Why I’m Not Obsessed With My Natural Hair Length
I celebrate my 2 year natur-versary in January, 2014. But I won’t be marking my anniversary with a hair length check.
Do I check my hair length? Yes, twice. The last time was many months ago. Do I care about hair length? Yes and No. Yes – I am interested in making sure that my hair is not damaged and wracked with split ends and those awful fairy knots. Yes, I am interested in growing my hair back to the length that it was before my big chop.
No, I don’t constantly stretch my hair to see how long it’s grown. You see, for me, constantly checking my hair length is like watching water boil.
So, I’ve chosen to focus on the health and handling of my hair and not focus on tugging it monthly to see if it’s grown another 1/4 of an inch this month. I’ve found that taking the time to nurture my hair both inside and out has made my hair healthy; and like anything that is loved and nurtured, growth will follow.
Author: Dianne
![]() |
You May Also Like:
NHCN Podcast 0014: Natural Hair Envy
Do You Really Need To Grease Your Scalp?
The Finer Things In Life: Tips For Fine Hair Naturals!
NHCN Podcast 009: A Conversation With Natural Hair Expert Marie Compere of Luv My Natural Curls
Common Misconceptions That Continue To Persist About Natural Hair
Tia Mowry-Hardrict Embraces Her Natural Curls, Credits Her Son As Her Inspiration
Readers’ Spotlight: Wen Hair Product Review – Sundra Oakley
The Special Challenges of Type 4 Natural Hair – Turn a Challenge Into An Opportunity For Beautiful Hair
NHCN Podcast 0016: The Anatomy of a Natural Hair Meetup
Naturalista Who Fought Off Cancer Now Fighting For Her Right to Wear Her Hair Natural
Are Black Women Being Punished for Wearing Their Hair In Its Natural State?
USA Today Explores the Natural Hair Movement’s Growth
This article reminds me of something I find myself saying to my mother often (also a new natural) and that is, “love what you have”. I’ll admit to having my hair flat ironed for my one year anniversary so I could see how much it had grown but I’m not obsessed with it. I am obsessed with pampering my hair. I try to use all natural products, deep condition every week and make my own shea butter mixes. I play around with protective styles and wear a satin bonnet at night. And my reward has been watching my hair grow longer and healthier. But at the same time, my hair is also thin. Could be age or it could be genetics but it really doesn’t matter to me. When I first started doing twist outs and braid outs, I found that I spent a lot of time trying to fluff my thin hair to cover up the parts. But I quickly realized that I didn’t care if all the parts couldn’t be covered up like so many of my favorite YouTubers.
So my hair isn’t past my shoulders (yet) or super thick and that’s ok. It’s healthy, growing longer everyday and I love it. So, don’t worry about what everyone else has and embrace/accept what you have and rock your own personal style!
Helpful Tip: Don’t leave the house without an elastic headband and a few bobby pins as you never know when your perfect style may need an attitude adjustment!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and tips. I wholeheartedly agree with your “helpful tips”. I keep bobby pins in my bag at all times; just in case.