Keeping breakage under control is going to be crucial for me as I transition and try to keep my length. (I’m currently 3 months into the transition to natural hair.)
After struggling with breakage for the last few weeks, I finally seemed to get it under control. I detangled my hair after washing last week and had almost no hair in the comb. Yippeeee!!
Here’s what I did…
1) Cut off another inch of relaxed hair (to remove damaged ends)
2) Detangled with a wide-tooth comb before shampooing
3) Shampooed with Kinky Curly’s all natural and sulfate free Come Clean Shampoo
4) Deep conditioned with a jojoba hot oil treatment (used a plastic cap and sat under dryer for 15 min.)
5) Used Kinky Curly’s Knot Today Conditioner for my leave-in
6) Dried my hair by carefully patting my hair dry instead of the towel wrap method (prevents more detangling)
7) Carefully detangled by holding small sections of hair and combing from the ends up to the roots
I think trimming those dead ends and the hot oil treatment were the key steps. I was overdue for a trim and I am definitely learning the importance of keeping my hair moisturized.
I always assumed a lot of breakage would be inevitable once I got beyond a certain point in the transition. But I’m learning that if I take the time to do the right things, I can keep it under control.
Read more about preventing breakage while you transition to natural hair.
I obtained two huge bald spots on each side of my head near front hairline from a bond in weave. I like natural looking weaves, but with my hairline gone, I opted to wear a wig for a few weeks until my hair grew back. Wrong decison!! Although my edges are slowly making a comeback,n the rest of my hair is now broken & breaking. Its to the point now that I am ready to cut it all off &start over. But I will still be earing wigs until it grows enough for me to get it braided. Is there any treatments, processes or anything I can do to keep my natural hair healthy while wearing a wig? I do not feel comfortable just sporting the short brush cut I’m about to get. Any suggestions? Help!!!
Hi Niki
Massaging castor oil daily into your spots may work as long as you are done with the weave. In fact, any kind of scalp massage is good because it stimulates blood flow and can promote growth. Also, if you’re going to wear wigs make sure you use a silk wig cap instead of the nylon one. The nylon ones are rough on your edges as it moves around on your head all day.
I didn’t BC either. I hate the name itself lol!!! My hair has never been healthier and it’s growing!!! I’m officially natural. Now both of my sister because of my success as a natural want to transition-Thank God!!! I also use the ACV rinse as a final rinse. It’s good to finally see another natural not do the BC and happy with the result. Some of these sites talk as if BC is mandatory.
You’re doing great! I can remember transitioning and I couldn’t do it for very long, because I got frustrated with my hair tangling and breaking. So I opted for the Big Chop. Keep doing what you’re doing! 😉 Take care!
Thanks, Evelyn! I plan to do a video about this very issue. I think it’s the big reason people give up…. (breakage) and they are not ready to chop, so they relax again. I am so thankful to have gotten breakage under control and I know I am more confident I can make it thru the transition.