5 Signs That You’re In A Styling Rut and Tips To Get Out of It

“I don’t care if it takes you 5 hours to do your hair, you need to change your hairstyle. You’ve been wearing the same hairstyle for months now.”

– My husband

Welp! If you were wondering whether or not you are in a styling rut, a key sign is when your significant other gives you free reign to take whatever time you need to get it together.  But if you haven’t been given that blatant sign just yet, here are some other signs to look for:

• You are not excited about your style results.
• You literally wear the same style EVERY day. No deviation.
• You are beginning to notice breakage and damage.
• You view doing your hair as a chore. (More so than usual.)
• Your loved ones hint that it is time to try something new.

If you answered yes to three or more of these signs, then you just might be in a styling rut.

We all fall into a styling rut at times, but here are some tips as you get your groove back:

Assess Your Problem

Before you can address a problem, you must first properly assess what is wrong.  For some, you may not have enough time to do your hair. Or you might not be excited about the shape of your hair.

For me, it was a little bit deeper.  As my hair grows, I have to adjust my styles to my new length. But I’ve been here many times before, so I asked myself what was different.

It was then, that I realized I stopped styling my hair when my daughter’s hair fell out due to her cancer treatment. Take the time to thoroughly assess and address the problem, appropriately.

See Also: What My Daughter With Cancer Taught Me About Self-love & My Own Insecurities

Make Small Tweaks For Maximum Results

The first step of getting out of your styling rut, is to start with small tweaks.  You’d be surprised how small tweaks  — with little extra effort — can result in drastically different results.

Try setting your twists on rods or rollers for a curlier look.  Or change the part; direction or size of your twists for a slightly different look. These small tweaks can serve as a springboard for more experimentation.

Be Inspired by Pictures on Social Media

Whenever I get into a styling rut, I look to social media for inspiration. Whether your source is Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, YouTube, or blogs like Natural Hair Rules, check them out for inspiration.

Look for women with hair similar to yours, wearing styles you can emulate. You can even check out pics of yourself for inspiration. Revisit a style you haven’t tried in a while. Try out an oldie but goodie on your new hair length. You might be surprised by the results!

SEE ALSO: Finger Coils For Longer Hair

Plan Your Hairstyle in Advance

When I’m short on time, I tend to stick to the same routine.  This occurs in many areas of my life: clothes, cooking, etc.  If you want to stop wearing the same outfit, cooking the same meal, or wearing the same hairstyle, then you need to plan ahead.

If you have time to think, then you have time to be creative.  Plan ahead for style rotations. In my heydey, I would deliberately rotate between flat twists, twists, roller sets, and updos. I plan on going back to that regimen, so that I can truly appreciate the versatility of my hair.

See Your Stylist

Sometimes you need to see a stylist to give your hair a boost. Maybe you need a trim or a cut to shape it. Maybe you need to try a new color. No one is saying you have to do a second big chop or go blonde, but little tweaks done by a professional can go a long way.

SEE ALSO: How To Prevent Breakage In Color Treated Hair

If you are having issues with damaged hair, this provides a great opportunity to treat your hair and to get further advice on how to develop a regimen.

So there you have it: 5 tips to get out of your styling rut.

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Have you ever been in a styling rut? What tips do you have for others still stuck there?