If someone had told you pre-HHJ that you...

So I thought this would be a fun thread. I recently had a little incident and it got me thinking. Pretty much half the things I do now are things I would have never considered doing. Ever.

For example, I ended up going to the movies with my mom but didn't have time to normally style my hair like I usually do. So I decided to just let it air dry. I applied my leave ins, detangled, and was ready to go. Yes, I left the house with wet hair and went to the movies - wide tooth comb and all. My mom kept saying to me, "Your hair is still wet, you can't go out yet!" I just looked at her as I kept using my wide tooth comb to occasionally go over my hair with (get the best air dried results if I continuously mess with my hair as it dries). My hair wasn't dripping wet, either, more like 40% dry. You could tell it wasn't fully dry, but I didn't care.

I had no shame, y'all. I combed my hair throughout the whole movie and thoroughly enjoyed myself. My hair was nice and dry by the time the movie was over and turned out great. But the whole thing got me thinking, 2 or so years ago, I would have NEVER done anything like this. Go out, in public, with wet hair?! Nuh-uh! My hair had to be blow dried and flat ironed. Period. Anything less and my hair wasn't "done".

I've learned so much on my journey and was just curious about y'all. What is something that you do now being on your journey that you would have never, ever considered doing before?

Similar to op; Before I would have never left the house with my hair wet, with nothing but conditioner, piled on top of my head in a puff.

I would have never washed my hair with a cheap conditioner a few times a week.

I would have never not straightened my hair and now it's been almost four years.

Wear wigs for months at a time to "protect my hair". To be honest, after my accidental big chop I was ashamed of my short, extremely coiled hair. Now that it's long again I wear it out more, but I want to get back to mbl or waist before I ditch the wigs for good.

Pretty much become a DIY'er. I was a "Slave" to the Salon.

Minimize direct heat. I loved heat styling my hair when relaxed, and whenever I wanted a change as a new natural, flat irons were my go to.

These days I blow dry four times a year and use a flat iron even less than that. I don't think I've used a curling iron in over 20 years.

If someone told me I would be rocking a fro on a daily basis, I would have given them the stink eye.

I was always told that you could never let black hair go in its natural state: You have to straighten it, relax it, braid it or loc it constantly. Even then I saw that that was madness but I didn't know what else to do.

ETA: To this day people still ask me when I plan on loc'ing my hair

If someone would have told me:

That I would eliminate direct heat from my regimen I would have thought they were crazy. I used to use heat at least one a week. Now I use heat maybe 3 times a year.

That I would be caring for my hair myself I would never have believed them because I never thought I could do my own hair. I used to go to the salon weekly cause I thought this was th sonly way to have healthy long hair.

That I would be an out-of-control product junkie I would have given them the evil eye because I never used to hair any hair products in my house.

That I would be natural.

It's been 5 years since my last relaxer and I'm 99% sure I'll never go back.

Never thought I would:

1. Ditch weekly shampoos and instead, clarify 1x or 2x a month
2. Ditch creamy leave-ins that were causing me breakage and opting for TEA
3. Cut (dust) my hair monthly to retain more length! (my fine fine hairs split easily)
4. Ditch my Clairol dye for grays (Indigo now)

I never thought I'd let that curling iron go! I used to curl my hair DAILY!!

Go natural!

Otherwise I've always done the most with my hair

DarkJoy said:

Never thought I would:

1. Ditch weekly shampoos and instead, clarify 1x or 2x a month
2. Ditch creamy leave-ins that were causing me breakage and opting for TEA
3. Cut (dust) my hair monthly to retain more length! (my fine fine hairs split easily)
4. Ditch my Clairol dye for grays (Indigo now)

Click to expand...

What is TEA?

My daughters hair is fine and I find that sealing once a week with Dax pressing oil ( grease) and two x's a week with spectrum shortening and eliminated split ends.

The first time I ever heard of co washing I was like 'ew, dirty heads, lol' now I don't even buy shampoo anymore, lol.
And if someone told me I would stop straightening my hair cold turkey one day I just wouldn't have believed them. I prolly was in such curly girl denial, I think I really believed my hair was straight lol.

I never thought I would be natural and I never thought I would wear wigs.

that:
I would BC because I didn't like short hair
I would be natural

DarkJoy what's TEA?

spellinto said:

DarkJoy what's TEA?

Click to expand...

Heehee!

Literal tea you drink. Just some of us use it as conditioner too

I would be natural

I'd have hair as long as it is

I'd do wngs with conditioner

I'd be able to air dry ever

I'd have lots of people asking about styles and hair care

That my hair could be long

I'd be washing weekly...

Ah, it's been a great thing.

overtherainbow said:

If someone told me I would be rocking a fro on a daily basis, I would have given them the stink eye. I was always told that you could never let black hair go in its natural state: You have to straighten it, relax it, braid it or loc it constantly. Even then I saw that that was madness but I didn't know what else to do. ETA: To this day people still ask me when I plan on loc'ing my hair

Click to expand...

I GAVE everyone who MENTIONED natural hair the stank eye!!!! Didn't like natural hair - didn't want anything to do with it. Now I'm happily rockin my tapered twa )))))))

Not use shampoo...

Back in 1992 a coworker told me she only oiled and conditioned her hair and didn't use shampoo. Her hair was natural and waist length. I told her she was nasty LOL I should have listened

That I would have BSL hair and have such a 'meh' attitude about it.

That I would be a self-relaxer.

That I wouldn't use direct heat.

That I'd wear mostly buns.

That I would go 20 weeks between relaxers - I used to get them every 4 weeks like clockwork.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using LHCF

That I would stop using my curling iron. I used it EVERY day.

That I would go to work without every hair in place. Some days my hair is just BIG and crazy.

That I would go minimum 16 weeks between touchups

That I would want hip length hair

Not go to the Salon
Wear a Wig
Rarely use Shampoo
Coffee
Tea
Apple Cider Vinegar
Honey/Molasses/Agave Nectar
Know & understand Porosity
Coconut Milk or Water
Stuff purchased for Horses at a Equine or Feed Shop
Umm....stuff for 'itch' in that very personal/private area
Become a Product Junkie

Not comb my hair for 3 years.
Not shy away from rain, swimming pools or humidity.

Henna
Indigo
Pre-Poo