Take Care Of These Tips For Transitioning From Relaxed To Natural Hair

Tips on transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. Do not worry when you are trying to transition. This helps you in hair care regime.

Take Care Of These Tips For Transitioning From Relaxed To Natural Hair

What Is The New Buzz On Hair Transition?

Contrary to natural black hair, all the buzz is about transitioning from relaxed to natural hair that needn’t be traumatizing. When you have worn the hair permed or relaxed for many years, the transitioning stage comes as a normal re-introduction to your natural hair you have from your birth. When you decide to go natural you carry a unique blueprint that is your natural tresses. As no two heads are alike, you have to embrace the fact that what you have is beautiful and a head-turner. 

Do You Know Your Curl Pattern?

According to stylist Andre Walker, every person has a hair type by birth that is all their own. He classified specific hair types or patterns and created a system.

In it, the curly/kinky is Type 4A,4B, or 4C. As Type 4 resembles small spirals, with a diameter like that of a Crochet needle or be tightly coiled, curly/kinky hair is at the greatest risk for breakage because of curl patterns with a need for consistent moisture.

The Curly is Type 3A, 3B or 3C ranging from loose ringlets to slightly more tightly defined spiral curls the size of a pen.

The type 2 is wavy hair ranging from 2A to 2B to 2C – and 2C is the waviest and comes in 2 categories of wavy hair.

While straight hair is classified as Type 1it is the strongest and generally harder type of hair to hold a curl.

The patterns on the head come in various curl patterns. For example, the crown could be 3b whereas the nape of the neck is 4a. Several people don’t subscribe to Andre’s curl pattern classification as they feel it is too restricting perpetuating the stereotype of good hair, bad hair mentality.

Even though people do not accept it, it is a useful tool for helping us understand the hair better. But it was never meant to reinforce old school negative connotations. 

Transition Style Plan: Before The "The Big Chop"

When deciding to go natural, some women are usually tempted to cut all the relaxed hair off. Most of them opt to cut off as much of the permed or relaxed portion of hair possible and working on nurturing their new growth or the new one that grew in after perm. Plan the big chop after you have an idea of how you look as also the look you like with short hair. 

Envision what you will look like with a shorter style you may be used to wearing as you know yourself better than anyone. For a second opinion talk with the stylist based on the shape of your face. Enhance your short style with plenty of hair accessories like medium-to-large-sized earrings, headbands, and colorful scarves. It will help your hair grow healthy, beautiful and stronger than ever. 

Transition Style Plan: Without "The Big Chop"

Cutting the hair off to transition completely to a natural hairstyle doesn’t sit comfortably with everyone. With twists, braids, flat twists or other styles can bring your slower crawl toward natural hair allowing you to keep the hair length during the transition process. As the line of demarcation between natural and relaxed hair is weak and prone to breakage, be sure to trim the ends and deep condition regularly and if you choose, keep your relaxed hair on while your natural hair is growing out. 

Moisturize

While taking care of natural hair, one huge mistake that many women make is overloading it with lots of grease or oils. Even though you may feel that this is the best way to keep hair from being dry and frizzy, it is only partially true. Natural hair needs lots of natural moisture, so work with lightweight, lightly applied oils to lock in the moisture to the hair and scalp. The natural moisturizers get absorbed into the hair instead of laying on top of the hair like hair grease. With petroleum and mineral oils, hair grease prevents moisture from being absorbed into the hair shaft. There are some alternatives like these:

• Coconut oil
• Shea butter
• Jojoba oil

Products with mineral oil, silicone or petroleum that sits on top of the hair are to be avoided at any cost. Hair needs moisture that penetrates the hair shaft keeping the hair properly moisturized. It helps bring out your natural curl pattern protecting the hair from breakage. 

To conclude Always Protect Your Hair When Sleeping

If you do not prepare and protect it, sleeping is a special challenge to natural hair. Avoid matting, tangling and breakage as much as possible using a satin pillowcase or using a satin cap. It is also good to twist or braid the hair in big sections before sleeping. It is easier than you think to do the transition over to natural black hair and well worth the effort for healthy, head-turning natural hair. 

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