Common Natural Hair Mistakes Girlies Make

Natural hair mistakes are pretty common in haircare. Some ladies will say, “My hair isn't growing”, “my hair breaks a lot, I don't do anything, it breaks naturally”, and so much more. 

In this article, we’ll discuss certain mistakes that might be the underlying reason why your hair seems “uncooperative”.

10 Common Natural Hair Mistakes You Might Be Making

1. Over manipulation

This had to be number 1 on this list because a lot of natural hair girlies are guilty of this one. Usually, we hide it under “Oh! My hair is so difficult to manage, I just use the styles to keep it away, so I don’t have to deal with it.” OR “I need to slay these styles, I can’t just carry my hair like that ”, and the other reasons. 

Let’s let you in on a secret. Sometimes the key to allowing your hair to flourish is to leave your hair alone. Yes, we said it. Now, to be fair and realistic, sometimes it’s great to switch up your look, try something different, that isn’t bad at all.

But you see, turning your hair into a live salon? Bad idea. Today, knotless braids, next two or three weeks, boho braids, immediately after you take that down, Fulani braids or Ghana braids, and the heartbreaking part is that your stylist doesn’t care for your hair health like that, she tugs and pulls at your hair because she wants it to “look clean and unnoticeable inside the braids”. 

You’re doing your hair a disservice; it’s a natural hair mistake you should avoid, or at least reduce. The thing is, keeping and preserving your hair length, or edges, requires a measure of sacrifice, which might include not jumping on every hair trend, and allowing your hair to breathe. 

If you still want to keep styling, but within the confines of hairstyles that are truly protective, try natural hairstyles that keep your hair safe without over-manipulating. Read about protective styles to maintain your hair.

2. Roughly handling your hair is a common natural hair mistake

We’ll talk about rough handling in two parts. Part one is your hairstylist.

Tell us, honestly- how does your hairstylist handle your hair? Is she gentle? Does she use a wide-tooth comb instead of those with smaller spaces? Does she almost rip out your edges because she wants the hair to “be neat and last longer”? Or is she always trying to convince you to “relax your hair so it’ll be longer or finer”?

If your hairstylist isn’t giving your hair the TLC it needs to flourish or supporting your hair goals, then you might be using the wrong one. We’re just saying.  Think about it.

Part two is YOU. How do you handle your hair? Especially during the take-down process or while your hair is in a protective style. Do you make the common natural hair mistake of pulling and combing with a small-tooth comb as you take down? Or taking down your hair almost dry? Or tearing through knots and tangles as you loosen your hair. 

If you’re nodding affirmatively to these questions, or you have that silent pinch of guilt, sis, you need to change your ways.

3. The common natural hair mistake of no routine

No hair routine is a bad haircare practice. Now, some people might argue, “hair will grow out of your hair whether you care for it or not ”. Hair will indeed grow out of your hair with or without care. But there is a clear distinction between hair that you care for and hair you leave to grow based on vibes and neglect.

Even if your hair is short, you don’t have a Teenie weenie afro(TWA), but you care for it still, it’s the best version of your hair as opposed to having long hair you don’t care for.

So, what does a routine have to do with this? An arrangement to care for your hair, with the right products and at the right time, is a sure way to settle your hair into consistency and for you to achieve your hair goals. Looking for how to build an easy routine? Read about building a natural hair care routine. 

4. The natural hair mistake of skipping deep conditioning

Have you had the unfortunate experience of eating stale bread? You’ll notice it’s dry both inside and outside, and the crumbs are just everywhere.

Your hair without deep conditioning will be just like stale bread, dry, lacklustre, unattractive and just tiring. Please avoid the common natural hair mistake of not using a deep conditioner.

Whether you prefer a comfortable DIY deep conditioner from the staples in your kitchen or you’d rather get a ready-made product, make sure a deep conditioner is in your hair care kit.

5. Ignoring or forgetting to care for your scalp

This natural hair mistake may not be so common, but it still happens. Some girlies, feel the important part of the hair is their strands; now the hair strands are definitely important. But keep in mind that the scalp is where hair growth begins.

If your scalp is getting the bare minimum, over time, your hair growth becomes stunted and those strands? They might fall off because the “root” is withering.  So, avoid the practice of ignoring your scalp. Focus on scalp care and give your hair the best.

6. Wrong product choice

This common natural hair mistake of choosing the wrong product is why we created The HairTalk. We understand that every hair is different, but when you get real product reviews and suggestions on what might work for your hair from everyday ladies, like you, it takes away the hassle of trial and error.

What kind of hair do you have? Thick? Fine? High-density? Low porosity? Coily? Consider your hair type when you choose products. Another thing to consider is your hair goals and what products work for your hair. Don’t just buy a product because it’s the newest, best thing on the internet.  

As a guide, the next time you’re about to pick a product from the shelf, ask yourself this: “What does my hair need?” “Will the ingredients in this product meet my needs?”

This question will help you choose better, the right product for your hair.

7. The common natural hair mistake of forgetting to re-moisturize

Natural hair thrives on moisture and hydration. Now, for moisture, based on your hair's needs, you should re-moisturize your hair before it begins to feel dry. For some people, this is every 3-4 days.

Re-moisturization is solely based on your hair's needs, but keep it frequent, don’t allow your hair feel as crunchy as Pringles before you re-moisturize. For the girlies who go a month without re-moisturizing, simply because your hair is in a protective hairstyle with extensions, we are here to tell you to change your ways. 

8. Excessive heat styling is a common natural hair mistake

Sometimes heat styling might be unavoidable, on those special occasions, always remember to use a heat protectant and medium heat temperature.

The bad practice here is constant, excessive heat styling, which can lead to heat damage and, over time, hair thinning. If you can skip heat, best to avoid using heat on your hair.

To straighten your hair, try other non-heat styling methods, like African threading or ouchless bands. These don’t have adverse effects.

9.  Ignoring trims 

You might wonder. “How is this a bad practice?” Split ends and knots can impact the look of your hair. Too many untrimmed split ends might lead to thin ends, which might make your hair look unhealthy. 

Tangles and knots can drag as you comb other hair strands, which can increase breakage.  Overall. If you don’t trim at all, you might just be losing hair you shouldn’t.

10. Sleeping without protecting your hair

Satin bonnets, satin or silk scarves and pillow cases should be your besties when you have natural hair. Why? These materials are soft and breathable enough to protect your hair even when it rubs against them.  

So, protect your strands from friction damage and use your bonnet especially at night or when you lie down.

Wrapping up

There are so many common natural hair mistakes that naturals make, some without them knowing, but we hope now that you’ve done a bit of soul searching, you’ll make amends and give your hair the best care.

We’d love to hear your hair mistakes and how you’re taking steps to correct them. Join the community and tell us about them.