How to transition to your natural hair. - The guide

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written by Glorious Angel for http://beautybookworm.blogspot.com

So you got a permanent chemical treatment; a perm,relaxer,texturizer...You have decided to transition back to your natural hair texture and need some tips and guidance?Or maybe you just like reading hair articles in general?Then read on.

Transition means to go from one state to another.

Let's BEGIN!

TRANSITIONING TO YOUR NATURAL HAIR TEXTURE

MONTH 1-3

The first 3 months of your transition which are the first three months after your last chemical application your new growth starts to show up...waves, crinkles,coils,curls and what not.Your regime is simply what you used to do when you was relaxed,permed,texturized and maybe with some little tweaks.Everything seems to move in well maybe just a minor difficulty when detangling, a minor puffiness or frizz around the edges.But nothing to make you worry.

MONTH 3 - 6+

Suddenly somewhere around those months your growth seems like out of control.You contemplate if it's the right decision.Things don't seem to work like before, you start researching about tips and ways to make things easier.Then breakage sets in and you remember what someone once told you..."If you stop relaxing your hair will fall out!"...a fulfilling prophecy!......No way!Chill out.Just keep on reading and see what you need to change in your regime to bring things under control.The first step is to relax because stress induces shedding and we don't want that :)

MONTH 11+

Now almost a year and if you haven't big chopped and have got enough patience to go further.. somewhere around the 7th -11th  month period you start getting hang of it and it seems easier maybe like a breeze. You see more of your natural pattern while it takes over from the chemically processed ends....then somewhere along the way when you are ready you either cut off the remaining ends or slowly trim them off.

Okay  now let's go back to the issues,what to look at  and probably a regime too.

THE DEMARCATION LINE:

The demarcation line is the point where the chemically processed hair and your natural hair texture meets.
That point is very fragile, because there is where it easily tangles and snaps,splits or breaks.The bigger the difference between those two textures makes the chemical processed part of the hair more prone to breakage! 




As i said most of the tangles you will see will begin at that point.Sometimes those tangles make you so stressed out that you actually cause mechanical damage to the hair as a result from the rough handling.Also making the hair stands weaker, prone to split and snap.Slowly slowly the tangles move down as a result from the demarcation line moving down due to the increment of the new growth.For me it seems less painful to detangle a knot far from the scalp so that's a positive thing; i believe you agree.

MATTED HAIR,SPLITS,BREAKAGE,SHEDDING

Most of these are  bound to happen as you transition at a normal rate.Though if in excess you much watch out.Try to work these issues out with patient otherwise stress will worsen the case.To know the difference between shedding and breakage  "CLICK ME".


THE  TRANSITION PLAN !

So I have a plan for you and everyone in that journey should. It's needed.

THE REGIME:

1. Deep condition weekly with a moisturizing treatment.I can't stress this enough but your hair needs moisture
to keep soft,well acting and the such.

2. Shampoo as needed.You can opt for a sulfate free or not shampoo.Or even a "no poo" (which means no shampoo regime).But i recommend you use a cleanser of some form to keep your scalp free from fungi,bacteria, odors,dirt and so forth.This also includes using a clarifying shampoo if and when needed.

3. Do protein treatments.To keep the chemical hair from breaking  you have to add in strength  and that's done by using a heavy duty protein treatment once a month.For products and how you can do that you can check out my post.How to 'repair' severly damaged hair.

4. Moisturize,seal (hopefully tell what it is on another post if you want) and co-wash often. To know is co-washing read this.

5. Every 2 weeks or so do a porosity treatment.An easy one is 2 cups of water 1Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.You apply it on your hair after conditioning, leave the solution on for 10-15 min and rinse out with cold water.

6. Trim your hair often.Like every 3 months cut 1/2 an inch or a bit less.Thus keeping your ends healthy and slowly getting rid of the processed ends.Once you are natural you can extend the trimming  to whenever your ends need it.

7. Find products and tools that work for your hair and stick to them.

8. Always  gently detangle your hair in the shower with conditioner firstly being applied on it.

9. Moisturize your new growth and demarcation line specifically  as needed to keep it soft with leave in moisturizers.

STYLES:

Get a basic hairstyle that gives you lot's of break. You will need that whenever you feel frustrated. It would give you time to regain the strength to think and move on at least for a while. Make sure they don't stress your hairline; that can cause traction alopecia. Some are braids, twists, cornrows, buns, bantu knot out, roller setting ...and many more. Try to do styles that need minimum or low amount of manipulation  and also make tucked in styles like updos, buns e.t.c your friend.

DIET:

Have a good diet  and drink water(helps keep you hydrated,flush out toxins and the list goes on and on). With fresh fruits, vegetables, meat-fish (or other sources of protein), nuts and if you feel that your diet don't give you the sufficient amount of nutrients you can visit your doctor and discuss the possibility of you needing additional supplementation.

HEAT APPLIANCES & BLEACH:

If possible stop using heat appliances or cut it down to 2 times a month maximum.It can damage your curl/wave pattern and make your hair more prone to breakage.Try to opt for indirect heat such as that from a hooded dryer and some heat-free styles.Stop bleaching also at this point it doesn't help...

And last yet VERY important tip.

Treat your natural hair texture as natural hair texture and your chemical processed hair as chemical processed hair. You can do styles that make them look alike but remember that both won't behave the same way so appreciate both of them. Also products that use to work on your chemically processed hair might work no more. Instead of pointing to them and saying "Ooh , those scraggly relaxed ends again!". It's all your hair, so treat it with delicate care.


Note: some additional info could be added like know hair type, exercise e.t.c but those up there I believe are some of the least that should be done.

Wish you a successful transition!

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