While on maternity leave earlier this year, Cardi B announced to her fans that since she’ll be spending more time at home, she planned to “take care of her natural hair."

Well, she meant it, and from the looks of Cardi's recent Instagram Story, her hard work has paid off!

See for yourself her all-natural #inches!

Swaying her long and healthy hair with pride, we take it that the 26-year-old rapper is happy to be past the disaster of her hair being “damaged” after leaving her braids in too long and the tragic time her real hair got pulled out from weave glue.

Patience definitely pays off! Not to mention a good wig that is properly installed by a professional hairstylist.

You've got to love protective styles that can give your hair the time it needs to grow healthy! The proof is in the length and sheen.