Hair talk || Tips for Transitioners
As a (previously) transitioning natural, i understand that it can be a hard and confusing journey. This is a complied list of tips to help you with your hair journey. There is also a corresponding video on our YouTube channel.
If you're deciding to go natural, CONGRATS. With that being said... patience is a very important thing to have or develop during this journey. If you are like myself you probably have hopes of rocking a big wild mane in the next year. HONEY.... that's not gonna happen, especially if you're not patient. Also, you don't need to set a time frame right away for when you will BC. You should BC when you feel comfortable, not when everyone thinks it's time for you to. You could do an inch for an inch; This is a method that for every 1 inch you grow you chop off 1 inch.Â
Find a staple transitioning style
In doing this, the purpose is to learn how to blend and deal with the 2 textures. Finding a staple style will save you A LOT of time. So spend time experimenting. This is all about trial and error. Some styles to try are: Twist outs & Braidouts (My faves), Bantu knots, Flat twists... the list goes on and on.Â
Detangling will help you in all stages of your hair journey not just in transition. The key is detangling when the hair is wet and saturated with conditioner You'll also want to use a wide tooth comb. Be sure to go from tip to root and be gentle. Your hair is weak at the boarder where the 2 textures are and you wouldn't want any breakage.Â
Bottom line: dry hair will break off! You want to moisturize your hair when you feel you need it. Water is your best friend throughout this entire journey. Experiment with different moisturizers and lotions, find what works best for you.Â
Actually, if you can get rid of heat you're better off. If you're going natural to wear your hair straigthened the entire time i just don't see the point. Heat in general can he bad when used in great amounts and at high heats. When i first went natural, i never felt comfortable with my hair so i kept my hair LAID. Then it got to a point where my straightner broke and i HAD to rock the kinks. I ended up loving it, i realized i put my hair through all of that for nothing.Â
If you decide to transition using protective styles like weaves and braids, make sure your nape and temple areas don't have too much tension. Remember: a receding hairline at 17 isn't cute.
It is important that you accept and love your hair no matter how it is. You can't compare your hair to any person's hair. Everyone's is different. It sounds cliche but it's true. Embracing your hair is key.Â