Natural Pressure...Keeping it in Perspective

If you are new to natural hair, you might feel pressure to conform and learn everything you read or hear. That is too bad because for so many, going natural is about being free from conforming. With the growing natural hair blog and vlog presence, a whole new world has emerged with product lists, terminology, length issues, texture issues, etc. I recognize that I am a part of that world and that's ok. I hope I do not contribute to any folks out there who are just starting out and beginning to feel overwhelmed by what seems to be another heap of expectations. I have been natural for so long now that sometimes I forget what it was like to just chop off all my hair or struggle to find products that worked for me. I forget what it was like to fear rejection by co-workers and peers. I forget that feeling of walking out into society with huge hair for the first time, and what it was like to feel what seemed like a million disapproving eyeballs burning a hole through the fro. I enjoy writing here and giving tips, ideas and thoughts about hair. If I have written or said one thing that helps another person out then I am satisfied. In the end though, it really is a personal journey that does not have to live up to anyone else's expectations or goals. You really have to have your own goals and know that at the end of the day it is YOUR hair. So you don't want to follow a 6 month protective style challenge? Fine. Don't want to spend hours memorizing good vs bad ingredient lists? Don't! Cause why trade in one set of rules and pressures for another? That sucks.

If I had to give my readers any advice about how to deal with pressures in the natural hair kingdom, it would be these. (And in the vein of this post, you can take them, leave them, not even read them. Nobody's word should be your master.)

1. Read all you want (blogs, you tube, sites, etc) but at the end of the day take from it only what seems good and reasonable to you.

2. Try products that are suggested if you want to but don't feel pressure to do so if you're happy with what you like or if your routine works just fine.

3. Bandwagons can be fun but once they are no longer so, jump off!

4. Length, texture, etc are fun to explore if you are doing it without putting undue pressure on yourself. Once you feel stressed about it, let it go.

I guess I could think of more but you all are intelligent, free-thinking, beautiful people who don't need someone else giving you a long list of do's and do-not's.

I truly appreciate all of you who read, comment, and support this blog. It started out as something fun, as a way to share my journey with you. It has become such an inspiration to me to hear about all of you. Please don't stop reading, posting, commenting and sharing your stories. I love you all!