Not All Natural Hair Grows the Same: Pace Yourself

We’ve probably done it before.  Natural hair faithfuls checking out the hair of other natural hair faithfuls turns into a huge disappointment.  Maybe one has a TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro), and can’t wear the African American hairstyles that her fellow sister wears.  Maybe her natural hair is flowing down to her waist and the others are not. Well, I’m here to say that IT DOESN’T MATTER!  All hair grows differently. It’s a combination of genetics, diet and maintenance that play a role into the health and length of a woman’s hair. With that being said, pace yourself, be patient with your hair, and understand that growth stages will not be the same.

Do Not Compare Yourself to Other Natural Hair Sisters

I’ll be honest, I once fell victim to that silent mode of jealously. Let’s just say, I had a desire to have the same length of hair as other sisters.  I used to compare my curl pattern, as well as my length to another. Then I realized that hair is like skin. Like skin, every shade, freckle and mole is different.  There are simply too many genetic variables that go into the makeup of our skin color, let alone our hair.  So, why compare ourselves to other natural hair sisters?

Whether you have a TWA or a long mane, capable of doing every one of Solange’s African American hairstyles, the goal is the same – health.  We’re all running our own personal race, not against each other.  It took me quite a while to realize this when I first joined the natural hair community back in 2006.  I had been told my whole life that my natural hair was “so long” and that “You must be mixed!”, or that “You have to tell me how your hair got so long!” Yet, it troubled me to see women who had longer hair than mine.

Flash forward to today, incomes the theme of natural hair types; curl pattern and hair length test.  From this, I have come to realize that my natural hair journey is my own. No one else’s, nor will it ever be.

Comparing progress to another one of your natural hair sisters can actually be discouraging. Ladies…

Now, I’m not saying that it’s not OK to look for advice from other natural hair sisters.  What I am simply wanting to eliminate is the notion that you did not achieve success because your hair hasn’t reached Mahogany Curls status.

Embrace your uniqueness, and understand that there are so many genetic variables involved when it comes to African American hair. There is no suitable way for us to compare our hair.  No journey will be the same, nor should we expect it to be.  Every hair texture doesn’t require a curl, nor does it require waves.  Embrace what you have and run your own naturally fabulous race.