You will inevitably hit the point where you feel like you can’t do it anymore. Hang in there! You totally can!
Read and research.
You want to be as ready as you can to start styling and properly caring for your hair right out of the gate. There's no possible way you'll learn everything there is to know before you're ready to holler at the scissors—there's ALWAYS something new to learn–but why not knock out some of those hours you'll spend reading about your destination while you're en route? Make sure you know the basics at the very least; googling "natural hair basics" will turn up some informative sites, and you'll definitely want to have this natural hair dictionary handy as you peruse the thousands of natural hair sites out there.
Don't have ANY expectations.
If you haven't yet, you have to divorce yourself of the thought that "good hair" (and, thusly, "bad hair") exists. There's no such thing as a "right" or "wrong" kind of natural hair. If you go into this wanting long, silky corkscrews or fluffy, cottony kinks, you're setting yourself up to be disappointed. Hair texture is as different and distinct as fingerprints are. Let yours do what it will do, and embrace whatever it does. All hair is different—yours may not look like your hair idol's; products that your favorite hair forum poster love may have you looking a mess. Expect and accept that and look forward to learning and (hopefully) loving your hair.
And don't stress too much over your "hair type."
This chart is pretty widely accepted among many naturals as a means of figuring out which products and styles work best for particular curl patterns. But, as this piece at MadamNoire points out, "there's more to hair than just texture and pattern."
Hair typing is a great place to start understanding your newly natural hair, but don't stop there. Several factors impact your hair's behavior and needs, such as porosityand protein sensitivity. Don't assume that everything that works marketed towards your hair type will work for you.
Also, if you notice that you have more than one of these hair types, don't freak out! It's totally normal.
Keep heat usage to a minimum
Too much heat on curly hair can result in heat damage, potentially hurting or ruining your curl pattern. Use it sparingly! Take this time to practice protective styling, like twists, braid-outs, and sew-ins, or low manipulation styles, if you'd prefer.
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