Are you ready to embrace healthy natural hair, but not quite ready to chop off all of your length? Do not worry, you are not alone!
A lot of naturalistas begin their journey by “transitioning” their curly hair back to health rather than cutting off all of their relaxed, heat damaged, or color damaged ends at once.
What is transitioning to natural hair?
Transitioning is the alternative to the “big chop,” it allows you to retain hair length while slowly growing out your natural hair.
During the transition period, you may trim your hair in increments every so often as your roots start to grow longer. You can transition for however long you need to feel comfortable. Most people who transition to natural hair do so for about a year before cutting their hair, but less time or more time is also totally fine.
How do I care for my hair while transitioning?
While you transition to natural hair, you should work on establishing a hair regimen, which is a healthy hair routine. Your regimen will be unique to you and will be determined by how your hair reacts to different products and techniques. However, a good place to start is with a set day for washing, conditioning, and styling. Most naturalistas prefer to wash on the same day every week, or every two weeks to maintain consistency.
You may also consider how often you will deep condition or do protein treatments - perhaps weekly, twice per month, or once a month. Pay attention if your hair is getting dried out throughout the week, which could mean you need an additional day in between wash days to refresh your hair with more moisture. Analyze how your hair reacts as you try different things. If your hair is not behaving how you want it to, adjust your schedule, your technique, or the products you are using.
It is also important to take extra gentle care with your hair, because it will be in a more fragile state than usual. During the transition, you will have two textures. With curly roots and straight ends, your strands are more prone to breakage, so gentle detangling is essential! You may also notice that your hair is shedding more than usual; this is a normal part of the process, but you can minimize shedding by keeping your hair hydrated with frequent deep conditioning treatments.
What natural hair products for transitioning should I use?
One of the most fun parts about the transition period - or most frustrating, depending on who you ask- is that you get to try new products to see what your hair likes best!
Natural hair transition products like Bask & Bloom Essentials' Gentle Herbal Cleanser, Super Bloom 2-in-1 Pre-Poo/Deep Conditioner, and More Moisture Cream are great options to ensure maximum hydration for your mane and help you start building your routine.
How should I style my hair while transitioning?
Styling your hair may be a challenge at first because the two textures in your hair will be noticeable. The use of direct heat, like blow drying and straightening, will be very tempting as a quick fix to hide your curly roots, but it’s important that you avoid straight styles. As already mentioned, your hair is extremely fragile while transitioning. Heat styling will result in breakage and irreparable damage to your new growth! Instead, try natural styles that will blend the two textures. Braid outs are simple to achieve and are a great way of adding some definition to your straight ends to blend the textures.
Rod sets, using perm rods or flexi rods for example, are also a great option for blending textures. The Hydrating Vitamin Curl Mousse will provide a soft flexible hold for this style. Try air drying, if possible, to avoid using heat.
You can also try protective styles, like box braids or cornrows, which will give you a break from having to deal with the two delicate textures.
Go & Give It A Try!
Now that you have gotten a crash course on what to expect while transitioning to natural hair, it is time to start your natural hair journey like a pro! Shop your natural curly hair products online today.
