By Kanisha Parks

When it comes to being natural, there are just some things you’ll have to endure. There will be good days and bad days, hair setbacks and successes, but when it all boils down, healthy, fabulous hair is well worth the investment. You’ve probably experienced one or more of these hair problems but take heart: you’re not alone!
1. Tangles.
No matter how much coconut oill I apply (which is a very effective detangler, by the way) or how much I stretch my hair, it still decides to tangle up on itself. I’ve discovered that finger detangling every night is the only way to ensure that by the end of the week, I’m not stuck with a hot tangled mess to decipher for 2+ hours.

2. Single Stranded Knots.
Some things just come with the territory of being natural and SSK’s are certainly one of them. Stretching the hair helps but every now and then you’ll probably still find a few. They’re pesky little things but be comforted by the fact that you aren’t suffering alone.

3. Boredom.
Every now and then, you’ll get the itch- and that itch probably means you’re bored with your hair and ready for a change. Be careful that responding to that itch doesn’t result in some reckless haircut or dye job.

4. Shedding.
From hair balls to tiny clusters of curls all over the floor, it seems like our natural hair just wants to be everywhere. But hey, that’s what hair stoppers and vacuum cleaners are for.

5. Hair envy.
If you’ve never once thought, “I wish I had her hair!” then applause for you. It’s totally normal to have felt like you wanted to trade your curls in for someone else’s before. When it’s all said and done, we all have to learn to love what grows from our own scalps (it’s beautiful).

6. Product junkie-ism.
I mean… who doesn’t love products? Experimenting with products is one of the best parts about being natural, but be careful that you aren’t compromising the health of your hair in the process. 

7. Frustration.
Natural hair… can’t live with it, can’t live without it. Your hair may drive you insane sometimes but just imagine if you woke up and it was permanently straight? #alwaysbethankful.

8. People just don’t understand.
Not everyone is going to love your hair. They may think you just hopped on the bandwagon and are still waiting for the day when you hop off. You could spend the next 30 minutes of your day trying to explain it to them… or go home and detangle.

9. The quest for moisture.
To be honest, I don’t think it’s even scientifically possible for my hair to go into moisture overload. After co-washing, deep conditioning, and doing the LOC/LCO/LOCO ) ( LOC =Liquid, Oil, Condition)_ method, my hair might still feel dry the next day. Sigh.

10. Shrinkage.
Had to save the best for last!