Natural afro hair: 5 Things only naturalistas will understand

Don’t get us wrong, we love having natural afro hair, but like the very best things in life, we know it’s not always a stroll in the park to manage and maintain (sigh). Truth is, there are a few things that only ladies with natural hair will truly understand. But fear not, for you aren’t alone. As much as we love our natural afro hair, we share your pain and, you know what, we’ll get through it together.

Because we totally get it: pretty much anyone without natural afro hair will gawk in amazement at your bold and beautiful ‘fro, but little do they know that beneath every kink, curl and coil are hours spent perfecting the look. So, read on below and discover the All Things Hair‘s list of the most common naturalista issues!

The struggle of having natural afro hair is real, you guys…

1. Everyone will try and touch your hair

A little heads up: if you have natural afro hair, be prepared for everyone (and we do mean everyone) to want to touch your hair. Girls with straight tresses will admire the cuteness of your curls and tell you that they wished they had your hair (because it’s only human nature to want what you don’t have, right?). While other natural-haired girls will spot your mane a mile away, gravitate towards the awesomeness of your ‘fro and want to discuss products and hair care regimens in granular detail. You just have to take it all as a compliment!

2. There is no such thing as ‘too much oil’

While ladies with fine hair will avoid products such as hair oil and heavy conditioners like the plague, us girls with natural afro hair just can’t get enough of it. As you know, the nature of curly and natural afro hair means it’s extra prone to dryness, so nothing will help quench the thirst of our locks like nourishing and moisturising hair oils and leave-in conditioners!

Editor’s tip: For an amazing hair oil that works to to give your curls some frizz-free definition, then look no further than the Toni&Guy Casual Radiating Tropical Elixir (£9.99*). Not only will it give your hair a healthy sheen, but its tropical scent will have you dreaming about warmer climes, too.

3. You might have type 3A curls at the front, but the back is another story…

One head of natural afro hair can hold multiple hair personalities – and by this, we mean one person can have different curl types. So, while the front of your hair might be type 3A curls, you could have type 3C curls at the back of your head.

Of course, this can make your hair care routine little more interesting – but don’t stress! Having 2 different curl patterns is more common than you might think. The solution? Try doing a twist-out or using flexi rods to help form more uniform curls. Trust us, you’ll save yourself a lot of hair hassle!

4. Washing your hair can be an all day affair

Remember the old adage: ‘I’m sorry. I can’t. I’m washing my hair tonight’? Well, it was never truer than when uttered by a naturalista. Carefree “wash-and-gos” might do the job for our straight-haired sisters, but ladies with natural afro hair have to factor in pre-poo treatments, co-washing/cleansing, alongside post-wash conditioning and moisturising. Unfortunately, we did not just wake up like this.

Is your natural afro hair in need of some love? Then check out our Best Natural Hair Treatments To Try Now article!

5. There are no hard and fast rules

When it comes to natural afro hair, anything can happen. What works for someone else with your hair type might not work for you, and vice versa. Likewise, what worked for one day last week, may not even give you the same results the next time. After all, styling natural afro hair is an art, not a science. So, don’t be so hard on yourself if today’s curls aren’t a carbon copy of yesterday’s perfect twist-out. Just remember: there are no hard and fast rules; just try to be patient, create a good hair routine and, most importantly, just love your curls!

Like this article? Don’t forget to check out our Natural Hair Care page for more ‘fro-loving tips.

*RRPs are Unilever suggested retail prices only, it is at the discretion of the individual retailers to set the actual price.