A Guide to Going Natural

7 things you should know beforehand that’ll help make your natural hair journey a pleasant one (from a naturalista who’s been there and done that!)

1: KNOW YOUR “WHY”

This is probably the most important thing to know, which is why I put this as #1. Why do you want to go natural? If you’re wanting to do this for him, her or them, ABORT MISSION. Going natural is something you should do for YOU, and only you. It is a decision that you should come to on your own. Once you’ve decided for yourself, you know you’re on the right track!

2: FIGURE OUT YOUR “HOW”

Will you transition or will you big chop? Transitioning is growing out your natural hair without cutting off your straight/damaged ends. While it can be very challenging to deal with the two different textures of hair, transitioning allows you to slowly ease yourself into your natural hair journey without a drastic change to your current look. Typically, naturalistas will commit to transitioning for 2-5 years, depending on the desired length of natural hair.

Otherwise, if you’re like me with a little less patience, you may decide to big chop instead. I grew out my natural hair for 5 months before cutting my relaxed hair off, and I thoroughly enjoyed rocking a new look after the chop! Your natural hair will also grow A LOT faster after a big chop.

Give it a think and decide what you think will work best for you. Also, it’s okay if you change your mind along the way… I’d actually planned to transition for 1 year but could only handle the 5 months!

Although it’s important to prepare, it’s also just as important not to overwhelm yourself, which brings me to my next tip…

3: Don’t overthink it

It’s super easy to feel overwhelmed when you start going down the rabbit hole of all things natural hair. Don’t do it to yourself! As someone who is going on 5 years au naturale, I can tell you that the moment I decided to simplify my hair regimen, is the moment my curls really started to flourish. I’m talking about a simple but effective 3 product wash n go routine that’ll last you 5-7 days. My best advice is to cut out all the noise, and just simply listen to your hair (I talk a lot about this on YouTube). Repeat after me: NATURAL HAIR DOES NOT NEED TO BE COMPLICATED.

4: THERE may BE UNWANTED COMMENTARY

Whew, be ready for this one. Especially if you decide to big chop. I’m gonna be real with you. It’s 2022 and I’m sad to say that some people still feel the need to share their unwanted commentary about YOUR hair. There’s always that one person…

When I first big chopped back in 2017, an old co-worker shook their head when they first saw my hair and said, “no, bad idea”. THE AUDACITY. I was mentally prepared for it though. I told him with a smile, “well it’s a good thing it’s not your hair!” Boom, done. Drops mic and walks away.

My advice? Have your slap back comment ready to rip. Shake it off, and move right along.

5: Patience patience patience

People won’t always be nice, and not everyday will be a good hair day. And that’s OKAY… well not about people not being nice but you get what I mean! It’s a journey, not necessarily a destination. Some days you may feel like you want to give up. Don’t. Be patient with yourself and with your hair. And in those difficult moments, remind yourself why you did this in the first place. And then buy a head wrap! Those things come in handy.

6: start with the basics

Once you’ve mentally prepped to go natural, it’s time for the fun part: buying products! Don’t go crazy in the beginning though, just start with the basics. No need to break the bank! For products you can start out with a shampoo, deep conditioner and styler (either a gel or curl cream, depending on your style preference). And for tools, I love the Felicia Leatherwood detangling brush for styling and detangling. You may also want to snag a misting spray bottle and satin pillow case. I’ve tagged a few of my favorites in my Amazon storefront.

7: HAVE FUN WITH IT!

Certainly last but NOT least. At the end of the day, hair is hair and it’ll always grow back. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Natural hair is super versatile, so get creative and have some fun along the way. Experiment with different tools and techniques, attend curly girl events, share products and ideas with your naturalista friends. Your natural hair journey can be life-changing in all the best ways if you let it.

Any tips to add? Comment below!