Ask a Redhead: How Do I Become Comfortable with My Natural Hair?

Every week, we put out a call for your redhead questions. This gives you a chance to get advice or input from our team of redheads. From beauty and fashion to lifestyle, redheads are in a unique boat, and we want to help make this community a place where you can turn for all your redhead needs. 

This week, we’re touching on a subject that most redheads don’t discuss, but many of us have some experience with. We were asked, “How do I become comfortable with my natural hair?” and we think it’s important to talk about the journey many redheads go through.

Unfortunately, redheads are taught from a young age that their hair is different or bad. If you have textured, curly hair, that experience might be twofold. Red hair has been ostracized and othered for decades, and it can create a significant barrier in our journey to self-love. Being comfortable with your natural hair color or texture takes time and a lot of introspection. There’s no one-size-fits-all way to get there, but we have some tips that might help make the process easier. 

1. Ignore the comments

The most challenging part of learning to love your hair is ignoring the comments, the commentary, the jokes, and the negativity that can surround redheads. Thankfully, we’re living in a time when red hair is trending, so you may see less of this now than you did 10 years ago, but we know it still happens. Try to brush off comments; if they come from someone close to you, vocalize how they make you feel. Shutting out those negative words is the first step to seeing yourself in a positive light. 

2. Believe the compliments

Redheads get compliments. We know this firsthand, and we also know how easy it is to brush them off. Being comfortable with your hair means embracing it, and accepting and appreciating compliments will help boost your self-esteem. When we say believe the compliments, we mean more than just telling a polite thank you. Write them down if needed, or repeat them to yourself in the mirror. 

3. Find things you love about your hair

Your hair is going to be with you forever. It will always be there, even if you dye or alter it. So find things you love about it. Do you love how soft it is? Or maybe you love your curl pattern. Is your hair thick and healthy? Or perhaps you have a super cute cut. No matter what you love about your hair, embrace that. Embracing your color can come later as you feel comfortable with your hair. If you don’t feel comfortable, maybe you need a new cut, or there are products you can use to help add shine, body, and shape to help you get the hair you want. 

4. Fill your feed

A shared experience redheads have is thinking red hair looks beautiful on someone else but not feeling it looks gorgeous on themself. The more you notice and appreciate red hair on others, the more you will appreciate your own. Try following other redheads on social and fill your feed with people who look like you to help you find that appreciation. 

Do you want your redhead question answered? Find us @howtobearedhead on Instagram and Facebook, and look for the Ask a Redhead question box!

Rock it like a Redhead! 

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