ToBNatural

Tuesday’s Tips: Transitioning

Hello curlies!! Every Tuesday- extra late entry today but technically, STILL Tuesday ;-) - I will be posting some helpful tips in relation to hair or fashion… or BOTH. Welcome to Tuesday’s Tips!

Transitioning:

What is it? By definition, a transition is a passage or change from one state, stage, concept, etc. to another. Or simply, a change! Likewise, in “hair lingo”, it’s the change from chemically processed to natural. So, transitioning is simply the process by which someone decides to ditch the chemicals to grow out their natural hair.

How do I do it? How you choose to transition and for how long is up to you! But since transitioning hair is fragile, you still need to tread lightly. Styles that don’t require too much manipulation are your best bet to prevent unnecessary breakage. So, you can opt for protective styles like braids, twists, sew-in weaves, etc.

 Twists Cornrows w/sew-in weave

Creating one texture: cornrows w/braid-out bang

If you like wearing your hair out, creating the illusion of one texture is suggested- you can create texture to your relaxed ends by way of twist-outs, braid-outs, straw sets, rod sets and the like. You could also do the reverse- straighten your new growth to match the relaxed ends. With this route, again, be careful. Too much heat on that new growth can permanently alter the natural curl of your hair and keep it straight, quite counterproductive! It can also cause breakage. Once in a while is fine, but try not to do this too often if you really want to grow healthy natural hair. Wigs are also great and easy option but take care not to become too dependent on them. That new hair’s gotta breathe!

 Curly Half-wig

Four things to remember!

1. MOISTURIZE! I can’t stress this enough! Our natural hair craves moisture. Natural oils, butters, moisturizing shampoos (in my experience, sulfate shampoos did more damage than good at this stage!) and most of all, weekly deep conditioning will keep your hair manageable.

2. Trim your hair often. As the new growth comes in, it gets more difficult to comb through the two textures, especially after washing. Freshly trimmed ends, done about every 6 weeks, can make it a whole lot easier to deal with.

3. Be easy with the heat. Too frequent heat styling can permanently alter your hair’s texture and cause irreversible damage. 

4. Enjoy the ride! Don’t get overly stressed when things don’t work out how you may like. Be patient with your hair. Experiment with styles and products to figure out what works for you! Surrounding yourself with a great network of friends who are already natural or transitioning can be a huge help to keep you going. Ask questions and continue to educate yourself. There are tons of resources at your disposal! Don’t sweat it!

I hope this was helpful! Join me next Tuesday for tips on Protective Styling!

xoxo ~Toia