DO…
Eliminate direct heat like flat irons, blow dryers, etc. as much as possible. Use hooded dryers on a medium setting (or lower) for as little time possible. (Read my guide on straightening transitioning hair).
I stopped using direct heat 2 months into my transition.
DO…
Embrace your texture.
It’s easy to get caught up in someone else’s head, but chances are, your hair isn’t like theirs.
Not everyone has super defined curls. Your hair may be more kinky and frizzy. Love what God gave you. Read my post about changing your hair texture here.
What’s the point of going natural if you are going to change what your hair naturally does?
DO…
Deep condition weekly with moisturizing conditioners. This will help strengthen and soften your new growth, relaxed hair and prevent breakage.
A lot of new transitioners complain about coarse and unmanageable new growth. Let me tell you that deep conditioning is key to dealing with this. After doing this consistently for 6-8 weeks (I used Organics Olive Oil Replenisher), I noticed a changed in my hair’s manageability and texture.
This is especially important if you’ve used a lot of direct heat (flat irons, blow dryers) on your hair. Even a minimal amount of heat damage can make your hair texture feel worse than it truly is.
And unless you carefully moisturize your new growth before flat ironing (and most people don’t) you probably have some heat damage. This can be misleading and it makes you think your hair is more coarse than it is. Your hair is probably just fried and starving for moisture.
DO…
Wear a lot of low-maintenance hairstyles. Rod sets, twist outs, braid outs, flat twists, buns, braids/extensions (not too tight), straw sets, etc. should become your go-to styles. See my posts on styling transitioning hair.
Here was one of my favorite styles to wear after YouTube taught me how to flat twist…
DO…
Find out if you have high or low porosity hair. If your hair is damaged and prone to frizzing (high porosity), you need to nurture your hair because it’s probably very delicate, dry and prone to breakage.
Plus, it will help explain why your hair reacts in such a way (or doesn’t respond) to moisturizing products.
DO…
Limit combing, pulling (tight ponytails) and manipulation. The above hairstyles do not require combing. The only time you should comb your hair is when you detangle on wash day.
Use sulfate-free shampoos. Sulfates strip your hair of its natural oils. Natural hair can be dry enough, you don’t need help from sulfates. The Giovanni line is my fave.
DO…
Trim your ends every 4-6 weeks. If you have split ends, they will travel up to your natural hair and cause breakage.
DO…
Give yourself a hot oil treatment at least once a month. You will be amazed at how this will strengthen your hair!
DO…
Try a transitioning kit. Man, I wish these had been around in my early days of transitioning when my hair was dry, brittle and I didn’t know what products to try.
I spent a bunch of money testing different products until I found a collection that worked for me.
Since so many people are going natural now, you can bet more and more companies will start creating products targeted toward transitioning to natural hair. It’s about time!
DO…
Read Thank God I’m Natural.
I bought this book right after I began transitioning. It was such a good read, I almost finished the entire book while on a plane.
The author squashes a lot of myths about going natural and I especially enjoyed the part where she discusses natural hair in the workplace.
A lot of women worry that going natural will prevent them from getting a job or cause discrimination in the workplace.
Chris-Tia used her own experiences to illustrate how having natural hair had no negative impact on her job. She continued to excel and even got promoted.
This is a good book if you struggle with the confidence to go natural and need inspiration.
DO…
Visit and join the Napturally Curly Transitioning and Natural Hair Forums and get support and questions answered from other transitioners and naturals.
It’s a growing, friendly community where you can come share your joys and woes about your natural hair journey.
If you don’t have the support of friends and family, this is a great place to commune with like-minded people who can relate to what you’re going through.
DO
Read my FAQ’s on transitioning. People often ask me the same questions about transitioning — from products, dryness, to hairstyling, breakage and more. So I’ve compiled all my answers on one page.
DON’T…
Make assumptions about your hair texture too early. It will likely change as you continue to transition. In my 2nd month of transitioning, my new growth felt dry, coarse and brittle.
My hair follicles were extremely damaged, so even after I stopped relaxing I was still growing scab hair. At first, I thought this was my hair’s texture, but it wasn’t. This is the very reason many people stop transitioning.
But as I continued to deep condition weekly and lay off the direct heat, my hair softened up. I started seeing curl definition and my hair began retaining moisture better.
So don’t be fooled by your new growth’s texture while you are relaxing and when you start transitioning. You may be going through the scab hair period.
The good news is, most people stop growing scab hair 3-6 months after starting their transition.
DON’T…
Listen to ignorant peers, friends and family. Why should there be anything wrong with wanting to wear your hair the way you came into this world?
Unfortunately kinky hair is often seen as the ugliest/worst kind of hair to have, but that’s only because we are comparing it to the majority, which is straight, Euro-centric hair.
If everyone had kinky hair there would be no class system of hair and comparisons. We have been brainwashed to believe straighter hair is more beautiful because that’s what society feeds us (through magazines, TV, etc.)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As long as you feel your hair is beautiful, why should anyone else’s opinion matter? Trust me, it may take some time to get to this level, but it will happen eventually.
Worried that men won’t find you as attractive, read this article on men and natural hair.
Also check out this article on how to handle naysayers of natural hair.
Are you a teen transitioning or considering it? Peep this motivational article I wrote in case you are struggling with your decision to go natural or worried about not fitting in.
DON’T…
Coat your hair with too many products. As your hair grows out, you may feel the need to “fix it” by using multiple products. Product overload can suffocate your strands, cause breakage and make your hair appear dull.
Your hair does not need to be “fixed.” Learn to embrace whatever grows out of your head.
Click here to get the above picture on a T-shirt and wear it with pride!
A light moisturizer 3-5 times a week should be enough for most people. You can seal in the moisture with a natural oil like olive, castor, coconut, jojoba, sweet almond, etc.
How often you need to moisturize will depend on your hair. Go by how it feels. When your hair is moisturized it feels soft and may even have a dull sheen/shine. If your hair starts feeling dry/rough, it’s time to re-apply.
DON’T…
Become a product junkie. This is sort of like the pot calling the kettle here. I’m a self-proclaimed product junkie. I have been for many years, even when I was relaxing.
It got worse when I started transitioning because I was obsessed with trying to achieve someone else’s hair by using the products they use. I talk about this very issue in this video.
The only products you need are a good shampoo, conditioner (leave-in and rinse out) and a few daily moisturizers (preferably natural oils.) See my favorite transitioning product page.
DON’T…
Get caught up in rules and judgments. There are a lot of naturals who have definitions of what wearing natural hair means. Some become anti weave, anti colored contacts, anti straight hair, and anything that is not “natural.”
Remember, this is your journey. Find out what being natural means to you. Don’t let other’s opinions shape your actions and beliefs about what you have to do and cannot do because you wear natural hair. Also be careful of criticizing others just because they don’t share your journey or opinions.
I think it’s great when going natural inspires people to live healthier lives. But it’s not cool when that turns into judging others for their choices and opinions.
DON’T…
Expect acceptance from everyone. Let’s just keep it real for a minute. A lot of people don’t like and will never like natural hair. Period. End of story. There’s nothing you can do to make everyone approve of your choice.
But your real friends and people who genuinely love and support you will respect your decision, even if they don’t embrace your choice of hairstyle.
Naysayers of natural hair are everywhere, but at some point you have to live life for yourself and not for other people’s acceptance.
I can tell you now. Going natural is not for people who are too concerned with other people’s opinions. You will quickly discover how confident you have to be to take this journey.
DON’T…
Become obsessed with the natural hair chart that classifies hair (4A, 4B, etc.) It can be incredibly misleading and it is flawed as I explain here.
Learn what YOUR hair likes and be careful with comparing potential product results based on someone else’s hair type.
Thanks for putting this up I really enjoyed reading this especially the part which states that going natural doesn’t mean no to everything. I’ve always had natural hair, I did have one or two relaxers when I was 7 but that’s about it. Every time I see a natural hair blog it seems that if u don’t go natural you’re wrong. Though my hair is natural sometimes I feel like having a new cut without actually cutting my hair or waiting for it to grow etc. So I wear wigs and extensions occasionally. But every time I hear someone talking about natural hair I feel bad that I’m not natural 24/7 with my extensions on. Also I do straighten my hair (but only twice a month) to achieve the early 70s style that I like and I feel that because it’s a straight style it’s wrong. But it’s good to hear someone say the same thing I believe is that it isn’t about the style of hair but the health of it. I’m obsessed with healthy hair and skin an it’s good to see others who believe in just that too, not judging based on haircuts, but heath.
Hello
I just stumbled across your page. I am not transitioning but I am trying to stretch my relaxer so I won’t over process my already relaxed hair and I want to reduce the amount of heat that I use.
I just wanted to know if you have any advice for me?
Also when I shampoo my hair or co-wash my hair I have a bit of a problem detangling, if I detangle in the shower then apply my leave in conditioner and try to make sure my hair is still detangled(either finger combing or wide tooth comb) I notice more hair coming out and even when I finger comb along my air dry process and when it is dry still hair comes out. So my question is…lol. What do you suggest I use to strengthen that demarcation point or the best way to detangle?
I feel like my hair strands are thin, I guess i need a protein treatment?
As of now I use Coconut oil, Olive oil moisturizing lotion(to moisturizer and seal), Argan oil, Cantu Shea Butter(leave-in conditioner), Cantu Shea Butter Shampoo and V05 as my co-wash, and Hair One cleanser.
Thank You in advance and love your website.
Hi Krissy
Do you wash your hair in sections? That helped tremendously when I was transitioning! You have to keep them in sections the whole time. I would just take each one down individually, shampoo, condish and then gently finger comb after the conditioner is applied. Helps so much with detangling. A protein treatment may help too. Just don’t use those anymore than 4-6 weeks apart.
Hi Lisa,
I’m newly natural and have been transitioning from a short relaxed style using heat everyday. I’ve mostly had thick, healthy and resilient hair but in the last month my hair had gotten very, very dry and brittle (“scab hair”). To keep a nice, healthy look for the workplace I decided to get kinky twists last week. The night before I got them I took your advice and did a deep conditioner treatment with the Organics Replenishing Conditioner and it felt great! I LOVE my new twists but now a week later my dry, itchy scalp is back. I’m afraid to put oil or products on my scalp to remedy this without messing up my twists. Do you have any suggestions on how I can care for my scalp while maintaining my new style?
I had this problem and learned it was product build up. I wasn’t getting my scalp clean enough when I shampooed. So I started using Come Clean by Kinky Curly and really, really working that in my scalp. It’s a clarifying shampoo so it really does a great job of getting all that residue out. I try not to put oil on my scalp. It clogs the pores and can create more build up.
HI Lisa
My I am 19 and in my 7 month of transitioning My hair touches my back I went and spoke to a hair stylist about getting a sew in for the winter because I don’t want to add heat to my hair anymore however I was told my ends are extremely weak because of where my natural and relaxed hair meet should I not get a sew in….also I plan on investing in carols daughter hair products have you used this before…I’ve been using mizani and different conditioning cocktails I’ve created since I started transitioning I love how it makes my hair feel but I’m curious to see how carols daughter products will affect my hair
I haven’t used many of her products. I wasn’t a fan of the shampoo. The only product I used for any length of time was her black vanilla leave-in.
Hello, im 14 and my hair has been relaxed since I was about 8 and I’m just now starting to go natural. My hair is very fine but its in good shape and used to look so pretty and i want it back which is why i decided to go natural. I’m just starting and i really want to get kinky twist. I want the long straight ones but im scared my hair might not do good with it because its so fine. What do you think? And do you have any other suggestions?
Hi , I have been transitioning for 5mo and I have a loose curl/wave pattern mostly in the middle of my head and in the back . I plan on bc’ing soon because i’m ready for a change I also want to discover my natural hair , and I love to try new things I’m 16 and kind of scared though , nervous actually , because most teens in my area have relaxed hair . My best friend has relaxed hair , and when I told her I was going natural she aint have nothing to say . I wish I had her support but oh well . I was just wondering if this 5mo of new growth is my natural hair texture or is it scab hair ? The edges dry up and feel brittle , but when wet all of it curls up . The middle and back dries curly/wavy whereas the edges dry brittle . So does this mean that my edges are scab hair ? Or does everything need to grow out a little more before I can tell ? Also how can I get my edges to hold moisture ?
Hi Essence
I wish you all the best. It’s hard to really know for sure. You will find that different parts of your hair behaves differently. But if part of your hair feels drier then it could be scab hair. There’s really no way I would be able to know so I’d hate to misguide you. But I can tell you that the back of my hair used to be very, very dry and it changed after about 4 months of transitioning. Now that I’m all natural it’s my softest, curliest hair. So your hair WILL change when you’re all natural. How much really depends on the person.
I have one question that I forgot to ask before I get started. I work out alot and i would need to wash my more often. How would you suggest I maintain moisture during this process and still live and active life.
I LOVE THIS THREAD! I started relaxing my hair 2 years ago..I used to have a long soft afro hair but i made the biggest mistake of relaxing it because i didn’t know how to manage it. anyways…can’t cry over spilt milk. Im transitioning back to my natural hair. I haven’t relaxed it for abour 4 or 5 months and I have growth. I have been twisting it and applying VITAMIN E oil every night before I go to bed then wrapping it. And applying it on the scalp again in the morning. My hair is growing so beautifully and the growth just looks amazing and gorgeous and healthy…ahhh <3 But now i have 2 different hair textures and I dont know where or whether to trim it or not. Im scared of cutting it 🙁 ALSO, i heard MOROCCAN OIL is soo good..it's on ebay and I heard its great for hair growth and many other things. Is this true? ALL I KNOW IS VITAMIN E HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR MY HAIR! AND THANKS FOR THIS THREAD ITS GREAT!
I’ve heard moroccan oil is good too. In fact, a friend gave me some and I keep forgetting to use it! lol That’s great you’re transitioning back to natural. Thanks for the vitamin E tip.
Hello , Im 12 And Im Into Weaves And Stuff But My Mom Is Saying She Should Of Never Got Me Started On Weaves Because I’ve Got To The Point Where I Feel Naked With Out Them . 3 Months Ago I Found Out I Have Alopecia And Now Im Wearing Fake Pony Tails And Trying To Go Natural But Im Too Ashame , Because Nowdays Your Used To Seeing Girls Walking Around With A Full Head Of Hair Well I Used To But My Hair Fell Out . Im Gonna Try Hair Growth Pills Because Im Getting Alot Of Postive Comments On It , Im Also Trying To Talk My Mom Into Letting Me Get Kinky Twist It Actually Grew My Hair Thick ! BUT PLEASE I NEED ADVICE !! Because Now Days If You Dont Have Long Nice Hair Your Ugly …
THANKS PLEASE REPLY ON HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay…first off hun, don’t give in to peer pressure. Society will always have negative things to say about anything. Do what’s good for you…and I’m talking from experience. I used to relax my hair coz i wanted it straight coz that’s what other people found attractive..I’d layer my face with makeup just to become what other people wanted to see. It’s peer pressure, hun. What other people think doesn’t matter…I realized this and now i’m transitioning back to my afro hair because that is the real me. I am me and you are you and that’s what makes us beautiful; our differences. You’re gorgeous hun, and you know it.
About hair growth. Try twisting it and applying Vitamin E oil every night on your scalp before going to bed and in the morning everyday. and on weekends deep condition it and keep on repeating this. You could also use Moroccan oil …I heard it’s really good..but I’ve only experienced Vitamin E. Im twisting my hair and I just leave it..it’s growing amazingly and it looks healthy and bouncy. Try some natural styles…i bet you’ll look fab 😉 Also, diet is very important..make sure to drink lots of water and maybe a glass of milk every morning. Diet is key. Try to eat lots of fruits and veggies and nuts such as almonds, pecans etc. Taking care of yourself both on the inside and on the outside is key in achieving healthy hair.
Good luck! I know you can do it. I didn’t think I could but I did! and if you start to give up just know that someone out there (me) is supporting you! i know you can do this 🙂
Hi Whitney,
I’ve been where you are. When you’re 12, nothing matters more than people’s opinions and being accepted by your peers. It’s easy for me as an adult to say just stop caring about what people think, but that’s easier said than done for a lot of people.
The problem with kinky twists is they pull your hair. And you already have alopecia so they could make the problem worse. Nyasha gave good advice with the Vitamin E as well. Rubbing castor oil on your trouble spots is also good. I use that on my thin eyebrows and it has really thickened them up. I’ve heard it does the same for hair.
Hang in there, lady. I’m sure you are beautiful no matter what style you wear and I promise you 10 years from now you’ll look back and wonder why you cared so much about other’s opinions. But I totally understand where you’re coming from because at that age, everyone wants to fit in and be accepted. It sucks to be teased!
But I would definitely stay away from the kinky twists since you have the alopecia issue. Keep your head up lady!
THANK YOU !!!!!
Ok this is It! I’ve said it over and over again but now I’m going for it. I’m one month in, I know that’s not long but it seems like and eternity when you have been addicted to that creamy crack we call a perm. I have wore my hair short on top and tapered in the back for a long time and now i’ll just be cutting perm off as it grows out. I can’t do the weave thing! I have read many of the previous post and they are very encouraging. I know a few people that are natural and their hair is beautiful all different textures but all beautiful. I know the journey has to start somewhere so here I go=)
Hi! my last relaxer was 3 months ago, I was inspired to go natural after watching videos on Youtube. Thanks for answering questions and I hope you join me on my journey. I’m spiceymama19 on Youtube.
Please Tell Me What To Do. My Grandma Wants To Put A Perm In My Hair Because She Sees An Inch Long Of New Growth. I Don’t Want A Perm In my Hair Anymore. She Says Once You Get A Perm, You Can’t Stop. She Also Said That The New Growth Will Snap Off From My Scalp If I Don’t Get A Perm. She’s Not A Cosmetologist. Is What She Said True ?
Your new growth will begin to snap off at the demarcation line (where your relaxed and natural hair meet) but this is a gradual thing and happened to me as I transitioned. It wasn’t anything dramatic and I was able to grow my perm out without the breakage becoming a huge issue. But I’ve never heard of it snapping off at the scalp. If that happens, that’s from something else.
I would have her watch a few YouTube videos of transitioners who were able to successfully grow out their relaxers [raises hand] lol without having to cut off their hair. It is possible.
Hi! So I’m 16 years old and I am starting my transition. I haven’t had a perm since late August and these Do’s and Don’ts are really helpful to me. I am not scared of what people have to say about me because frankly, I don’t care. But, I was just wondering if you all had any tips and tricks for me.
Hi Felicia,
That’s great! Find styles that are long-lasting and require little maintenance. Rod sets were my go-to style and if you want to jazz them up, use headbands and clips to make it look more stylish. Also learning to flat twist by watching YouTube really helped me add some diversity to my styles. Good luck and enjoy the journey.
Thanks for the suggestions. I’ve been learning to twist my hair and it is helping out a lot. I just have one more question about breakage. I’ve been loosing alot of hair and I plan to get a trim tomorrow but I’ve been searching for a good conditioner that will help slow and maybe stop breakage. Do you specifically have any in mind that I should check out?
I just started my transition about four months ago an I need help with styles
Lisa,
Hi.I’ve been transitioning for about 4 months now.I’m a hairstylist, but have never really worn natural hair. I’m just getting back into the bus. I saw you on youtube. Great vids. I’ll be visiting your site alot. Thanks for the inspiration!
Lisa my last relaxer was about 3 or 4 weeks ago!I need some advice about how to start transitioning.Also could you tell me some homemade deep conditioners?
I wanted to know why is my transition hair so dry I have to admit I haven’t been trimming my ends like I should. I don’t know why my scalp is dry we move so much and each time my hair takes a beating. And my scalp does to I’m not giving up but I just stand in the mirror and look at it. It just look back at me WHAT TO DO I can’t always afford to get braids for me and my daughter. So, when I have the money I get my daughter hair done more than myself. I have to do something myself but I’m not the one that plays in my hair a lot. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Because I do know everyone hair isn’t the same I think I have the kinky hair. My daughter has soft hair and she has to go nautural because a permed messed up her scalp and it started bleeding. This is when I had to talk to her and let her know that she want be able to get a perm. It was her first one in a salon.
Hi, I’m K and I’m 16. I want to go natural too, but it’s a really hard decision to make. I was adopted, so my family is white and I go to a mostly white church. I know this is stupid but…I’m afraid of what the guys will think of me. Also, my friends never compliment my hair unless I spent 3 hours in front of the mirror ironing the life out of it. None of the guys will like natural hair, I just want to be liked and I want to be just as pretty as my white friends, and I can’t with this hair. I’ve been trying to stay away from heat but I just can’t help it cause my hair is so thick and frizzy I just don’t know what to do. I’ve burned and badly damaged my hair to relaxers, but I just don’t know what else to do. My hair has been the same length forever..it’s not even touching my shoulders. I just want long pretty hair like everyone else, help me. I don’t know how to do anything to my hair and my white family can’t help me. I can’t afford to get it done by a professional. I’m about ready to shave it all off and stop going out completely. I don’t even know what my natural hair looks like, I don’t relax it anymore but curls don’t stay and I don’t know how to define it if I even have curly hair. I think I just have natural ugly frizz.
First of all, I can tell you that (as a white woman, who happened upon this site through a Google search I did) natural hair is NOT ugly! It’s funny that when people are young, they don’t want to look different, but when they are older they try to look different from the crowd. Maybe you are too young to realize it now, but someday you will appreciate that your hair is unique. Ironically, so many white women cut layers into their hair, get perms, use volumizing products, etc. to try to add body to it and yet you don’t like your frizz and body. Remember, people always think the grass is greener on the other side…. but that doesn’t mean it is!
Hi!
I have long relaxed hair (touching bra strap on my back) And it’s pretty healthy but i still want to go natural. I’ve been wanting to go natural for about 2years but cannot go through with it. I’m afraid my natural hair texture won’t be manageable or i wont like the texture. I also don’t like braids, wigs,weaves, or twists and refuse to do the big chop. I feel like Im stuck with a relaxer because I’m not comfortable with any transition styles. Do you have any other suggestions for transitions?
I Haven’t had a perm in a year and 2 months and last sunday i got my hair hot combed and cut because i had spit ends so is it possible for me to color my hair now or do i need to wait.
I have absolutely no experience with color, but I would wait at least a week or two since you just exposed your hair to all that heat. Also make sure you deep condition your hair well before you apply it.
Hello!
So I’ve just recently discovered your website and I love it! The stories here inspire me and I like to come look at them whenever I have thought about picking up that container of perm lol. But I was wondering if you could address 2 or 3 issues that I have with my hair right now.
1. My hair feels really nice now. I am about 5 to 6 months into my transition and I already love my natural hair. But sometimes I feel my transition is waaay too easy. I hear about all these difficulties that everyone has with their transition and i wonder why i do not have the same issues. Is my hair tricking me and really is not healthy? I mean i condition my hair regularly. For the last couple of months I have had my hair in kinky twists and it has been growing really well. I feel like something will come back to bite me later.
2. Secondly I will say something that sort of contradicts what I said earlier. I do seem to be having an easy transition, yet I see my friends having easier ones, or that they just dont follow the rules. For and example my roommate Is about four months in transition and she weekly puts heat in her hair (both blow dryer and flat iron) and she uses products that contain sulfur. If i did any of this Im pretty sure all of my hair would be damaged and fall out. Why is her hair still in contact and not breaking off? I mean all the advice and rules of transitioning are there for a reason yes?
Hi Gabby,
I think it just goes to show that everyone’s hair is different and takes differently to different methods and routines. I never in my life realized how almost every head of hair is different until I began watching so many YouTube videos. That’s why I’m always telling people they have to find what works for THEM. Just like the advice on not using mineral oil and products that have “cones” in them because they dry out your hair. My hair seems to do just fine with mineral oil and cones.
But for the most part, using less heat is a tip everyone should listen to. Even though your friend may be using heat and her hair is not breaking, she could be drying out her natural hair and altering the texture.
I hope your transition continues to go well. 🙂
Is there a way to determine what your natural hair texture is before you go natural?
Not completely but there are clues. For example, if your hair is difficult to relax or does not remain straight for long, it could mean that your hair pattern is very curly/coily/kinky. If your hair relaxes easily, you may have a looser curl pattern. But to really know the shape of your curls/kinks and texture you have to transition to see it for what it is.
Hello, I always had a good head of hair. From 2002 to the summer of 2009 I always had twists and braids in my hair and my twists, for example could last for up to a month(4 weeks). But one day in July 2009, I went to the barber and I told him to cut my afro alittle but he basically cut my afro off meaning my hair was way too short because I was planning on still getting braids and twists. When I started to grow my hair out from there I started having problems with my hair because the twists I usually get don’t last like they use to, for example, my twist would look good for a few days, by the 4th or 5th day it looks like its over 3 weeks old with alot of frizzes and curls. From a hair stylist of mine, she told me that my hair texture could have drastically changed when I made the fatal mistake letting the barber cut my hair too short and now my hair is just too soft and curly to hold braids and twists like it use to. And I think its a big waste of money to get twists that can cost up to $50.00 but only last 4 days to a week. What do you think I can possibly do to change my hair texture.
Hi Kenneth
I honestly have never heard of your hair texture changing from getting it cut. The only time I’ve seen this happen is if someone has lost their hair after having chemotherapy and it grows back with a different texture. But I have never heard of being able to alter your natural texture unless you do it temporarily with twists or braids.
how can i change my texture? or what products can i use for my hair to keep twists that can last for 4 weeks instead of 4 days?
You cannot change your texture permanently, but you can use products like gel and Kinky Curly to enhance your curls.
Hey I saw your video and I enjoyed it my hair is very long thick and dry so ill use thoese you were talking about in the video can’t wait to see how my hair turns out
Thank you for your wonderful blog. I am a white woman with fine hair only slightly curly, more like frizzy. I’ve been getting perms once a year (every six months) just to make the curl more uniform. I feel that I am actually allowing (and aiding) my hair to be as natural as I can allow it. I used to straighten with hair dryers, try and make smooth curls with curlers, curling irons, round brushes, etc. I know not everyone is crazy about my going more natural, but I’ve actually gotten lots of compliments. I also don’t dye anymore, so I have different colors mixed with gray. Anyway, theproblem is that whenever I get another perm, my hairdresser says I need to cut it off so it never grows more than just below my ears. I want to pull it back and I can’t because it’s too short. What should I do?
Did you ask her why you need to cut? Are you ends breaking off? If so, she could be right. You might want to cut it so your hair is healthier. If your ends are breaking it’s just going to keep thinning out at the ends.
Hi I have been natural for about 7 months now and i have been wearing kinky twist for about 5 of those months. My temple/side area has always been thin even when i was using a relaxer. Now that i have been using kinky twist it has grown but not i havent noticed it growing for the last two months. Is there anything you could recommend that is best to use to help it grow
Daily scalp massages and castor oil are both great ways of stimulating growth to areas that are thin. Now, you mentioned that your sides have always been thin. There may not be anything to fix what’s natural for you, but these techniques may help get you back to your normal thickness if you haven’t already.
thank you i jus brought Jamaican Black Castor Oil a couple of days ago. so i will try it and see if it helps to grow my sides.. But when i was younger my mom would put my ponytails too tight and that made my sides break off. Do you think that might be a reason for why my sides are thin?
Hello, I’ve been trying to transition from a relaxer for 8 months now, I’ve only applied heat once but I’ve noticed that my edges are still straight but I am starting to see a lot of new growth and curl pattern every where else. Is it normal for you edges to grow out slower?
Hi Lisa, I went natural for 1 year, but then I put a relaxer in my hair once. I was tired of how dry my hair felt. I kept braids in my head the entire year of growing it natural. Everytime I took the braids out, my hair was so dry and brittle. Although I permed my hair that one time, is it still possible for me to wear my hair natural. My hair still is not bone straight. Its not as kinky as it use to be, but its still kind of kinky. Is there still hope? 🙁
Hi Lisa, I just want to say i saw some of ur youtube videos & found u to be VERY INSPIRING. Now that i found this page i am even more excited to go natural. My last perm was May 7,2011 & i have had braids in since. I plan to take these out this month or September (im really trying to hold onto them). But, they are doing so much harm to my edges. I went out a purchase the shea moisture transitioning kit. Have you ever use that & if so what is ur take on it? I was so confuse on shampooing but you have clear that up when i read down this page. I am going to go out and purchase some of the Giovanni products. Thanks again & you look great!!!!
Hey Lisa!
I am super excited that I FINALLY decided to go natural. For years I would go as long as 6 -7 months w/o a relaxer touch up and towards the end just chicken out and think I really don’t want to have to go through the bc. My hair is thick and healthy now, pass my shoulders, but I absolutely HATE relaxers i can’t remember the last time I had a touch up and not been burned. Like I heard someone say it really is creamy crack, its just soooo hard to stop once you get going. But now that I’ve seen women like who haven’t done the bc, I’m convinced its a wrap for relaxers and me. This website and others like it are amazing and I’m so proud of everyone who is deciding to embrace their natural selves. I do have a question, do you think consistently doing bantu knot outs could damage my hair because even though there isn’t any heat required I think it may be too much manipulation.
Thanks again and keep up the amazing work !!! 😀
I’ve never heard of Bantu knots causing stress on the hair. I guess as long as you don’t make them too tight and you give your hair a break once and awhile then you’re fine. Thanks for visiting!
What is the best products to use when growing your natural hair or help with hair growth? like oils or grease. I have been using the jamaican mango and lime transition natural kit, and also is it best to keep the hair braided and sewed in? Right now I have not had a relaxer in 6-8months, I have kept it in braids and right now a sew in. Should I get it treated and trimmed each time I take the braids out. I have my braids out right now and will be going back to a sew in.
I don’t like using a lot grease. Most of them are made with mineral oil and that actually clogs your pores, leaves build up and prohibits growth. If I do oil my scalp I’ll use olive or some kind of natural oil a few times per week. Hair growth is about keeping your scalp clean, exercise, nutrition and using minimal products.
Hi, i have just started transitioning recently. I had my last relaxer at the end of march. The One thing i can say is, its quite opposite. With my relaxer i was not having much damage or thinning as i am now. My hair is past my shoulders and i went to my hair stylist today. She did a good trim and told me that there was a lot of breakage i lost 3 inches in the back and i can really tell my hair has thinned out since a few months ago.
I am not sure what i am doing wrong, i may have waited too long to get a trim, but i have been co washing every week with deep conditioning’s every other week and i do hot oil treatments once a month. As far as styling i only do buns because my scalp is very tender im in the army so im use to doing buns all the time. I can say that im not combing my hair a lot because i am afraid of pulling my hair out even more. I moisturize my hair everyday sometimes twice a day. Should my hair continue to thin out to a pitiful level i don’t think it will even matter anymore. What should i do to minimize the breakage?
Have you tried giving your hair a deep, deep deep condition? I mean one where you part it in small sections and apply it to every strand. Sit under the dryer with a plastic cap for 20-30 minutes and then another 30 out of the dryer? If it’s only your relaxed hair breaking then that’s to be expected, but just make sure it’s not coming out from the roots. Your hair is past your shoulders — which is quite long. In other words you’ve had those ends for awhile so I’m not surprised they are breaking 5 months into the transition. Try deep conditioning to see if you can minimize it. If that doesn’t work you may have to keep trimming until you are at a manageable length. Hang in there!
Hey Lisa,
I am trasitioning and my problem more so at this time is not my hair because I am wearing braids.however, I plan to wear my hear out so as to Learn it when I get some more new growth. I have been trasitioning for 2 months now. My problem is how people react when they hear you say u r going natural one lady said that she does not want to see no more tough head. I keep myself encouraged by reminding myself why I am going natural most of these people that hate natural hear don’t understand. I have chemically induced ezema and it breaks out my hair middle aftereach perm. My husband this it’s great that I want to go natural and I know this is what God wants me to do hence i am fine. How did u deal with negativity towards your natural hair? I am sold I love kinks and the coil and the coils can’t wait for my hair get to 6 inches to BC because I believe my hair grows better without the relaxed hair. I know this because I cut off all my perms before and it grew so rapidly . Thank you guys for the hard work you put into sharing experience and assisting others
Hi Shell
Fortunately I haven’t had much negativity, BUT when people say that simply reply “Well, that’s your opinion but this is really what’s best for the health of my hair.” What’s funny is that I hear your story from a lot of people, but after a year or so and the person’s hair begins to grow and thrive in the natural state, those same people end up liking and even converting to natural hair! I love it!
Unfortunately you can’t do much about ignorant people and yes many people are not going to like it (It’s just how it is), but you can confidently reply how this is YOUR journey and no one else’s. Not everyone is going to understand, but what matters is you are doing what’s best for you! Many of those naysayers end up converting after they see natural hair thriving. Just wait. Stay strong. 🙂
I transitioned for like 11 months & when I went to visit my mom I took out my seneglese twists and she kind of convinced me to perm my hair. Now I’m so mad because I decided I really don’t like the effects of relaxers on my scalp. & the relaxer didn’t even take all the way. The front & back did but the middle was still natural for the most part. So I’m starting all over. The relaxer was in March so its been 3 months since my last relaxer. Besides braiding my hair I really don’t know what else to do with it that will actually look good on me. I wanna dye my hair & get a Brazilian blowout but I am not sure the effects it will have on my transitioning process. My hair is really thick & unmanageable, i don’t even like doing my own hair anymore. Its way too nappy. Any advice?
Hi Kat
Have you tried doing any rod sets? I would stay away from those Brazilian blowouts. They can damage your curl pattern and your hair could lose its curl pattern (heat damage).
Hey Ms. Lisa. Im 19 years old and I have been transitioning since November 2010. I knew this wouldnt be easy and I was extremely excited about my natural process up until last night. My biggest problem has always been managing my transition hair, but Im truly at my wits end. I have alot of thick dry new growth and it seems like I have different textures of hair. My edges are thick and wiry but the crown has softer more defined waves. Im dangerously close to having my mom put an Olive Oil Relaxer in it. Im going into the Navy and I dont have much time or know how to manage my hair so Im thinking about waiting until Im a little older to go natural. I love the whole natural hair world but I just cant manage it. HELP
Don’t give up, Tori. I can totally relate. In fact, most people have more than one texture. I am the opposite of you. The back of my hair is more wavy/defined while the crown, top and edges are more wiry. Have you thought about getting extensions while you’re in the Navy? That way you don’t have to manipulate your hair much. You are probably going to be very busy and not have time to constantly maintain your hair and transitioning can be work. So in order to keep you motivated, why not just wear extensions/braids for awhile. Your hair will be protected and you will get some growth.
So when you’re ready to deal with your hair again, you’ll have a nice head of natural hair to play with. It will be longer and you’ll be able to do more with it. Don’t throw away the 7 months of transitioning. I just think you need a break. 🙂
I am 19, I just finished my first year in college. It’s been 4 weeks since I’ve had my last perm and I realized that the only reason I even got them was because my mom started me on them when i was younger. I have decided to go natural and I am really gonna try to stick it out. I have about 1/2 – 1″ of new growth already. I started the co-washing this week and my hair is soft. I really just have a problem with the styling and there is a little breakage, but it’s not dramatic. I wanted to use flexi rods but I don’t know where to find them. i also have to wear a hat almost everyday bc of my place of employment. any ideas?
im 14, and jst started transitioning ive been transitioning for now about a month, and i dnt no what to do,,how often should i moisurize mi hair..! its kinda hard for me to ignore ppl and there comments cuz im thinking about doing the BIG CHOP but im afraid im going to look ugly, but im standing strong, my whole house hold is going natural. but i dont no how often i should moisturize my hair
Hi Lisa,
Your profile has encouraged me even more to go Natural, I am due for a touch up and decided against getting a relaxer. So far I have Tried Carol’s Daughter Products and my relaxed hair feels great but my new growth eventually feels dry and hard. I have about an inch to two inches of new growth and the other 5inches is relaxed hair. Anyway how do you know if your new growth is scab hair? and what is scab hair? I dont want to discontinue using the current products if its eventually going to work. Im bout ready to purchase some of the products you mentioned which by the way seem alot less expensive than Carol’s Daughters. Please advise on this beginners transition.
Hi Danielle
Good for you! Hang in there with the new growth. I had the same problem when I first started transitioning. Don’t let the feel of your new growth discourage you. The first 3-4 months of my transition, it felt hard and was even brittle. But if you stop using direct heat (wear rod sets, twist outs, buns, pin ups, etc.) and begin deep conditioning your hair every week, it will change.
By the end of my 4th month I noticed that my natural hair started to feel softer and less dry/hard. I think I definitely had scab hair. The back of my hair used to feel like straw and would not absorb any moisture. It felt like I could start a fire with it. I’m not kidding! lol Not absorbing moisture is one sign it could be scab hair.
Almost a year later that same hair is soft, the curls are even looser than I thought my natural texture was. It’s amazing what laying off heat, chemicals and regular deep conditioning will do. You won’t really know if it’s scab hair until your follicles stop making the scab hair. That could take 3-6 months. So you’ll have to wait to see if your texture changes.
So many naturals told me that my hair texture would change and not to make assumptions about your texture based on those early months. That is soooooooooo true! Good luck!
Hi Tarsha,
Nope, never did. I still have 2-3 inches of relaxer left in my crown/sides but the rest has transitioned. So will never have to do a BC. I am slowly trimming the relaxer away every month. I want to show everyone you don’t have to do a BC. My hair used to be past my shoulders when it was relaxed but I cut in a bob before my transition to get rid of a lot of my unhealthy ends, and I have been keeping that length during the transition. It’s worked well.
Thanks for the encouragement Lisa.
What kind of products worked best for you during that transition period?
Favorite deep conditioner: Organics Olive Oil Root Stimulator
Favorite Shampoo and Rinse Out: All Giovanni Products & Oyin Honey Hemp
Favorite Moisturizer: Castor Oil (a little goes a long way)
These are my staples. When I first started transitioning I went product crazy and discovered you really don’t need a lot once you find what works for you.
My issue is somewhat like Mylatesha’s. I have wore braids for about 6 months last year. I took them out, my hair was thin my edges were thin also. Then I had a stressful season and I think that contributed to my hair thinning as well. So, now I am at the point of get this perm out of my hair!!! So, Lisa I have seen alot of your videos on Youtube. It doesn’t look like you ever did the BC or did you?
Oh OK, have you ever heard of Nugro? http://www.nugrohairproducts.com/splash.asp I used them for awhile after my damage and it seemed to work but someone later told me that the product is not what grew my hair back, it was the lack of chemicals.
Nevertheless there are stories on the internet of mothers who used this on their kids hair to help it grow back and it worked. You may want to give it a go. You have to use it consistently for 3-4 weeks at least to see results according to their site.
Check the site to see if they sell it any locations near your home. Also scalp massages can also help stimulate growth. So lightly massaging your temples 15-20 minutes per day can help too. I do wish you the best.
Hi Mylatesha
You don’t need to do anything to grow your edges back but let them heal. I had the same issue with relaxers and once I stopped getting them, my edges grew back over time. Let your hair heal and lay off the braids for a few months (or get them done looser).
To combat dryness deep condition your hair every week. I use Organics Olive Oil Root Stimulator (buy at any beauty supply). Also before washing, massage your scalp with olive oil to keep from losing so much moisture during the shampooing process. Buy “sulfate free” shampoos that don’t strip the hair of natural oil (I use Giovanni and you can buy it at Walmart for $3 less than at Whole Foods)
I bet that if you do this routine for 6 months (with no braids) you will see a tremendous difference in your hair and edges. Do wet rod sets because they last long and you can add a cute headband to young it up (if you’re concerned about it making you look old).
It’s really important that you stop stressing out your edges. I don’t know how old you are or how long you’ve been wearing braids but if you keep stressing your edges you could develop alopecia and the hair will never grow back. I’m sure you’ve seen this infamous Naomi Campbell photo http://hellobeautiful.com/celeb-photos/hellobeautifulstaff4/photos-naomi-campbell-is-going-bald/ This is from too much stress on the hair for too long. But fortunately for most it will grow back with time.
My hair is thick again after 13 months of no chemicals and the key has been deep conditioning, no heat (except hooded dryers), no chemicals and lots of protective styles (rod sets, looser flat twists, etc.)
Good luck!
I havent had braids since April or May of 2008 thats how long my edges been thin and its taking a little too long for them to grow I used sulfer 8 african best super grow and nothing has work I’m 24 years old and I dont wear braids that offen but I had my sister braid my hair back in 08 when I was pregnant and when I took them down my hair was destroyed
Hey Ms. Lisa I have thin damage hair thats breaking off badly with alot of split ends and thinning edges from braids and i want to go natural i haven’t had a relaxer since dec 24, 2010 and i dont plan on getting another one I wanted to know if you can give me advice on how to get thicker longer healthy hair and what can I use to make my edges grow back strong and healthy i also have a big issue with dryness and need alot of moisture
I transitioned like for like 8 months and then went and made the dumb mistaken of getting a perm. Now i want to go natural again but I want to do it the right way this time. Its been months and it seems like its shorter than before and it looks dry. My aunt told me try mixed chicks but that has sulfate so idk what to do or what to use?!
@Kristen I love the Giovanni line – all the different shampoos. It’s sulfate free and it softens my hair so much. Try that. I had the dryness problem when I started transitioning too. Just eliminate blow dryers and flat irons (do rod sets, twist outs, bantu knot outs, buns, etc.) and that will get your hair’s moisture back on track.
Sophia, please don’t give up. I had the SAME problem. I got kinky twists at the start of my transition and when I took them out my hair was hard, brittle and dry. Start by deep conditioning your hair. I used Organics Olive Oil Root Stimulator (buy it at any beauty supply). Do this every week for a couple of months. After washing, apply the deep conditioner, sit under the dryer for 30 minutes with a plastic cap.
You are going to need to nurture your hair by staying away from heat, use deep conditioning and wearing protective styles. After a few deep conditioning treatments your hair will soften up. Try doing a rod set with tiny rods. That’s a great protective style that will last. I have a video on that here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjR7H_kNM_E
If you don’t like rod sets, you can always jazz them up with a headband or use a goody band to turn the curls into a curly poof/high ponytail.
Hang in there, girl. Don’t give up. You can do it!
Hi Lisa, it’s been 3 months since I’ve had a perm and I have decided to go natural. I saw that you said get a sulfate-free shampoo, a deep and leave-in conditioner and have a moisturizer or sealant. I think I am going to try kinky curly as my shampoo and conditioner but I also have some of the Organic Olive Oil Replenisher and it has worked so well on my hair. So I want to know how would I use all 3 together. Wash all 3 on the same day by shampooing, Olive oil replenisher, and then kinky curly leave in conditioner? Would using all 3 damage my hair? What product would you suggest for a natural daily sealant/moisturizer? Thank you in advance for your response!!!
Hi Lynika
So you would shampoo with Kinky Curly’s come clean. Sometimes I put in a little Knot Today to make sure my hair is not too tangled. Then I get out the shower and apply the Organics Olive Oil Replenish to deep condish. Then I rinse that out and apply my leave in. I have not experienced any damage because you are rinsing everything out except whatever you use for your leave in. For a moisture/sealant I use an essential oils mix of castor, olive, jojoba, and vitamin E. In fact, I just did a video talking about a lot of this today.
https://napturallycurly.com/2011/11/natural-hair-products/
I decided to transition after I got kinky twists in my hair, I havent had a relaxer since last july so i’ve been transitioning for about 7months now. My hair is soooo dry and THICK it hurts to manage it, I’ve tried preping w/ oilive oil b4 co-washing but it still comes out dry and brittle and hard to manage! I’m very close to giving up on it, I have abt 4in of new growth. please help!!
I came across your video on youtube because my 13 year old daughter wants to go natural. She did it for 7 months and then when school started in August, she opted for a relaxer due to peer pressure. Now she states that she hates what a relaxer does to her hair and she felt better when she went natural. She has very thick hair and even after two months I am at my ends wit of trying to find a style. I can’t braid to save my life, but I am getting better with the two strand twist with the perm rods. Like you, she also loves headbands. Do you have any suggestions for a struggling mother who is natural hair challenged?
Hang in there Chandra. I was just like you when I first started transitioning. I was never really a good stylist but I studied YouTube videos until I learned how to flat twist. There are some really good ones out there if you search around and I find it easier to do it on other people’s hair than my own. So you could do a lot of flat twists on the side and a curly puff on top (with perm rods).
The nice thing about flat twisting is that it’s easier to learn than corn rows and it’s a great protective style that will last a bit. I think learning how to do that was what kept me motivated because it added other styling options and I could get my hair out of my way easily.
Also try rod sets with very small rods (they last longer) and push her hair up into a puff with a headband. That’s another long lasting style because the sides of the hair are already flat by the headband so you don’t have to worry about sleeping and flattening the style.
To give you two a break maybe get her some kinky twist extensions (make sure they aren’t too tight). That will allow you to take breaks from styling during the transition.
I’m telling you, study YouTube. There are so many transitioning styles and even natural styles that work on transitioning hair. Do a search for “bantu knot outs”, “twist outs”, etc. If it weren’t for the videos, I would have gone back to relaxing out of pure frustration of lack of styling.
I wish you the best!
i have been in transition for about a year. i decided a year ago to stop putting in relaxers because my hair was breaking off bad..i have extremely thick and kinky hair so i never knew what to do with it. so i started going to a stylist and having her braid and sew in weave and i noticed my hair started growing ALOT..but still didn’t wear my natural hair out because i didn’t know what to do with it. so i watched some videos on youtube about how to make my curls more defined and i got some eco styler olive oil gel and proclaimed gel activator and sulfate free shampoos and conditioners and for the first time the other day everyone at work seen my natural hair no one believed i had such long beautiful curly hair and they told me i better not ever put another perm in my hair because i had really beautiful hair and my natural hair looked better than the weave..i must admit a few days ago i was 10 secs away from buying a relaxer. 🙁 but i didn’t and im glad..i love my hair it looks absolutely fabulous.. My daughter who is 12 seen my hair the other day and said “wow mom your hair is so pretty and long..can you stop putting relaxers in my hair i want hair like that” so now we are going to have two ladies in the house who are in transition 🙂
I am going to go on this journey. I have been thinking about it for a long time but I want to see what my hair looks like. I just got a perm and my dilemma is I have really healthy relaxed hair so there is no need to change it. But I want to see it.
Your post was sooo encouraging. I am going natural, but have also been wearing sew in weaves for 4 months. I can’t believe how fast my hair grew in the first 3. The last weave I had sewn in I had stylist cut out the remainder of my relaxer. I have been trying to find a simple way to figure out my curl pattern when I’m done with the weaves, but I am very hair inept. Your post listed everything I think I will need. Thanks again.
Hey Kris
I’ll never understand the “upper mgmt” thing. I guess that may still apply with some organizations but when I was in Corporate America there were two natural ladies in upper mgmt (in a predominantly white company) In fact, they were both ranked higher than me. There’s also a book called “Thank God I’m Natural” (I think that’s the one) where the girl talks about how she actually got promoted AFTER she went natural and she attributed it to her hard work and confidence. Her hair didn’t limit her at all.
Good for you for embracing your coils!
I thoroughly agree with that last statement about not everyone liking natural hair. When I told my sister I was going natural she said WHYYYYYYYYYY? I dont know what I would do without my weave. I would just die. I know this is just ignorance though because you can have a weave/wig on and still be natural. When I told my mom, she told me if I ever wanted to be in upper level management I would need to get a relaxer again. I was shocked because she actually is natural And in upper level management. The thing is, she wears a wig 24/7 and has not embraced her hair. It’s sad. I loooovvvveee my coils and who cares what anyone else says, I’m happy with it.