When I first started my natural hair journey five and a half years ago, I was very keen on retaining length. My relaxed, chemical-treated hair had never grown past my shoulders, so when I saw all the photos of naturals with mid-back length to waist-length hair, I was inspired to give natural hair a go. I was determined to grow my hair for as long as I could with the aim of having over 20 inches of natural hair. As my natural hair has grown, I’ve grown in my knowledge of how to care for it in four different ways:
Long hair requires more product
I know this may seem obvious at first, but trust me, hair length has some unforeseen repercussions for your wallet. As my hair has grown longer, I have to use far more product than I did when I first went natural. With 20 in. of natural hair, I go through a 450 ml jar of deep conditioner in only five wash days. That’s an entire jar every month! Now that I have longer hair, I’ve found that I fork over a little more cash for my hair’s needs in order to keep all twenty inches cleansed, moisturized, and sealed.
Long hair takes up more time
When I first went natural, my entire wash day took me 1-2 hr. from start to finish. Twisting my hair was a breeze. I’d twist my hair as I watched a show on Netflix. It was a easy and I’d be done before a single episode was over. However, with about 20 in. of hair on my head, I’m finding that twisting my hair can take up to five hours. This means, I have to carve out an entire Saturday morning every so often to nurture my strands. Retaining length is a commitment that requires time.
Shorter hair was more versatile
Quite frankly, I have to admit this: I do get kind of jealous when I see curlfriends with cute, spunky tapered cuts. Teeny weeny afros can be chic, defiant, and edgy all at once. One can change up their hair color easily, chop off their colored ends, and then shave the hair on one side of their head all in a matter of a few months. And Pinterest boards make for endless options.
Long hair requires low manipulation
Those of us who crave length have to keep our hair in low manipulation styles to reduce breakage. Oftentimes, this means we are limited to a range of two to three protective styles that work well for us. If the same routine doesn’t bother you, then long hair may work well, but if you’re artsy and enjoy versatility, a shorter ‘fro may do the trick.
Which do you prefer? Long hair or short hair?
