Let's Talk Tresses Friday: What to do when stuck in a rut?!?

I'm pretty much a stickler when it comes to my natural hair routine. That being said... there have been a few occasions when I've been tired of the same ole, same ole and opted to try something new for a spell. These are most often the times when I take my "braid-cations", and opt to wear my hair in braids for a few months to take a break from the routine.

One thing I've learned so far is that when in a rut, it pays to make SUBTLE changes... going overboard may result in a major case of remorse...Need I mention my horrible D-I-Y Dye Job?!?!? LOL

This completely illustrates how I felt after recognizing the mistake I made. So now, instead of completely changing the way I style my hair, or throwing out my tried-and-true products for those new brands on the scene, I make a slight change, which is just enough "new" for me to not feel as bored as I was before. For example, this week I decided that instead of the same old tired center part I rock 24/7, I'd try a side part.

I also experimented with how I section my hair during washing, and tried Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue (which was a part of the gift basket I won from Curl Crush) to braid my hair. I even changed up how I braided my hair, using smaller braids per section. Daring? Not very... but it was a refreshing change of pace for me, and I think the results looked pretty good actually.... it's something I may incorporate for a few weeks, until I miss my usual style.

It's amazing what such a small change can do to inspire you. I made a change that was well within my comfort zone, and I'm loving it!

Have you ever experienced a rut on your natural hair journey? What did you do? Share your stories of the most outlandish or simple changes you made to spice up your hair routine.