Shrinkage Be Real: but do not panic!

Nothing about hair shrinkage screams, “ooh, yay!” Most natural hair queens know exactly where I’m coming headed. Even though we know the true length of our hair and its potential, it still does not stop the frustration of wanting the world to see what we’re working with! Whenever I’m scrolling through Instagram, I always catch myself saying, “I know we have the same hair length!” when seeing another natural girl whose hair appears longer than mine. Comparing can genuinely be a curse, but it’s normal. My main objective for this post is to encourage those who may be feeling discouraged by shrinkage.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

Shrinkage is a sign of proper moisture: You can easily notice when natural hair is not being taken care of correctly. Mainly, the hair is dry, limp, and brittle. When your hair retains moisture, it has LIFE! I’ve observed that when my hair needs oil, it lacks shine and I begin to experience some breakage. Dry hair is a big no-no! A tip to remember for those who typically have drier hair, it is best to oil your hair every 3-4 days. Your scalp will thank you!

Keep your hair moisturized sis!

Shrinkage is means you have good elasticity: You ever pay attention to when you’ve used too much heat and your hair has succumbed to damage, your curls do not flourish as much? Yea, you’ve ruined the elasticity. When you pull your hair down and release it, it should bounce back, and if not, we have some work to do! To improve your hair elasticity, make sure to perform deep conditioning treatments. Like our bodies, our hair needs nutrients as well. Hot oil treatments are great as well because your hair locks in the oil once you apply a cap and heat for 10-15 minutes. When your hair has excellent elasticity, your curls will be more defined!

Do you have that bounce?

Shrinkage depends on your hair type: By now, we are all aware of the different hair types. There is no such thing as good hair/bad hair; all natural girls have different textures. We have type A, B, and C, and wavy, curly, and coily. Depending on your type, your hair may draw up more than others, BUT it does not mean your hair is shorter. I’ve seen some of the most kinkiest hair stretch down a girl’s back, do not sleep on your hair! Also, if you absolutely do not like the appearance of short hair, there are two tips that I use. Instead of twisting my hair, I now plait it. For some reason, plaits tend to stretch your hair because you are using a tight grip to accomplish the look. With twist, they tend to draw up quickly because you are not using as much strength. Another thing that I do is, after I do my plaits, I pull them up in a high pony to maximize the length.

Embrace what you have!

Owning your shrinkage will for sure take a level of confidence, but I hope this blog post makes you feel a bit better about your appearance of “short” hair. Everyone has a unique natural hair story, so remember that YOUR story makes you unique. Your hair is healthy, your hair has life, and your hair is YOU!