One of the most frequent questions I get is: “How do I get past the dryness?”. The transition from relaxed-to-natural is not always easy. You have to be able to hold out and hang in there. Your hair will evolve, and it’ll get better. But you gotta be steadfast and unmovable. You gotta do what you gotta do, till you get the hair you want.
The temptation to reach back for the creamy Draino is real — and often relentless. Because of the shrinkage factor, by the time you get to the stage where you can pull your nappy hair back in a ponytail and go, you’ve already mastered what it took to get you there. A lot of sistahs get so discouraged, because of the natural properties of napps. You don’t see growth as quickly, because the hair is tight and coily. But guess what? If you don’t let that wipe you out, and commit to being good to your napps, they’ll surprise you: One day you’ll get ready to style and notice the new length. A watched napp never grows.
One of the most important things for me to share is this: Your hair will start to be less dry, as you continue to treat it well (shampoo gently and condition regularly). For nappturals, who suffer from profound dryness, heat is not going to be a styling option. Stay away from peroxide hair color. I heatstyle (blow dry and or flat iron) rarely, but I suffer not for doing so. You may not be able to do what I do. So, don’t try to. Do what’s best for your hair. Old-fashioned hot-oil treatments are a good thing for those with chronically dry, brittle hair.
I noticed that when I changed my shampoo (from SLS detergent based formulas), there was an immediate difference as far as softness. I’m not a “no-poo” girl. I like suds. All natural shampoo bars are gentle, and don’t leave any residue. Be good to your hair, as it grows out. Give yourself (and your hair) time to adjust to the new styling methods.
Be careful with Shea butter. I know just about everybody nappy loves it, but for me, it dries out my hair —down the road. I use Qhemet Biologics products, because they DON’T contain shea butter, and they work wonders.
Finally, stick with a new product line — give it time to work. So often folks jump from product to product (trying to find something that works), without giving a product time to work. It may take a few go rounds, before you can accurately judge the results. I’m not saying it takes months, but it may take more than a few days. Make sure you use the products as directed, before you start changin’ up and mixing stuff.
Wait for the evolution…:)
A Nappy Girl
