HOW TO; TRANSITION TO NATURAL HAIR

Hiya,

As I promised, I am dedicating the month of July to all the ‘au naturelle sistahs’ and those aspiring to join them. I find that it is a new trend to have natural hair i.e hair in its natural state, no chemical treatment especially a relaxer. But Like all trends, a lot of people just join the band wagon for the sake of joining without giving much thought to this commitment and many have fallen off the band wagon confused and frustrated. So I have a few steps I have put together for any one who is interested in going natural.

The first thing to consider before you decide to go natural is the TEXTURE of your hair. We are not all born with the same texture of hair. Aside the obvious diffrenece in texture due to race, there can also be a difference of texture even within families of the same blood. For instance my sister and I have very different textures. Her hair is softer and to some degree more manageable than mine and so the fact that a member of your family has gone natural and is having a great time doesn’t automatically mean your case will be the same; generally hair textures range from 2a to 4b, 4b being the tightest curl pattern. Tighter curls are generally harder to manage and are most common among Naija women however this doesn't mean you can’t go natural, it just means you will need to take more care in doing so.

The second thing to focus on is getting your hair HEALTHY. You know your hair texture, next you identify what it needs to stay healthy. Have a regimen like the one in my previous post. Do not cut off your hair thinking it is the remedy you need to grow back healthy hair, healthy hair is as a result of healthy practices on your hair. With a little patience and the right products you can watch your hair grow for about six months without a relaxer while you gradually cut off the relaxed ends.

The next big decision you have to make is whether or not to do the BIG CHOP. This involves either cutting off your relaxed ends gradually as I described earlier or just going for the kill and cutting all your hair off like ‘GORIMAPKA’ LOL. This bold move will ensure that you start afresh but it needs a lot of thought because it does not suit all head shapes.

As your hair begins its transformation, you might want to invest in some WIGS, these will ensure that you look put together when you need to be out and about. It will also help protect you own natural hair from harsh weather and manipulation. Below are two wigs I have that create two different looks for versatility. You can get your wigs from your local beauty store. Here in Naija, beauty sections in markets and stores carry wigs ranging from as low as N1000 to N20,000(for the lace front wigs)

The final tip, I have for transitioning is, go natural with your hair products. Shea Butter i.e ORI is a great everyday moisturizer for natural hair, virgin oils like olive oil and coconut oil are strongly recommended too. If you keep things simple then transitioning will not be as stressful as you think!!

Look out for more tips and tricks through the month and feel free to send in a message or ask a question and ill gladly respond.

Thanks for stopping by,

Dabs