5 Ways to Increase Your Good Hair Days

I mean, who doesn’t love a great hair day?

I’m going to let you in on a secret:

Every day isn’t going to be a fabulous hair day.

Okay, so maybe that wasn’t exactly classified information. But in the world of Instagram, Pinterest, filtered selfies, and pouty-faced Vine videos, you’d be hard pressed to believe that your favorite natural hair bloggers, gurus (I’m beginning to have a distaste for that term, by the way) and hair crushes did not indeed, “wake up like this.” It seems as though they always have perfect hair, perfect skin, perfect makeup and well, just all-perfect-everything.

One important thing to realize is that because social media is a tool, your favorite internet personalities are able to control the image that you see of them. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it just is what it is. Before I derail this train any further, let me get back to the central point: bad hair days do exist. But…every day does not have to be some tragedy of epic proportions. There are simple things you can do to maximize the number of good and great hair days you have. Here are my 5 tips:

1. Love Your Hair

I know this is said time and time and time again. But truly, this is where having good hair days start. I’ve written before about the detriments of hair crushing/obsessing – in fact, chilling out on hair idols was the #1 resolution I recommended for naturals to make this year. It is hard to love your hair when you’re so caught up in the beauty of someone else’s. Tips, styling ideas and inspiration are all fine — but that is really where we need to draw the line. Love your hair first. Appreciate what it can do, instead of focusing on limitations. Are your wash and go’s a tragedy? So what! I bet you can crank out a killer twist-out. Bantu knot fail? I’m sure you can rock a top knot that is to die for. Feeling self conscious about your TWA? Join the rest of the 3+ billion women in the world who are self-conscious about their appearance in some capacity. This is not by any means an attempt to diminish some of the challenges we face as women, especially in terms of being self-conscious about embracing our natural hair. But if we don’t embrace, accept, and love what God has given us first — how can we expect anyone else to?

2.  Be Solution-Oriented

One of my biggest frustrations is when I want to vent to my boyfriend just for the sake of blowing off steam, and in all his loving amazingness, he begins troubleshooting and proposing solutions. Many men in general tend to be solution-oriented — even when you don’t want them to be. They identify an issue and devise ways to fix it — even when you don’t want them to. Look at your hair the same way! Note: I DO NOT MEAN LOOK AT YOUR HAIR ITSELF AS THOUGH IT IS AN ISSUE!!!! Just wanted to clarify that.

What I mean is, don’t look at your hair with hopelessness and despair day in and day out. Chances are there is a solution to your hair woes. If your hair is lacking in the vitality department, maybe it’s time for a protein treatment, deep conditioning session, or even a trim. Buns and updos not staying right like they used to? You might need new elastic bands, scrunchies, and bobby pins. Is your head too big and your bun too small? Stretch your hair first (note to self), or find another more fitting updo. Although embracing natural hair can be very emotional at times, your challenges don’t have to be all-consuming. Take a more pragmatic approach to fixing your hair woes and watch your better hair days skyrocket!

3. Have A Staple Product Stash

I’m a product junkie and one of the hardest things for me to do is tell someone what my favorite product is. Heck, I couldn’t even tell you what my favorite product is in one particular category. One thing I had to do (especially as someone who tries out different products often) was narrow down a few products in each category that I could rely on no matter what. You might have to kiss a few frogs to find your Prince Charming of products, but once you do…boy, oh boy! There’s no greater feeling than not having to wonder, hope, pray and cross fingers that a product will do what it is supposed to. For example, I know I can rely on TIGI Catwalk Curls Rock Amplifier to give me an amazing wash and go that will last 5 days or more. This is not to discourage experimenting with different products and combinations, but rather to say, make sure you have a go-to product that consistently delivers. Consistent results = consistently better hair days.

Click here to see my list of 2014 Must-Haves that ALWAYS deliver for my hair!

4. It’s OK to Have a Comfort Zone

Thanks to social media accounts that showcase fellow naturalistas and their amazing, edgy, fabulous and sometimes gravity-defying kinks, coils and curls, it can be hard to resist the temptation of wanting to try a new style or switch things up with a new color or cut. If you are bold with an experimental wild streak then go for it! But for those of us who can’t as openly embrace change as much as we would like to (am I talking to myself here?) there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a styling comfort zone. I’m sure some of my Instagram followers get bored with my seemingly endless streak of wash and go styles — heck, sometimes I bore myself. But truthfully, since finishing my transition and chopping, wash-and-gos work best. I did a twist-out and hated it. I want to do finger coils, but I can’t seem to find the time (or desire) to sit for 4 hours and twirl. I want to color my hair, but don’t exactly look forward to the extra maintenance and upkeep. I thought I was crazy or had turned into a lazy natural because even though more styling options are possible with my all-natural hair, I couldn’t bring myself to do them. Then I came across Instagrammer GeekyCurly, who’s photos consist of nothing but twists and twist-outs. She does them well (gorgeous, really), and they work for her hair. I’m sure she could rock the heck out of a bantu knot-out, or even have a jaw-dropping blowout done. But she chooses to do what works for her hair and her lifestyle. And there is absolutely, 137% nothing wrong with that. The bottom line is, if you have a style that you rock well, work it! If you don’t, try to develop that one you can pull off come hell or high water.

5. If You Stay Ready….

Although I often use the aforementioned quote from Suga Free in relation to my edges (article on that coming soon), this mantra applies also to increasing good hair days. So let’s say you love your hair, came up with a practical solution to make it better (like getting a trim), used all your staples that deliver and have set yourself up to rock your go-to style…and somehow your hair still manages to go completely ape-poop. Maybe there are some things you can’t control like insane humidity or an uncalled for rain storm. That’s where staying ready comes into play. Call me crazy, but I always, always, alllllllways have a stash of bobby pins and at least 1 scrunchie in my car, work bag, and gym bag. And if I carry a purse, they’re in there too (I’m not much of a purse gal, but that’s neither here nor there). You never know when your beloved hairstyle will say, “Girl bye” so it is best to stay ready so you ain’t got to get ready! Having a supply of bobby pins, a headband, scrunchies, even a cute scarf on hand to tackle those wild card scenarios can help you turn a hair disaster day into a “yaaaaaaaaaaaas hun-ty!”

What are some of your favorite ways to have more good hair days?

For more transitioning and natural hair tips from Christina, check out her blog, The Mane Objective. You can also find her on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.