I Was Tired of Hair Advice That Didn’t Work

For so many Black women, hair is deeply tied to identity and self-perception—whether it’s curly, coily, or straight.

Accidentally Natural: The Start of a Hair Journey

TikToker Kyla remembers the exact moment her hair care journey began. It wasn’t out of necessity, but inspiration.

“I was a straight natural,” she says, describing the early years of flat-ironing her hair every two weeks. That changed when her mom told her she’d need to start doing her own hair—and heat tools were off the table.

“So I accidentally became natural,” Kyla tells BlackDoctor.org.

Without flat irons or curling wands, she turned to the internet, finding inspiration in YouTubers like Alyssa Forever who embraced their natural hair. Dealing with heat damage from years of straightening, she began experimenting with protective styles like braids.

“I would put my hair in two braids and wear it like that for three or four days, then take them down and wear it in a braid-out,” she tells BlackDoctor.org. “Of course, I didn’t get the same results I do now, but that was the start of my hair journey—my healthy hair journey.”

If she could talk to her 12-year-old self, Kyla says she’d offer encouragement: “Ignore the comments people make. Keep practicing. Your hard work will pay off.”

From Compliments to Content Creation

Now a content creator with 45.9K TikTok followers and 16.1K on Instagram, Kyla shares not just hair tips—but the story of a young girl learning to care for herself.

“I kind of fell into making hair content on TikTok—like everybody else,” she says.

She downloaded the app back in the Musical.ly days but didn’t post regularly until the pandemic hit.

“I was just posting for fun—things I thought were funny, nothing serious. But then I started getting compliments and questions about my hair, so I started responding. That’s how it evolved into primarily hair content.”

She can’t pinpoint the video that sparked her growth, but one from March the previous year stands out. At the time, she was feeling insecure about her shorter hair and trying to shift her mindset. She posted a clip captioned, “My short hair gives rich girl bob.”

“It didn’t go viral, but it did well. And from there, I slowly started posting more and more,” she says.

Learning, Adapting & Growing Through Hair Care

At one point, Kyla dealt with protein overload. To troubleshoot, she turned to isitcg.com to better understand what ingredients to avoid.

Now, she focuses on balance, rotating products based on what her hair needs.

Her go-to staples include:

Innersense I Create Hold Gel: Her holy grail for wash-and-gos, slick backs, and edges. “I love that it comes in a bulk size too—it just makes sense.”
Rizos Curls Strong Hold Gel + Custard: A combo that delivers shine and moisture for defined styles.
Scalp Serums: A newer favorite. “They’re water-based, lightweight, and great for people who don’t like using oils on their scalp.”

The TikTok Community & a New Perspective on Beauty

TikTok became more than a platform—it became a mirror, a source of confidence, and a space for validation.

Kyla says her followers helped her see her hair in a new light.

“Before TikTok, I was obsessed with definition. I wanted the least amount of volume possible and stretched my hair to make it look longer,” she says. “But from sharing on TikTok, I’ll show day one hair, then day five, and people always say day five looks better.”

More frizz, more volume, more life. What she once saw as flaws became features.

“That was such a shock at first. I thought defined hair was better. But people helped me realize the beauty in how our hair changes—how it gets bigger, fuller, and frizzier. That kind of affirmation means a lot, especially because in the beginning, I heard the opposite.”

Simple Advice for Starting Out

For those beginning their hair journey, Kyla keeps it simple and honest:

“Yes, it’s overwhelming. There’s so much conflicting information online,” she notes.

Her advice:

Stick to the basics: Shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, and a styling product.
Be patient: Give products at least a month before switching.
Wash more often: Don’t wait until your hair feels dry. Wash before it gets there to prevent breakage.

“Don’t feel rushed to jump on every trend or try every product. Just keep experimenting until you find what works, then stick to it and keep things simple,” she says.

She also stresses reducing friction: satin bonnets, pillowcases, and sheets help protect hair from breakage.

Looking Ahead: Goals & Creativity

Now that the last of her color-treated hair has grown out, Kyla’s focus is on healthy growth. But she’s also looking to have more fun—trying braids, extensions, and styles outside her usual wash-and-go routine.

“The biggest misconception is that it’s hard to do our hair,” she says. “Learning is hard—but that’s true of anything. You have to keep at it.”

For beginners, her message is clear:

“Keep it simple. You don’t need oils, scalp massages, and all the extras right away. Just get a good shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, and styling product. That’s it.”

She also circles back to washing more often: “Especially for curly girls like me, the longer you wait, the drier and more tangled your hair gets. And detangling is already the worst part of wash day. So wash before your hair gets dry,” she advises.

And finally—reduce friction.

“Whenever I’m home, I’m wearing a satin bonnet. If I’m in the house, it’s on. Friction causes dryness and breakage, and you won’t even realize it’s happening,” she concludes.