How Do I Learn to Embrace My Natural Hair?

Learning to embrace your natural hair is a process and a journey especially if you’ve relaxed your whole life. 

Seeing your natural hair for the first time and learning to embrace what it looks like can be daunting, and scary, and in some cases, some people are even ashamed of it.

In this article, I share the top 9 ways to embrace and learn to love your natural hair. 

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9 Ways to Embrace Your Natural Hair

1. Recognise and Accept the Difference

Natural hair is very different from relaxed hair. Relaxed hair is straight and limp while natural hair is curly with about 7 different textures going on up there.

You need to recognize this difference and recalibrate your mind to accept the difference.

It doesn’t mean natural hair can never be straight but that’s an activity later down the road once you’ve learned to love your natural hair.

2. Educate Yourself

There’s a whole different arsenal of information available for natural hair. Since you’re on Healthy Natural Hair Products, you’re already on your way.

You need to learn all about hair types and textures, hair porosity, the best products and so much more for natural hair.

A very good place to start is book 4 in the Healthy Hair Care Series, 365 Days of Moisture for Dry & Parched Hair.

You’ll be able to create a simple and functional regimen that will make transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair a much smoother process.

3. Understand The Uniqueness of Natural Hair

Natural hair is crazy unique. You can wear a different style every day of the month and still look different every time.

Natural hair is versatile, eclectic, fun, and beautiful. Embrace this uniqueness and celebrate how it makes you who are.

Check out some reasons why readers went natural for inspiration. 

4. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

Don’t compare your natural hair to others unless you’re looking for someone with a similar texture for inspiration or so you can check out their products.

Focus on your healthy hair care journey and your hair’s unique qualities. 

You can also follow the Hair Style Inspirations Pinterest board for some inspiration.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Once you’ve figured out your hair type, texture, and products, you need to start experimenting and developing a regimen and technique that works for your hair.

365 Days of Moisture for Dry & Parched Hair includes a workbook that will help you create the perfect regimen for your hair needs.

6. Tune Out The Negativity

You need to find a community supportive of natural hair. 

This website is one such community as are hair care forums like Long Hair Care Forum and curly hair groups on Facebook and Reddit. 

These communities embrace and celebrate natural hair and its beauty and will never make you feel ashamed for embracing your natural hair.

7. Affirm the Beauty of Your Natural Hair

I’ve said several times in this article that natural hair is beautiful because it is. 

Affirm this to yourself as much as you need – Your natural hair is beautiful. You are beautiful. Don’t ever let anyone tell you differently!

You can even create a collage of naturalistas for your bedroom wall as inspiration. 

8. Got Clap Backs?

Yes, I said clap backs. You will be surprised by the number of haters that will try to tear you down by making snide remarks about your natural hair texture and hairstyle.

Some people will even try to touch your hair like you’re some sort of exhibition showpiece.

You need to develop an arsenal of clap backs to put people in their place.

Your hair, the way it looks and what you’re doing with it is not up for discussion without invitation. Clapbacks make that clear.

9. Be Patient

Natural hair is a lot of work and if you’re a newbie to natural hair care, you can get frustrated easily and decide you’re going back to relaxing. 

Don’t. It takes time and patience to get used to caring for your natural hair.

You can check out my journey to natural here for a little bit of inspiration.

You may also want to check out the Healthy Hair Care Series – a growing collection of natural hair care books for all hair types and goals.

Related Content: I’m Tired of My Natural Hair: What Do I Do?

How Can I Make My Natural Hair Look Good?

Once you’ve figured out your hair care regimen and products, you can make your natural hair look good by trying out different hairstyles. 

You can find loads of easy-to-follow hair styling videos on YouTube. You can also accessorize to elevate any hairstyle.

And don’t snooze on Pre-tied Head Wraps for days you just don’t want to be bothered with hairstyling.

Don’t forget to trim as needed, reduce heat styling, deep condition regularly and reduce manipulation.

What Made You Decide To Go On Your Natural Hair Journey?

I get this one in emails a lot. I decided to go natural because a bad relaxer nearly left me bald. 

I woke up a few weeks later and was just done with setting fire to my scalp every 8 – 10 weeks. I really really didn’t want to relax anymore. 

I share my natural hair story here and check out reasons for going natural from some readers here.

For more on achieving your length goals, check out book 2 in the Healthy Hair Care Series – The Ultimate Hair Growth Guide! It’s the most popular book in the series.

What Are The Disadvantages of Growing Natural Hair?

There really aren’t any disadvantages to growing natural hair. 

It’s the hair mother universe put on your head so there isn’t anything bad with growing it out. 

You will struggle with adjustment in the beginning and the cost of natural hair products can start to add up but you will eventually figure those out. 

Plus they are not really things I would consider a disadvantage to growing out natural hair. 

If you need some support on your natural hair journey, drop a comment below and the community will rally around you!

HHG! 🙂

Curly Abi

Abi is a curly hair expert, researcher, product tester, and author of the highly-rated Healthy Hair Care Series. She is also the founder of Ade Ori Hair Care, Healthy Natural Hair Products, and Natural Oils for Hair & Beauty. HNHP has strict editorial standards and ensures all the information on Healthy Natural Hair Products is the best for natural hair care. Learn more about our Editorial Policies