When You Cannot See the Hair Growth

“I’ve been afraid of posting a pic of my progress because I don’t feel like my hair is growing and that makes me anxious but a lot of people asked me for my hair progress. Looking at the pic, I don’t feel that anxious anymore because I can see the growth.”

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A little over a year into this natural hair journey, I am still up and down about how much I am really enjoying the ride.  I started following @curlywarrior_ on Instagram right after my big chop.  From afar, I have admired how her curls are growing, how she has embraced every bit of the journey.  Then there it was in plain black and white, she could not see her own growth.

I immediately sent her a message to ask if I could use her post in this blog piece.  She put my feelings into the perfect caption, and I began to wonder how many other girls think the same thing.  How many females out there have embarked on this journey to embrace their curls only to find the “I cut my hair and three months later look at my long, luxurious tresses” statement does not pertain to them? (*Raises Hand*)

This piece goes out to all the girls who cannot see the growth in their natural curls.

1.)  Keep learning.

So many women do all this research when you finally decide to go natural.  You talk to everyone you know who has natural hair.  You talk to everyone you see who has natural hair.  You go on YouTube.  You follow on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, and then you stop.  You begin to second guess your decision.  You have one too many bad hair days where you want to crawl under a rock, but instead you have to show your face at work…Education is key.  Someone has posted a video about it or a photo about it.  Whatever ails you (currently maintaining my twist out for more than two days for me), someone has been there, done that, and has some useful information for you to use going forward.

2.)  Stop comparing.

One of my favorite vloggers is @brosiaaa on Instagram.  She just has this beautiful type 4 hair, brown skin, smile, and overall spirit.  In my mind, she just woke up one day, and decided to be a vlogger.  Then voila!  – 102k followers, tons of ads and sponsorships, and flawless hair and skin.  Only recently did I come across the reason I originally followed her.  It was this picture.

It was the first time I had ever seen and loved someone’s TWA (teeny weeny afro).  Even when you think you know and understand how someone got to where they are, you do not.  You start at different places.  You are not the same person.  You are you, and that, in and of itself, is enough.

3.)  Find someone at the same point of the journey.

If you know anything about me, I am a HUGE proponent of finding a tribe.  Someone, somewhere is at the same point you are.  Someone has the same 4c, or 4b, or 3a hair.  Someone did a big chop they are second guessing.  Someone is transitioning.  Someone bought products they hate and are looking for replacements.  You need a curl friend.  Find one, and then be one.

4.)  Health is your friend.

Drinking water is your friend.  Exercise is your friend.  Healthy eating is your friend.  Vitamins are your friend.  The better your health habits.  The better your hair.

5.)  Find a protective style you love.

I LOVE LONG HAIR.  No matter how many compliments I get on my short styles, my level of conceit skyrockets the second I feel tresses down my back.  It just does.  Point blank period.  For the longest, I was against protective styles.  Much like my sentiments on the TWA I expressed earlier, I could not quite pinpoint any that I really liked…Then, I discovered that protective styles are more than just styles that use only your hair.  (I know.  I lack common sense sometimes.)  Faux locs – protective style.  Feed-in braids – protective style.  Sew-ins – protective style.  Therefore, by all means, when you need a little pick me up in the growth area, protect that style.

6.)  Trust the process

Do not under any circumstances give up.  This is not to say that natural hair is the only way, but if you ever want to see growth, you have got to stick with something.  So many of us desire change.  We desire to see the end product.

In order to see the end product, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE GROWTH PROCESS.  Establish your routine.  Learn.  Change up the routine.  Rest.  Learn.  Protect.  Learn. Change.  Learn.  Then, every once in a while, take a look back.  Maybe slowly, but surely, you will see that you and your hair are growing.

What do you do to make sure you can see that you are growing?

Comment below or connect with me: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat: mrsbonnaffons.

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