Jessica brings today’s question of the day;
I went natural back in 2006, and kinda had fun with my hair the first few years of being natural. Earlier this year I became really focused on retaining length and started applying some protective techniques. I quickly learned that in order for me to retain maximum length I need to keep my hair in protective styles for at least two weeks at a time, and that my ends need to be tucked during this time. As you can imagine this limits my styling options tremendously. And, while I know I’ll probably have a lot of fun with my hair once it’s long, I was having fun with it when it was short, too. It’s like, I know that kinky hair can grow long, and that 4b&c-textured naturals (like myself) can have long hair. But the reality is that, for many of us, it’s a far more intensive and challenging process than for looser textures. And it just makes me wonder, is growing out kinky hair worth all the effort? Though I’d love to hear from everyone, I’d particularly love to hear from kinky-haired women who have actually grown their hair out. Was it worth it?
Wow. I’m looking forward to the responses on this one! What say you, ladies?
I have locs, but when I did not, I grew my hair out from the perm, w/o cutting it. I just clipped a half inch off every 6 mos., until eventually, the perm was gone. It took 3 years. So my hair was always long, until I colored it. Then, it broke off so badly, I had to cut it down to a short afro to even it out. I really did not like wearing my hair short. Short hair does not suit me. I’m thinning on top though, because of male-pattern baldness which both my parents had (it’s a recessive trait). Eventually, I will wear it completely close to my scalp, shaved, like Erykah Badu. I’m not going to wear locs w/ a bald spot on top. If there is no hair there at all, I’ll just wear a wig to work, and be bald during my off hours. I think growing out naturally long hair is worth it. Black hair is a wonder. Everyones is different and unique, and beautiful in its own way. Just let it go, keep it clean, and don’t mess with it too much. That is key. I used to 2 strand twist my hair once every other week, and wear it unraveled on the alternate weeks. Or wash and wear it, and rock the afro puff. I really miss my afro puff. Those were the days…
I wore my hair natural when I was in my early twenties. Then I went into the corporate world and started relaxing my hair. Now that I am sixty I decided to go back to my natural hair. After 2 years my hair is to my chin. Not the shorter afro from my youth. I am just getting to know my hair again. During the summer I would wash, condition and go I let my hair dry on the go. Now that it is getting cold I don’t know how to handle it. If I blow dry my hair it takes my curls out. Does any one have any suggestions? I try styles like parts and one side vs the other. This is all a learning experience
Try the bantu knot outs…they’re cute easy and professional.
Growing out my kinky, 4Z hair is definitely worth the effort. The more I learn about my hair, the more I LOVE IT! I had Sister Locs (16-18in) for 7 yrs & recently took them down so no BC from my locs. It took 19 days & I was left with 6-7in once trimmed. Its 3 months later & my hair is pretty healthy & groring nicely. I’m pretty confident that my hair will get back or even surpass the 16-18in I had with the locs but until then, I’m really trying to enjoy the journey & not rush things.
Hi,
I see all those ladies with beautifull hair saying they have 4d,e even z type of hair and I would LOOOVE to have the same hair they have. Even my mom admits that my hair is the kinkiest she ever saw. I am natural and I have been for almost 4 years, my hair is growing but I DO NOT KNOW what to do with it. Whatever I do with my hair gives me a “messy look”, I would like to look clean and professional but my baby hair around the edges of my hair are unruly. I desparately want to love my hair. I beleive it is the key for me to love ME. To love what I am and eventually make people see what I see. But I go on youtube, google and such looking for people with my hair texture who knows hair styles and tips but there is no one.
So I am begening to ask myself : indeed, is it worth the effort to grow my hair?
Hi!
Yes! All you need is more exploration. I know it sounds crazy. But you will find out what works for your hair, and then you will be able to manage it and style it the way IT can be/wants to be styled. Try not to be discouraged. Be encouraged. But hey, on the flipside.. if you like your hair better short… who’s to say that that isn’t cute too?
Hi desparetlywannaluvmyhair! Do some research on the Brazilian Blowout on African American hair on Youtube…not other brands, just the Brazilian Blowout name & brand. It’s not a perm or anything like one but it definitely makes super kinky hair more manageable. I got one in September and I love it. It’s basically a deep, deep conditioning adding keratin to each strand of your hair. Even those with perms/relaxers can get it. It makes your hair stronger and adds a lot of shine to ordinarily dry looking hair.It’s a little pricey but your don’t need the treatment often. I plan to do it again in March so that’s every 6 months or twice a year.
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Jessica,
I have been asking the same question for a long time now. Going natural IS easier for those who have curl patters that are loose. For me – a 4b, 4c, I just chose to relax my hair once or twice a year (as opposed to once every six weeks) because I love the state of my thick relaxed hair.
Also, I realized that for me, the discussion about whether I should go natural wasn’t necessarily about “going natural” as it were, but was more about being bored with my hair. But relaxed hair can do exactly what natural hair can. So, I keep my hair routine spicy by trolling blogs like these :) – and I’ve also learned how to do my hair myself.
Hope that helps.
YOUR HAIR IS SO GORGEOUS!!!!!
i think so. my hair is about 12-13 inches, and growing your hair long, in my experience, is a learning curve all unto itself. it was really easy for me to maintain and grow my hair when it was shorter than my shoulders, but now that it’s past my armpits, it requires new techniques, more intensive operations and just a gameplan altogether. i could get away with doing anything to it when it was short. not so now, not if i wanna keep my length and add some more. so that’s the thing, is just being prepared to challenge yourself. it’s not easy all the time and sometimes you do get bored. but the bright side is that some things do get easier, while some things get harder. there’s always pros and cons to everything. what you lose in ease of detangling you make up for in more styling alternatives. so i think that if you want long hair, you fantasize about it creeping down your back and eventually slinging itself in all its long and full glory (like i do sometimes…okay, more often than not!) then i definitely think it’s a great investment. it actually doesn’t take any time, either. the more time you spend not thinking about/doing your hair, the better off it’ll be and the quicker the growth will sneak up on you. i went for a week recently just finger detangling my hair and re-plaiting it every other night, undoing in the mornings, and was surprised to find that my hair was the length it’s now at- all while under my nose. so when you shift the focus from “oh this is so hard! why do i even bother?!?!?” to “i love my hair. it is unique. i like it when it (fill in the blank)” then you won’t see doing it as such a chore. have fun with it. it’s not a liability
Yes, it is absolutely worth it. I don’t measure my very kinky hair with what other type of hairs can do. I am proud of the potentials and embrace the limitations. And most importantly, I refuse to bow down to what the western ideal of beauty is trying to impose on my hair. I work in a coporate world and have been natural for the past nine years. I had very long permed hair. So long that most people always thought it was a weave; and at time, I got teased because of it. One day, I went to the barber and decided to chop all off. Now, my hair is natural and long and gets a lot of compliments. No one dares saying that it is a weave. I washed my hair every 3 weeks, keep it twisted, and change my hairdo on rare occasions. By the way, did you know that only less than a quarter of the world population has kinky hair? So, we are a rarety. Embrace the uniqueness!!
For me it’s not worth the effort, l like my hair short to medium length worn out. I don’t want hair all over my head dominating my face. I like to wash and re-wet my hair on a daily basis and style with air drying then I lift it and I’m done. I certainly never liked playing with and doing hair in a time consuming manner. I’m 50 yrs old so I just want healthy and neat hair.
Many people with natural long don’t have super kinky hair. I want to hear from some one like me. Hair so kinky that combing it takes out hair and less that 10 mins later its right back tangled. Most people who are pro natural keep short kinky hair or have some Type of curl pattern. But not everyone’s hair is like that.
Yes, it’s worth it. Once you find the right routine….I’ve been natural for a long time and about two months ago realized my hair (kinky, type 4) was damaged and dry after lots of things – micro twists, puffs, attempting to wear twist-outs, etc. And probably the most significant factor was not using conditioner for a very long time! So trim/cut and then trim/cut – lots of frustration! After more than 2 months of experiments (various spritz recipes, oil rinse, baggy method), i finally discovered that my 2-strand twists will stay soft and weighted by applying and squeezing in, not spraying on, my spritz everyday. Additionally for cleansing, I now just rely on applying conditioner to my dry hair strands then using lengthy, warm water rinses and occasionally using diluted shampoo to cleanse my scalp. I cleanse my hair with the twists in and apply a leave-in then retwist with a butter. Growth/retention of hair has been noticeable! Be prepared to experiment and adjust your routine as needed because “growing out” kinky hair is quite possible and will allow you the option for many other hairstyles. My spritz recipe is “borrowed’ – 25 ml water, 5 ml conditioner, 1 ml oil. I almost gave up on spritzes- since even kimmaytube’s recipe just didn’t work for me like it has for many others.
Im wondering the same thing! To be honest im transitioning currently having a difficult time retaining length.
My hair has never gone past shoulder to be honest if my natural hair does not grow out im going right back to relaxers!
My hair is just how @Monica has described !! It’s so soft to touch because I look after and condition it regularly and every now and then treat it with henna. But combing it ?!? O. My. DAYS,! It’s a mission. And just when I think iv finished, it curls in on itself and feels tangled all over again. Vexing but I still make it work. Today a colleague said I reminded her of janelle monae with the way I had worn my hair. I think it’s totally worth growing out kinky hair. I stopped relaxing my hair around 2011 and now when stretched it goes just past shoulders, and I’m not finished! On a mission to see how far I can grow it. Take up the challenge! But only if you are ready to invest some time into it. But I work full-time, volunteer and have an active social life and I can do it. The satisfaction in seeing your hair growing is totally worth it. Hope you do it :)
The picture (if it works)is of one of my favourite styles, twist out. It’s so versatile and can wear it all sorts of ways. Always get compliments
I havent had a relaxer in 8 months. I have really super duper kinky nappy dry brillo pad hair, none of that cute soft curly textured stuff. So, its super hard for me but Im taking it day by day. about I have about 12 inches of hair, have is natural and half of it is still relaxed, most of all of the relax part has grown out. So I has been experimenting with different curl patterns using different types and sizes of rollers/straws/ flexi rods sets. The thicker it gets the harder it seems to style it. I try to stay away from heating tools. I just got so fed up with relaxers but I just don’t know if this natural journey it’s worth it or not.
I have 4b hair. I stopped relaxing my hair Feb 2012. I big chopped Oct 2012. My hair is very thick. Even when I relaxed I had days I wanted to cry when I had to comb it because of its thickness.
Since going natural I’ve learned what my hair likes. Moisture moisture moisture! Water is your friend. Along with a good conditioner and the right oils. I’ve seen my “naps” turn into curls. It’s still thick and I have my days where I’m out of patience with it and ill rake a comb through it ( i know that’s no no) because after detangling it tangles itself right back up. Frustrating but worth it. I’ve seen nice growth since my big chop. I’ve also learned to do my own box braids. When I can’t take styling it anymore I just braid it up for a couple months.
My hair is no where near “long” but that’s my goal. It’s possible because all things are possible! You can do it! Patience is key.
My big chop
Box braids
Oh and as a side note: the shrinkage factor is ridiculous. Here’s a more recent pic
You’d never know that it almost touches my shoulders when I pull it.
yesi have 4d hair. is there a blog on out type hair?