EMBRACE OF THE NATURAL

Don't let the thickness of your hair discourage you but understand the beauty of it. Give it patience, love, and care. Inspiration– Wearing your natural hair inspires others who want to make the transition or need a boost of confidence for themselves. Yes, the curls you saw before the BC (big chop) were different (unless you had very short relaxed ends), the hair behaves differently and even your staple products can leave you hanging. However, if the commitment is real the passion/curiosity will develop into a strong love capable of withstanding the multiple personalities of our natural hair. Yes, it's almost like dealing with a whole village up there, each day is different but that's what makes it so interesting! Here's why you should love your hair. Our hair can be unique, very deceptive, especially to people who know nothing about curly hair. It's kind of fun to see people's reaction to our hair when we show up with curly shoulder-length hair one day and on the other day, it's almost waist length. I shouldn't have to say this but here it goes. You should love your hair because it's beautiful. Yes, it's just plain beautiful!  Like I said earlier your hair is one of the things that make you unique. No one's hair is the exact same as someone else's and that's what makes it special because it's yours.

It's healthier. Rather than using harmful chemicals that can make your hair weak and cause breakage natural hair products nurture your hair stands and makes them stronger. Do not let no one tell you to chemically treat your hair just so they can deal with it. It is your hair, I have been through the struggle of my hair being disrespectful towards different hairstyles. Even had on and off thoughts to put a relaxer on my hair just so it can be more manageable to comb. Once I start treating my hair like family by showing each and every strand with care and love, especially my ends since their the oldest part of the hair. That's when my hair showed me love back, hairstyles that I will do will look great, respond to product I thought my hair dislike and the growth. Learning to hydrate the hair is the process of fully saturating the hair with water for an amount of time, allowing the water molecules to penetrate deep into the hair strands. Try hydrating your hair each week to keep moisture levels up in your hair which makes retention of moisture on the days in between that much easier. Your hair will thrive. Now, something I struggle with is being too heavy-handed. I often use lots of products when doing my hair but honestly, that's not necessary. More product doesn't equal more benefits. So when moisturizing your hair remember to use just enough product for your hair to absorb, no need to wild out. You want your hair to feel soft and pliable; if you're left with oil on your hands after simply touching your hair, chances are you used too much product or you're using something that doesn't penetrate your hair shaft. Another wrench in the process, I know. Trust me, along your journey you'll understand which products work for your hair and which don't. If it feels like the products are absorbed into your hair, perfect! If it seems like they're just sitting on top of your hair, back to the drawing board. We mention porosity a lot, but understanding how your hair absorbs water is really going to help you determine which products to buy.

So once you understand if your hair is low or high prosority then you choose the right products accordingly, remember to go light when applying them. Tip: just because the product is for low or high prosority hair do not mean your hair will like it as well. I have used many hair products that stated for low prosority and my hair was like no and showed me by acting differently. Always pay attention to how your hair response to the product is the main key. You do not want to keep investing into a product that is not good for your mane (hair). "Discovering my curls and embracing exactly who I am has granted me many incredible opportunities to share my individuality and promote self-love. From a young elementary school girl to be taught that, they are enough. You are your best when you begin to truly shine in your own light and find happiness in your imperfections, through the kinks, curls, coils and all. "More importantly, embracing my curls have brought me out of my comfort zone to meet other inspiring and supportive women whom I get to call my friends. My hair has been such a blessing on this journey that I wouldn't trade for anything else. Best part of it all, didn't have to be anyone else but myself. Love on every part of your crown and watch who you become." "Being on this natural hair journey for the last six years have taught me how crucial it is not to compare my hair to someone else's. I remind myself daily that a part of embracing and loving this journey is being able to find beauty in every part of the process.  A 2018 report on Mintel research revealed that black women are "most likely to wear their hair natural." According to the data, a whopping 40 percent of these women have turned to both chemical-free and no-heat styling, while an additional 33 percent of black women still prefer heat-styling, but have cut out all chemicals. Natural hair has never been so popular and so empowering. I'm sure we're all familiar with the 1960s slogan "BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL" and the electrified and somewhat defiant political jolt it created - those big Afros that were so prevalent and worn proudly. Today, the words are accepted and celebrated but for many, the meaning still has trouble being genuinely realized. As women of color when we begin to embrace our natural beauty we begin to accept our body, our hair, and our skin tone. We accept our curves, our curls, the depth in our skin tone, and all the features that make us women of color. However, these features are normally discouraged by mainstream media in society as "Beautiful". The effects of social media are strong and women begin to alter their features to be categorized as beautiful. Their natural beauty is sheltered and they hide their curves, curls, and the color of their skin away behind weight-loss, relaxers, and cosmetics.