I have heard too many heat damage stories and I just don't dig the straight look. (I am talking for myself and am not casting judgement on others.)
Those are my main fears for the moment. Do you have any fears for your natural hair or things that you refuse to do to your natural hair--even though they seem to work for others?
Hey sis! We have pretty much the same hair concerns! Though I do need to work on the pressure part! I always try to make my puffs as loose as possible but I think I might have to decide the likely inevitable..stop wearing puffs..Another thing is the wearing my hair out to sleep! NEVER! I cannot and will not! First thing as I change into PJ...twist hair for the night! lol. I use my boar bristle help my edges lie flat, the sides not the bristle parts and though I am careful and do not think I am suffering from any breakage because of this, i think i will be stopping soon. I said NO to get a long time ago and about straightening...about 4/5 naturals that go ahead with it experience some kind of damage. To me, that's a lesson I'm not going to try and learn lol. Great post sis! Oh, this is a long one sorry!
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Thanks for the award, Funbi!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are so right about your fears. I never heard of laying the edges down using the side of the brush. I am sure that is not damaging like using the bristles. And I agree with you completely about the lesson I don't want to learn. Others learned from it and I will learn from their experience. Thanks for the feedback!
Some of those fears I have too except one lol. As we speak I am rocking a ponypuff!! But I know they are not stressing out my edges because I can open my eyes wide and shut them tight without feeling any tension lol. I use lots of gel so that I don't have to pull it back very tight to be flat, and I make sure the pony is loose. I have to wear my hair up for my internship bc I work in a hospital lab and I have no clips and bobby pins just won't work for some reason! So I rock the pony :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the input! And I agree with you about making sure not to pull that ponytail too tight. And ponytails are actually more convenient than bobby pins especially when you're pressed form time. It's all about finding what works for you.
ReplyDeleteI also have a straightening fear. One, I am deathly afraid of heat damage, and two, I fear for all the work I won't like my hair straight anymore.
ReplyDeleteLaNeshe, I have had a fear of straightening since first going natural. And that would be crazy if you did all the work and didn't even like. That's something to think about.
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