So you‘re thinking about starting your natural hair journey, or have already started your journey. But you’re realizing the struggle is real. It is so real, that you’ve considered chopping it all off, or going back to chemical relaxers because you just can’t figure it out. There are so many rules, techniques, methods, products, hair types, acronyms – anyone else need a sedative? The truth is that there are some common mistakes that people make, and if they just knew these pitfalls, maybe they could avoid them. Be one of those people by reading this post covering 6 mistakes when starting a natural hair journey.

But First, It’s a Journey

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Why do people use the term journey‘ when they talk about going natural—or returning to natural? The word journey is defined as traveling from one place to another. Transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair definitely is a journey. There are many stages, experiences, disappointments, and knowledge to be gained along the way. For most women, it‘s more than just about their hair—it‘s a physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual journey. Now let’s get into some mistakes that you might be making while on this natural hair journey.

1. Everyone’s Going Natural, So I Will Too

There are lots of reasons why people decide to start this natural hair journey. Some no longer want to use synthetic, harsh chemicals in their hair care regimen. Others are curious about their natural hair type or texture, and want to explore different styling options. Many no longer want to conform to what some deem the ‘standard of beauty‘. All of which are great reasons.

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But what happens when you start on your natural hair journey and you experience some struggles? You may hit a few bumps in the road, or you may come across a pot hole. Some even come to a road block and can‘t figure out how to get around it. In this eGuide, we‘ll talk about some of the common thing that go wrong when starting on a natural hair journey, and how to navigate successfully.

It‘s important when starting a natural hair journey to determine your why – why are you making this change. If it‘s just because all the cool kids are doing it…you may regret your decision. Because my guess is the cool kids are NOT coming over to your house to take care of your hair. And they won‘t be there if and when family, friends, co-workers or even your boss have something negative to say about your new look. This has to be something your want for yourself and are willing to take the time and effort to learn in order to maintain the health of your hair. If not, frustration can easily make you regret your decision and before you know it—you feel defeated and are back to the creamy crack. How you care for your hair is a personal choice.

2. I’ll Just Straighten My Hair While I Transition

Transitioning is the process of no longer using a chemical relaxer and growing your natural hair texture, and can be a difficult period during your natural hair journey. Any time you use direct heat to straighten hair that has any type of curl pattern, you run the risk of compromising the hair‘s curl integrity. Too much heat, either in one heat styling session or several sessions over time, can result in loss of curl integrity. Uneven curl pattern, loss of curl pattern, and breakage are all signs of loss of curl integrity. That loss is most likely permanent. Unless you desire to wear your hair straight permanently without the use of a chemical relaxer, continuously straightening your hair while you transition is a gamble. Consider other styles to blend your relaxed hair with your textured hair that don‘t involve direct heat.

3. I Want My Hair to Look Like Hers

Do you suffer from TER syndrome? That would be Tracie Ellis Ross syndrome. You know, the idea that ‘everybody’ wants that Tracey Ellis Ross hair when they start their natural hair journey. Some people may have a similar hair type, but no one truly has Tracey Ellis Ross hair but Tracey Ellis Ross.

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The sooner you come to this realization, the better. Everyone‘s hair texture is different. Yet they all have pros and cons, and are all beautiful in their own way. Don‘t use new growth as a gauge for your true texture. Your scalp needs time to heal and regroup after years of chemical use. According to master stylist Johnny Wright, Michelle Obama‘s stylist, it takes about a year or 5-6″ of hair growth before your true texture shines thru.

4. I Have to Try Every Product That Hits the Market

As a blogger, I get to try tons of products. Trust me, it‘s not all it‘s cracked up to be. Especially when you’re starting your natural hair journey and trying to figure out what you’ll use while still learning your textured hair. Products aren‘t designed to work with products from other brands. They are formulated to work together, so when you mix and match products from different brands, you can run into issues. And then it is difficult to determine what is causing the issue. As a new natural, you have to try a few brands to find one you love. Try one product line at a time as your are learning your hair and what works for it. And if you‘re looking for a product that will create curls you don‘t naturally have – STOP. Check out my tips for how to avoid becoming a product junkie.

5. I Don’t Have to Spend Time on My Hair

As a new or transitioning natural on your natural hair journey, you have to be willing to take time to care for your hair. Your hair is so tender at this time, so it needs lots of tender loving care. The kinkier the curls, and the finer the hair strands, the more susceptible your hair is to breakage. Rushing to care for and style your hair can result in damaged and dry hair. Trying to keep your regimen too simple can have bad results as well. Granted, wash day doesn‘t have to take hours either. But healthy hair does take time. Achieving and maintaining certain styles also can involve a time commitment as well.

6. I Don’t Need Professional Help Now That I’m Natural

Just because you’ve started a natural hair journey, you don’t have to trade in trips to the salon. Professional hair stylists who are knowledgeable in natural hair care can be a huge resource for you. I liken it to your dentist. You don‘t need your dentist to help you brush and floss. But every 6 months, you go to the dentist so they can examine your teeth. They have the training and tools to evaluate your teeth and i they find issues, they know how to treat it. Same thing with a hair stylist. You don‘t need them to maintain your natural hair daily. But it is helpful to visit them every 3-6 months to get your hair evaluated and treated if needed. Besides, you deserve a little pampering.

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My Natural Hair Journey

In June 2008, my husband and I became regulars at a concert series features Old School R&B, Neo-Soul, Hip-Hop and Jazz artists, and drew a mostly Black audience. I would notice women with natural hair in a variety of lengths, colors and styles. And I was in awe – just loving the fact that there were so many possibilities with natural hair. I heard different experiences from women who talked about the damaging effects relaxers had on their scalp and hair. I checked out lots of natural hair websites and blogs, and decided I was going to go for it. I was getting ready to turn 30, and I thought, at my age, why do I even care what people think or say? I got my last relaxer July 4 weekend 2008, and started transitioning and it was TERRIBLE! I experience a lot of breakage and tangling. Because of the stark contrast of textures from my natural to my relaxed hair, it simply just started to look unkempt. But I was still hesitant about cutting my relaxed hair off because I don‘t like short hair on myself. Then one day, December 18, 2008 to be exact, I just said “I‘m done!” I came home from work, grabbed the first pair of scissors I found, not even meant for cutting hair, and just started cutting. I actually could feel the weight of the relaxed hair coming off, and it felt great! Then I looked in the mirror, and I hated it! I drove to a salon that allowed walk-ins, and got Kinky Twists put in. I moved so quickly, that I never got to take pictures of my BigChop. I was so afraid of what it would look like once I took the Kinky Twists out, and left them in so long, that my hair had started to lock, so I ended up having to cut my hair again. This time, I just rocked my TWA like it was the best thing since sliced bread, and the rest is history!

Feel free to share your natural hair journey mistakes and lessons learned in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!