7 Natural Hair Struggles We Can All Relate To

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Natural hair is amazing. But it has a flip side. We all have struggles we can relate to as members of the natural hair community. Especially if you have type 4 hair. It comes with some challenges that make us want to cry, grind our teeth and even shave it all off. Or half of it in a fit of rage. Read, laugh and love your natural hair!

Breaking and bending combs and blow dryer attachments

”Wow. I really did just broke another comb. That will be the 10th one this year. Off you go to the comb graveyard!” If you have natural hair you probably have a ton of broken and bent combs in your wardrobe,don’t you? I keep them to remind me of how lucky I am to have hair that is strong enough to break plastic. Quite an achievement.

Wash day takes literally all day

You just scheduled brunch with your bestie. Do you really think you’ll actually make it, since you also have to wash your hair? I think not. Just cancel. Cancel now. And by washing I mean 2-hour pre-shampoo, 1 hour detangling, 30 minute washing, 1-hour deep conditioning and 3 hours of twist-outs. Tell your bestie you can’t make it. She’ll totally understand.

Braiding takes literally all day

Going to the salon to have braids installed requires psychological preparation y’all. You need the strength of your ancestors and the patience of a saint to sit in that chair for at least 4 hours to get your braids done. Especially if your hair stylist wants to do it alone and wants to take ten thousand breaks in between because they double-booked. Thanks Martha. I really appreciate sitting here for 7 hours.

That awkward length stage

As a natural-haired beauty, you’ll go through an awkward stage where your hair is not too short but is not long enough to tie into a ponytail. The issue is that you usually don’t know how to style it!

Shrinkage

Natural hair is so rude. According to science, natural hair can shrink upto 80%! This is just plain disrespectful. Especially if you have 4b/4c hair type, you can’t just wash your hair and let it dry and call it a day. It will shrink into an unrecognizable creature. See, this is why I can’t have nice things.

Tangles and single strand knots

Listen. I’m here for you if you need a good cry. Natural hair tangles and knots during washing and styling. Even when you’ve tried your best to detangle, there will always be some kind of tangles and knots to ruin your day. These tangle and knots lead to hair breakage. Especially single-strand knots. These are the bane of our existence.

Constant dryness

Now, afro hair leans more on the dry, side than on the glossy side. Why? Because our coils greatly hinder natural oils produced by our scalps, from going down the hair shaft. So we almost always end up having to use some kind of product to moisturize our hair.