Natural Hair Care Guide - Growing It Out: The Pros and Cons

It will take patience and time
You will have to deal with two distinctly different types of hair
You may have to depend on someone else to help you style your hair until it is completely grown out.
You may end up paying more than you are used to paying to have your hair done.
Your hair will shed and may break off. That may be traumatizing for you.

It will take patience and time

If you want you hair to be say – six inches long – it will take anywhere from six months to a year, depending on how fast your hair grows. You should ask yourself if you are willing to wait that long.

You will have to deal with two distinctly different types of hair

If you are not a fan of messing with you hair this can be frustrating. If you already like playing in your hair and don’t mind adapting then this is a non-issue.

You may have to depend on someone else to help you style your hair until it is completely grown out.

If you plan to wear protective styles and don’t already know how to braid, cornrow, flat twist or do wet sets, you’ll need help. This means that you will have to work around someone else’s schedule.

You may end up paying more than you are used to paying to have your hair done.

This Piggy backs on the last point. Unless you know someone that will do your hair for you, getting extension can be pricy. Expect to redo cornrows at least every 2 – 3 weeks and braids every two months.

Yes people keep them in for months longer. They usually have to fight with their hair to get them out. Plan regular re-braiding into your budget. In the end you will save time and your hair.

Your hair will shed and may break off.

No matter how hard you try you will get breakage. It just comes with the territory. I’ve read of many people who have experienced this, thought their hair was falling out, and went back to relaxing “to save their hair.”

If you know you can’t stand seeing hair in the comb ever time you comb, consider getting it over with and cutting it off all at once.