Black Hair from Relaxed to Natural: The Do’s and Don’ts of Transitioning
Natural hair is more than just a trend- it’s a way of life. Transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair is more than just a change of products or styles. Your mind and body must and will change along the process. There are so many techniques being used by natural women all over so it would be wrong to say that there is only one way, but here are a few Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind before and during your transition.
Best wishes on your journey.
DO…
Eliminate direct heat like flat irons, blow dryers, etc. as much as possible. Use hooded dryers on a medium setting (or lower) for as little time possible.
DO…
Learn to embrace your texture. It’s easy to get caught up in someone else’s head, but chances are your hair isn’t like theirs. So don’t waste your time wishing you had someone else’s crown. It will leave you disappointed and exhausted. Love what God gave you.
DO…
Deep condition weekly with moisturizing conditioners. This will help strengthen and soften your new growth, relaxed hair and prevent breakage. A lot of new transitioners complain about coarse and unmanageable new growth. Deep conditioning is key to dealing with this.
DO…
Wear a lot of protective styles. Rod sets, twist outs, braid outs, flat twists, buns, braids/extensions (not too tight), straw sets, etc. should become your go-to styles.
DO…
Limit combing, pulling (tight ponytails) and manipulation. The above hairstyles do not require combing. The only time you should comb your hair is when you detangle on wash day. Use sulfate-free shampoos. Sulfates strip your hair of its natural oils. Natural hair can be dry enough, you don’t need help from sulfates.
DO…
Trim your ends every 4-6 weeks. If you have split ends, they will travel up to your natural hair and cause breakage.
DON’T…
Make assumptions about your hair texture too early. It will likely change as you continue to transition. This is the very reason many people stop transitioning. Don’t be fooled by your new growth’s texture while you are relaxing and when you start transitioning. You may be going through the scab hair period. The good news is, most people stop growing scab hair 3-6 months after starting their transition.
DON’T…
Listen to ignorant peers, friends and family. Why should there be anything wrong with wanting to wear your hair the way you came into this world? Unfortunately kinky hair is often seen as the ugliest/worst kind of hair to have, but that’s only because we are comparing it to the majority, which is straight, Euro-centric hair. If everyone had kinky hair there would be no class system of hair and comparisons. We have been brainwashed to believe straighter hair is more beautiful because that’s what society feeds us (through magazines, TV, etc.) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As long as you feel your hair is beautiful, why should anyone else’s opinion matter? Trust me, it may take some time to get to this level, but it will happen eventually.
DON’T…
Coat your hair with too many products. As your hair grows out, you may feel the need to “fix it” by using multiple products. Product overload can suffocate your strands, cause breakage and make your hair appear dull. Your hair does not need to be “fixed.” Learn to embrace whatever grows out of your head. A light moisturizer 3-5 times a week should be enough for most people. You can seal in the moisture with a natural oil like olive, castor, coconut, jojoba, sweet almond, etc.
DON’T…
Become a product junky. The only products you need are a good shampoo, conditioner (leave-in and rinse out) and a few daily moisturizers (preferably natural oils.)
DON’T…
Get caught up in rules and judgments. There are a lot of naturals who have definitions of what wearing natural hair means. Some become anti weave, anti colored contacts, anti straight hair, and anything that is not “natural.”
Remember, this is your journey. Find out what being natural means to you. Don’t let other’s opinions shape your actions and beliefs about what you have to do and cannot do because you wear natural hair. Also be careful of criticizing others just because they don’t share your journey or opinions.
DON’T…
Expect acceptance from everyone. Let’s just keep it real for a minute. A lot of people don’t like and will never like natural hair. Period. End of story. There’s nothing you can do to make everyone approve of your choice. But your real friends and people who genuinely love and support you will respect your decision, even if they don’t embrace your choice of hairstyle. Naysayers of natural hair are everywhere, but at some point you have to live life for yourself and not for other people’s acceptance.
Are you transitioning from relaxed to natural as we speak? Send us your pictures via Twitter @talkingpretty! We’d love to feature your hair journey!
