Getting used to *big* hair

[inthepink]

I had a discussion with my transitioning friend the other day and I mentioned that one thing that will be a huge challenge for me once I'm done transitioning is accepting myself with *BIG* hair.

When I was young, I hate my BIG hair. I hated that I could get it pressed, relaxed, whatever and still have big poofy hair esp since I lived in a humid climate.

Somewhere in high school, the poofiness disappeared and I got the sleek hair I had always desired.

When I straighten my hair now, I don't like how it looks anymore. It's just SO plain and boring. I guess that's what happens when you wear it the same ole way for 10 years.

I like my hair curly and the look that I get from a braidout...especially wearing the braidout "down" (meaning not pinned up). BUT, I don't think I feel very comfortable with it.

I think I'd chicken out wearing the hairdo around most of my friends or even to work b/c people are so used to me with straight hair or with my hair pulled back.

How do you get used to *BIG* natural hair?

 

[jainygirl]

hey, me likey big hair and i think yours looks great

 

[inthepink]

Thanks, jainygirl!

I forgot to mention that I don't like attention! I worry that I'll get too much attention from my *big* hair! LOL I know it's silly...

 

[SVT]

Having big hair is a GOOD thing! It means you can cover up most of your mistakes from product and style experimentation.

 

[ccd]

wow!!! Your hair looks amazing!!!!! are you completely natural now? and congrats on FOM!

 

[Irresistible]

this is the story of my life and the question of the century for me girl ...and i know JUST what your saying...thats why i always end up witht he pony tail

 

[Ayeshia]

i love big curly hair i cant wait till it gets bigger. it took me awhile to use to it but after looking at pics and pics and more pics of curly fro's/natural styles i loved it!!!!!!!!

 

[inthepink]

[ QUOTE ]
SVT said:
Having big hair is a GOOD thing! It means you can cover up most of your mistakes from product and style experimentation.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know! I am looking forward to having thicker, fuller, hair! But, how do I get used to walking out the house with Tracee Ellis Ross hair when I'm used to Jada Pinkett's straight hairdo?? LOL

I also worry that I'll leave the house with a nice tame curly do and by mid-day I'll wonder why people are looking at me funny...then I'll go look in the mirror and realize it's b/c my hair blew up!

 

[inthepink]

[ QUOTE ]
ccd said:
wow!!! Your hair looks amazing!!!!! are you completely natural now? and congrats on FOM!

[/ QUOTE ]

No, I am not all natural now. Depending on the section of hair, I am 1/4 - 1/2 natural. Thank you for the compliment!

 

[inthepink]

[ QUOTE ]
Irresistible said:

this is the story of my life and the question of the century for me girl ...and i know JUST what your saying...thats why i always end up witht he pony tail

[/ QUOTE ]

THE PONYTAIL - that's what I'm afraid of...

 

[Irresistible]

[ QUOTE ]
hairlove said:
[ QUOTE ]
SVT said:
Having big hair is a GOOD thing! It means you can cover up most of your mistakes from product and style experimentation.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know! I am looking forward to having thicker, fuller, hair! But, how do I get used to walking out the house with Tracee Ellis Ross hair when I'm used to Jada Pinkett's straight hairdo?? LOL

I also worry that I'll leave the house with a nice tame curly do and by mid-day I'll wonder why people are looking at me funny...then I'll go look in the mirror and realize it's b/c my hair blew up!

[/ QUOTE ]

this has happened to me soooo many times

 

[Irresistible]

[ QUOTE ]
hairlove said:
[ QUOTE ]
Irresistible said:

this is the story of my life and the question of the century for me girl ...and i know JUST what your saying...thats why i always end up witht he pony tail

[/ QUOTE ]

THE PONYTAIL - that's what I'm afraid of...

[/ QUOTE ]

omg you are crackin me up...you sound like me...but girl some of us just arent going to be into the big hair or feel comfortable with it...and im one of those folks....the pony tail is the saving grace......i know its terrible aint it? but its the safest route

 

[Nay]

Hairlove, I know EXACTLY how you feel. I don't like attention either. It took me forever to get comfortable wearing my braidout out. But eventually I did get comfortable, and now that is my favorite style.

I'm so self-conscious, that I DREADED going to work with my hair different than folks were used to seeing it. I just knew they would say something. And sure enough, they did. But, really, how bad is it when people say, "I love your hair." "You should wear it like that all the time." "Pretty."

Now it's got to the point, where they are so used to seeing me wavy, that when I wear it straight, they comment. "Wow, look how long your hair is."

Either way, it's all good. It is just human nature for folks to comment. Hairlove, enjoy the comments and stares while you can. When you are 75, you will be able to say, "You should have seen me back in the day! I got compliments like you wouldn't believe."

Rock that big beautiful hair!!

 

[Isis]

I agree with Nay. And when you're 75, you'll probably still have all your long beautiful hair! It happens!

 

[inthepink]

Thanks, NAY. That is it exactly. I'll have to go through the 1 or 2 times where I get all of the remarks and then after that, it'll just be "me" again. I have plenty of time to get used to it, I suppose!

Thanks, Ladies...I'm still interested in other replies, too!

Isis - I sure hope so!!

 

[Allandra]

Sometimes I really hate my big hair (and I'm not even natural). There are also some days when I actually like it.

 

[ricochet]

Get used to it lady because it is going to go on and on and on. Personally, I love big hair...granted, I do keep my hair "hidden" in styles like twists and twistouts, flat-twist combos, braids and braidouts, shrunken fros, shrunken curls, etc...But those styles are too cute and it is so wild to see people's faces when you let your hair "out". After almost 2 YEARS(May 16, 2004 will make it two), people still have not stopped staring and commenting. So get used to it girlfriend, it's not gonna stop for awhile, but it's all good. I love the compliments!

Gorgeous hair by the way!

 

[shinyblackhair]

This is pretty much the reason why I can't go natural (or don't go natural, rather). I have big hair even with a relaxer (a mild lye relaxer currently). I have thick poofy hair, which I don't like especially on my little body. It looks ridiculous on me as this little person barely 5'1 with big bushy hair. I like sleek looking tamed hair, hence my undying devotion to my slicked back, boring bun, lol...

It just looks better on me, and it doesn't draw attention to myself. I totally understand where you are coming from on that point hairlove. However, you have beautiful hair and it's not outrageously big. If I saw you walking down the street I wouldn't even give you a second glance. Meaning, you look fine. Big, curly hair is really in now, so don't think you'd be drawing too much attention to yourself, if that make any sense. But I know sometimes you *feel* like everyone's looking at you going: OMG look at that girl and that big old hair! LOL....don't worry tho chances are they are thinking: Dang! That girl has got some PRETTY hair!

 

[ms_kenesha]

I absolutely adore big hair. I love Tracey Ross' hair and I would give someone a kidney for it

I've always liked big hair even when I was relaxed, while everyone was going for the sleek wraps I wanted a nice big rollerset. I think it makes you stand out (oh, but that's what you're afraid of) it makes you unique and different and it's GORGEOUS and IMO usu. very healthy looking.

 

[missykeyana]

Big hair is great! It IS an attention-getter at first though. I love it, it balances out my big ole booty

All I can say is that if you are anxious about how your hair might look, try new styles when you don't have to go anywhere first so you will have a good idea of how it will look.

 

[Irresistible]

[ QUOTE ]
missykeyana said:
Big hair is great! It IS an attention-getter at first though. I love it, it balances out my big ole booty

All I can say is that if you are anxious about how your hair might look, try new styles when you don't have to go anywhere first so you will have a good idea of how it will look.

[/ QUOTE ]
lol that was funny

i always try out styles ,take pics and never wear them out the house

i have issues i keep tellin ya'll

 

[Maestradiva77]

Big hair is a good thing!! LOL! Love it, love it, love it!!
I know my hair attracts attention when I wear it out, but for me, trying to please everybody is a self-defeating cycle, so I don't worry about the occasional negative comments. It took me a while to get to this point, so I can relate, Hairlove. Anyway, just continue enjoying your hair!

 

[alibi]

I'm struggling w/ the "big hair" thing too! I like it at times, but sometimes I just want it smooth, sleek, and straight, like it was in my relaxer days!

 

[Lindy]

[ QUOTE ]
ayanapooh said:
I'm struggling w/ the "big hair" thing too! I like it at times, but sometimes I just want it smooth, sleek, and straight, like it was in my relaxer days!

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd be the same way... that's why I'll probably never go natural...

I love the versatility of having a relaxer!! I can wear it straight when I want, and I can also look natural by doing braid or twist-outs, or just by letting it dry naturally...

 

[blue_flower]

I don't think that I'll ever get used to big hair, even though I've had it all of my life. When I was younger I was sometimes forced to wear my hair completely out and I felt like a clown. Everyone now wants me to wear it completely out like Scary Spice and Kelis, but I'm not brave enough to pull that off.

 

[chocolate01]

Well I have just decided to transition so I am in that stage of getting used to my "big hair" but I love it. I will admit I do have times when I look at my relaxed friends and want to have smooth, sleek hair like them but then I remember my reasons for making my decisions and I get over it. For right now i've been wearing my hair in braidouts, twist-outs, and last night I just tried bantu knots and I love, love, love it. I think the thing that helps me is that I have friends that support me and everyone likes what I do and always get compliments. My parents also like my hair, my mom even asked me to do her hair. So I say hold your head up high and be proud that you have big hair

 

[Chichi]

hairlove, i know how you feel... My natural hair is a Diana Ross/Chaka Khan just waiting to happen

.... and I don't like the attention either. The good thing is that all that growth will not happen overnight so I guess that it's good that I will have to get used to it in stages.

Also, you may want to try a big braidout puff one day and a "half up half down" style the next. That way you could get used to a little of the "big hair" without having all of it out there at once. Right now, I like to wear said braidout puff and get some stares, I can't wait to unleash ALL of my hair one day

.

Chichi

 

[inthepink]

[ QUOTE ]
Irresistible said:

i always try out styles ,take pics and never wear them out the house

i have issues i keep tellin ya'll

[/ QUOTE ]

OMY! That is so totally ME!!!

 

[inthepink]

[ QUOTE ]
missykeyana said:
Big hair is great! It IS an attention-getter at first though. I love it, it balances out my big ole booty

All I can say is that if you are anxious about how your hair might look, try new styles when you don't have to go anywhere first so you will have a good idea of how it will look.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I know...I need to try them out more and actually leave the house with them!

 

[inthepink]

[ QUOTE ]
blue_flower said:
I don't think that I'll ever get used to big hair, even though I've had it all of my life. When I was younger I was sometimes forced to wear my hair completely out and I felt like a clown. Everyone now wants me to wear it completely out like Scary Spice and Kelis, but I'm not brave enough to pull that off.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not brave enough for that either! That's just too much! I want a tame curly do...hopefully, with time and practice and of course, the right haircare products, I'll be able to achieve a look that works for me.