The Five Stages of Growing Natural Hair

There are typically five stages to the natural hair journey. It often starts with the excitement of a newbie, progresses to the phase of chasing length, and eventually settles into the seasoned natural hair goddess era.

Hopefully, you’ve either completed this journey or are well on your way! If not, there’s no need to worry.

Embrace and enjoy the process – it’s an exhilarating ride that will teach you so much about your hair, and even yourself.

Let’s get into it!

*Pssst, read up on the 4 Things I Wish I Knew Before Going Natural.

1. The Newbie Phase

In the newbie phase, you are very excited about your hair journey and have stars in your eyes. You believe the hype – all of it!

And if you are wondering what the hype is, it is believing that your natural hair will grow without any setbacks. It is believing that it will curl and coil like your natural hair idol and that your journey will be smooth sailing. After all, it is natural hair – no chemicals involved. Why wouldn’t it just grow.

Common symptoms at this stage are: –

• Hair envy;
• Trying every recommended hair product out there;
• A folder full of hair idols and goals;
• Newbie enthusiasm.

Want to get some insights into starting your hair journey? Catch up on Starting your Natural Hair Journey? – The Big Chop and Your Natural Hair Journey

2. The Length Chaser Phase

Once the whole starry-eyed phase of being new to the NHJ wears out, you jump into the length chaser phase.

And your favorite go-to tools are a calendar, tape measure and a calculator.

‘What for?,’ you may ask. Well, you will have figured out that the average hair growth rate is 0,5 inch a month – cue the calculator. And taking into consideration time versus your torso length are right, you have placed your chances of getting to mid-back length to exactly 3 years. This despite the fact that afro grows outwards and not downwards, but details.

And so, you constantly stretch your hair against the tape measure, enter some new projections on your calculator and write new length attainment dates on your calendar.

Common symptoms of this phase are: –

• Your hair smells like a curry shop (because some expert said onions double the average growth rate, and turmeric quadruples it);
• Your shelf is literally overloaded with products;
• You have a red eye (full Disclaimer: Red eye in length chaser naturals is a side effect of hanging upside down to get blood to your scalp and double the length of your hair);
• Your hair is in protective styles back-to-back, months to ‘maximise’ growth;
• You are a length check nazi (nuff said); and
• You have serious length envy.

3.The Disillusioned Phase

The next phase natural hair journey phase is known as the dark night of natural hair disillusion.

You realise that your hair is not a beanstalk, and will not grow on command or when you scatter a few hair products.

You have also encountered the red-headed step-child of length aspiration, which is the old, dreaded hair setbacks. Low iron levels, vitamin D deficiency, hair breakage due to too much manipulation, too little manipulation, too much moisture, too little moisture, protein overload, product overload…… the list goes on.

In this phase, you also begin to wonder if this natural thing is for you.

Common symptoms are:

• Neglected / poor hair care;
• Sporadic product purchases;
• Back-to-back protective styling simple because you and your hair are on a break; and
• Your trusty calendar, calculator and tape measure have been donated to your local pub.

4. The Transitional Phase

The transitional phase is also known at the awakening phase.

In this phase, you really begin to see your hair (and inadvertently, yourself) for what it is. A unique, versatile and powerful crown of hair.

And it requires you to be uniquely you and versatile as well.

So instead of trying to tease your hair into ‘acceptable afro-textured’ looks, you learn to work with it. You clear the phone of your hair idols and put photos of your fro just being a fro -in all the little ways that it can be. Your afro makes a cameo in a cute bun, wrapped in silk, competing with the sun in a big halo or straightened out, without the fuss about length.

Common symptoms are: –
• You accept the power of the fro;
• You accept your unique texture;
• You remove that hair idol from your vision board;
• You clear your products;
• You want healthy hair;
• You eat right;
• You look at what worked for you and what didn’t and tweak accordingly; and
• You protective style responsibly.

Ready to declutter your bathroom cabinet. Then our feature article on 5 Essential Must-haves for Natural Hair is a must-read!

5. The Goddess Phase

Last but not least, is the goddess phase (cue opera music).

This is the nirvana of any natural hair journey and you and your hair have found your rhythm. You are ridiculously in love with your fro, and you do not care who knows it.

You are essentially a goddess in all your afro-textured hair glory, and have earned your strands – length be damned.

Common symptoms are: –

🌺 Good hair mindset;
🌺 Gotten into a consistent hair routine;
🌺 You know what products work for you;
🌺 Use organic DIY products;
🌺 Your hair reflects your mindset;
🌺 You wear cute natural hairstyles;
🌺 Your protective styling game is strong;
🌺 Your hair accessories game is stronger;
🌺 You have all-natural hair appreciation; and
🌺 You are natural hair goals to your friends.

Work it Fropanzel!

What stage in your natural journey are you in? Have you reached goddess status or are you still battling it out in the length checker aisle? What lessons have you learnt about your hair (and yourself)? Let us know in the comments.

And until the next time, gorgeous naturals, happy naturaling!