This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Sister locs saved the day
It’s not that I hated my hair, but it wasn’t manageable since I have so much of it. Growing it throughout my life without ever doing any chops took its toll.
Thankfully, I kept my hair in braids, mini twists, and now sister locs. But it wasn’t until I got sister locs installed that I fell in love with my hair. It became 100% manageable to a level I’ve never quite experienced.
Straightened Hair Is Beautiful, But It’s Not For Me
I got to experience straightened hair with only a flat iron a few times throughout my life before I sealed the deal with sister locs, but even when I did straighten my hair, it was never satisfying enough to keep it long-term. Plus, I work out quite a bit, so the workouts and sauna didn’t respond too kindly to my straightened hair.
Straightened Hair Is Not Our Normal Hair Pattern
I tried the white crack as well on my hair. My last one was when I was 15 years old. They didn’t damage my hair because it’s so damn thick, but the burning was something I will never forget on top of my mama’s hot comb. Let’s also not forget that sometimes the blow dryer burns the scalp, too, with all that hot ass air.
The whole process of straightening my hair was never fun. It took hours of pain and agony, and I’m pretty sure I was sweating, which only worked against my naturally curl hair. Nonetheless, it was beautiful, just not for me.
[about ten years ago]Braids With Extensions Weren’t For Me, Either
Braids were my look from when I was born, and I had enough hair grown out until college. This was one of my favorite hairstyles; the only problem with it was that it irritated my skin and scalp. I would sometimes get nasty wet patches (was that too much? sorry) from the scratching, bumps, and breakouts from the irritation.
It took me long enough to ask my mom finally can I wear cornrows so nothing made my scalp itchy anymore. This decision was my first step in the right direction.
Bottom line: Many extensions and weaves are unhealthy for our scalps and skin.
Mini Twists
This style was perfect for me, but it took too long to redo. It took weeks to complete the style, which was unrealistic for my lifestyle.
Too Many Black Women Don’t Understand Their Hair
I didn’t understand my hair until I went to college and was introduced to “natural hair.”
I believe a large part of the struggle with African-American hair centers around a lack of education about it.
Even though my mother was a cosmetologist and I was surrounded by black women growing up, I still don’t believe any of us genuinely understood what loving our hair looks like.
Thankfully, we see many more African American women now wearing natural hair. However, I still come across many Black women who struggle to grow, understand, and successfully care for their hair without damaging it.
We Actually Don’t Need A Lot Of Products
Many products are available for black women, but most of them are bullshit or created by people who don’t have hair like us.
Every now and then, I try some products that my hair stylist recommends, but my two favorite products that I utilize on my hair include:
Jojoba Oil
Filtered Water
I keep it simple and as natural as possible unless the product genuinely works for my hair.
4 Hair Product Rules
It’s okay to experiment with hair products, but here are a few things you should always ensure when you utilize a product:
It doesn’t negatively affect your skin (e.g., breakouts, rashes, etc.)
It doesn’t make your scalp itchy or inflamed.
It doesn’t make your hair feel heavy.
It doesn’t suffocate your hair.
Our Natural Hair Doesn’t Need To Be Altered
Color
And no, I’m not talking about color. I color my hair, and I love it! It’s fun to change up the look of your hair color as long as you’re not damaging it in the process.
White Crack, Heat, Weaves
There’s nothing wrong with the white crack, the straightening, and the weaves, but they come at a cost. Often that cost comes in the form of discomfort, time, money, and for many women of color – the health of their hair. If you go this route, ensure you do it safely so your hair is not damaged.
Sister Locs Helped Me Find Myself
I knew particular looks were never for me because I never kept them for extended periods. I always wore singles, corn rows, or twists; this has always been my look, especially as an active woman.
Sister locs made sense for my hair and lifestyle, made me fall in love with my hair again, and gave me a significant confidence boost. I wish I had gotten them installed a long time ago, but better now than never.
Read more of my story and see some more pics of my locs in the following article:
The journey from braids > mini twists > sister locs
Note To Black Women
If you’re frustrated with your hair: maybe it’s not growing, you got patches, it’s thinning, it looks destroyed, and you only wear wigs now, you’re not alone.
Don’t give up hope on your hair.
It took me all of my life to finally realize that much of the stuff we’re taught about our hair might not work unless it’s from someone who has taken the time to educate themselves about black hair.
All of us have unique and different hair that needs to be treated and cared for with the utmost care.
We have some of the most sensitive hair on the planet, which is why its breaks so easily. What kind of style is best for that? Locs. But not everyone will be into this look, which is why you must educate yourself on how to find healthy alternatives that will help your hair thrive without excessive products, manipulation, and heat.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.