Relaxed Hair to Natural Hair Transition

Women all around the world are making the decision to go natural. Going natural with black hair is a beautiful and exciting experience. People decide to go natural for a number of reasons, the most prominent being the pursuit of healthy and beautiful hair. In Feburary2012, I went natural. There are two ways to go natural: the Big Chop (B.C.) and transitioning relaxed natural hair.

I chose the more dramatic route: the B.C. I did this by simply taking a pair of scissors and chopping all of my hair off. It was a freeing experience and watching my hair grow over the months was very exciting. I took pictures to document my natural hair journey and YouTube became my best friend as I used it on the daily to find natural hair styles. The B.C. is definitely a bold decision and not for the faint of heart, but I promise you as awkward as it may be at first to see yourself with no hair, it really gives you a new confidence, and looks very fierce.

The other option works well to, and is good for people who want to go natural without cutting their hair. With this option you simply stop using perms and allow your natural roots to grow out. There are many hairstyles for transitioning relaxed natural hair and caring for natural hair is the same regardless of which option you choose.

Black natural hair is beautiful, especially when it is well cared for. Here are a few tips natural hair tips: Wash, Moisturize, Oil. Your hair is an extension of your body, and needs as much care as any other part of you does. In the same way that you wash, moisturize and care for your skin the same should go for your hair. The first struggle I had with my natural hair was keeping it well moisturized. Well moisturized hair is the key to growing natural hair. I achieved this by washing my hair every 4 days, followed by a deep conditioning and oil treatment. Some people also take vitamins to help speed up hair growth and give you healthy hair such as Keratin, Biotin, and Fish Oil. I have also heard that taking prenatal vitamins helps, so stand by as I try that out and let you know. There are also products like hairfinity, which look promising in promoting hair growth. The only supplement I have tried and liked is Biotin. The rest I am looking into experimenting with. I absolutely love using oils like olive and tea tree to keep my hair looking radiant and my scalp well-conditioned. For a shampoo choose one that is free of harmful chemicals. I like to use Dr. Miracle’s line of products for my washing and conditioning.

I love trying out different natural hair styles. When I first started to grow my natural hair, I only wore afros, afro puffs, and braids. I loved my TWA( teeny weeny afro) when I first cut my hair, but as my hair slowly grew to longer lengths, I struggled to keep it looking cute. Luckily, there is tons of information on the web about black natural hair styles that can fit every stage of your hair growth. Just because your hair is curly now, doesn’t mean you can only wear it in an afro! I experimented with a lot of hair styles and my favorite by far is two strand twists. I wear two strand twists on the daily, and love how good my black natural hair looks. Natural hairstyles can be found everywhere if you just look and in no time you can find the hairstyle that works best for you.

I am big on homemade natural hair products, and use them regularly. You would be surprised at how simply you can care for your hair, without having to use actual shampoo or conditioner. For example, eggs are a great source of protein. I like to make a deep conditioning treatment out of olive oil, tea tree oil, and eggs mixed with a conditioner that I use once a week to give my hair shin, strength and plenty of moisture. For shampoo I use Dr. Miracles 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, and more recently I have been experimenting with Wen conditioning shampoo which I absolutely love!

Going natural is a big decision but its also a great one. Natural black hair is beautiful and you should embrace it. If you do decide to take the plunge and go natural, do it in the best way that works for you. Dive off the deep end by doing the B.C. or slip slowly into the pool by transitioning to natural hair. Either way, do it for yourself and know that there are tons of fellow naturals willing to help you along the way to achieve your goal of healthy, beautiful, natural hair.