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.
Okay so I just began my transition and it seems so stressful. And I’m so confused on what to actually do. The only thing I have been doing is staying away from a perm & heat . So shall I begin trimming my ends now .
Hi Dariaya
You only need to trim if your hair is breaking excessively or you see a lot of split ends. If you are just beginning, probably no need to do much now. Read my article on what to expect. That may help. https://napturallycurly.com/what-to-expect-when-transitioning
I am a long term transitioner.Thanks for all the tips and hairstyle ideas.I have been “creamy crack” free for 2 years now:)You give me hope…and inspiration.Keep it coming…..Thanks again:)This has truly been a hair journey for me and your site makes the trip easier.
Thank you for all your good advice. Im 18 years old and just decided I want to go natural. I always loved my natural hair but it was just easier to manage with a relaxer. Im really happy I found this site hopefully now my transition will go a little smoother. Thank You Soo Much ! 🙂
Thank You for this website! It’s very informative. I just started my natural journey 3 weeks ago. I have been faced with the sad news of possibly having to deal with mild forms of Alopecia. I have damaged alot of my hair follices with the Relaxers! but I will not stop fighting for my hair to get back to it’s natural healthy state. I am clueless of how to maintain natural hair and somewhat discouraged..but Your Website has been that bright light and confidence for me. ,,I’m Elated now !! Thank You soooooo Much.
Thank You,
Kita 😉
Great Kita! A friend of mine has mild Alopecia from wearing weaves over the years. She is now fully natural and her hair is growing back in slowly but surely. So please don’t get discouraged. Your hair just needs a break. While there are no guarantees it will grow back, for many people it does. Good luck!
Thank you for this website! It’s very informative. I have not had a relaxer since October 2011. I’ve been growing my hair out..I had been getting frustrated because now I have a nice amount of new growth and while i’m LOVING the look of the new growth- that mixed with my relaxed hair was not in agreement with any hairstyles! I was getting frustrated to the point that I was debating on giving in to the relaxer, but I had a dream that showed me just how important this journey is to me, so I decided to look up hairstyles that would work ….your site has me so excited now! Thank you soooo much
Oh, yea…I haven’t cut my hair yet. I figure I’ll do that in September
Hi Lisa,
I love your site. I recently decided to go natural . I last had my hair relaxed on the 4th of May 2012 (I decided to go natural a week after that). I do have challenges in that I’ve been unable to get products that are sulphate and alcohol free(I’m a Nigerian). It doesn’t seem so bad now, but I know it’s gonna be difficult to ignore once I attain more length. I got a lot of tips online on how to transition and all but I need specific product names. I honestly haven’t come across one sulphate free shampoo. Are there any alternatives? I’ll be in England by September and I’m sure I’ll get the required products there, but I don’t know what to do until then…
Kinky Curly Come Clean and Giovanni shampoos are both sulfate free. I have names of products I used here https://napturallycurly.com/2010/07/my-favorite-transitioning-products/
Hey, Lisa! I love your website, and the way you captivate the audience. I’ve recently made the decision to go natural and, I’m currently transitioning. I read that you said it’s not a good idea to detangle your hair unless applying deep conditioner. I wear my hair everyday almost in curls from rollers I set in every night. It’s the only style I can do at the moment that requires no heat. But, I have to comb it out slightly with a wide-tooth comb so I can try and deal with it a little more. Is this bad? Also, I’m thinking of using extra virgin olive oil as a pre-poo. Is this a good idea? Thanks for your time.
(Ignore the last post. I meant to put ‘deep-condition’, instead of ‘leave-in’).
As long as you are using a wide tooth comb and aren’t experiencing any breakage then it’s fine. I did a lot of roller sets too when transitioning but never had to comb. I always just picked the curls apart with my fingers. I always use olive oil to pre poo. You can’t go wrong with it. It works for a daily moisturizer too.
Hello Lisa,
I need some advice I am not sure what to do with my hair because I did the big chop and the last time I had a relaxer was last June and got a texturizer in my hair in last November and stopped getting it in my hair in January so now my hair is thick and bushy but I want my hair to get some length to it but Im noticing my scalp is drier than usual I have been using Darcy’s Botanicals products along with She scent it Joba joba conditioning shampoo but from what I remembered the lady I received the products from told me this would strip my hair and that I would have to put some moisturizer in my hair and silly me used it but I think it is messing my hair up far as it being dry so what products would you recommend me to use to get the moisture back in my hair and to keep it moisturized such as shampoo, conditioner, moisturizers, oils, and hair dressing? What steps should I take to get my hair to grow and hairstyles that I can do to my hair because my hair is only to my ear because I feel that my hair is too short to do anything to it but just wear it in a TWA?
Since you’re wearing your hair in a TWA, try this. Lightly mist your hair at night with water. Don’t spray your hair directly, just kind of spray in the air and let it fall on your hair. You may also want to add a light moisturizer too. Put a shower cap on your head while you sleep. When you wake up your hair will be soft and moisturized. See if that helps.
I’ve transitioned before but it didn’t turn out so well. I’ve gotten my first relaxer in March 2012 after about a year and a half without one. I really want to try again but this time I want to do the big chop but I’m so scared/nervous. Not putting another relaxer in my hair for awhile have to think about this a little while longer. Decisions Decisions!!!…ugh
Do it, do it! Look at all the transitioners who have commented before you. You are definitely not alone in the journey. We’ll be here for ya! (Look at me chanting “do it” and Lord knows I wasn’t brave enough to chop) LOL! Easy for me to say huh?
Thank you. I am so in need of this site. I have been perm free since 12/31/2011; & am determined to continue the journey to my natural hair texture. It has been a struggle. With the help of your tips & suggestions, my journey will become much easier. Thank you.
Hi, im am transitioning my hair from relaxed to natural without doing the big chop. My hair is very thick! I have alot of new growth and i parts of hairs are either curly or just nappy, and of course my ends are straight because of the perm. Since parts of my hair are curly, (mostly in the back of my head), what can i use in my hair to get my whole head to be curly like the back?
eh, i have some grammer errors in there!
The one thing you will learn as you go through your transition is your hair has different textures in different spots. It’s hard to really know how your hair will be until you get rid of all your relaxer because the pattern will change. For example, my back is curlier than my front and top. But after I cut off the remaining processed ends my top started to get more curly as time went on. Also, as my hair grows I’m noticing my curls are getting looser. The longer your hair gets the more the strands weigh so you may notice a loosening of the pattern as your hair grows.
So don’t make too many conclusions this early. I guarantee that a year from now you will notice even more changes than you are noticing now. Hang in there!
Hello Lisa!
I just want to start off by saying I LOVE your site!!! I have watched my sister go through transitioning about a year ago before she just just cut it all off due to the maintenance of blending her natural and relaxed hair. But as a result, her hair is BEAUTIFUL so I decided to take this natural journey and have been transitioning for about 6 months now! I am excited about being completely natural but I must admit, it really gets hard sometimes, but luckily I have your website to come to for inspiration and I just want to say thank you for all the tips, they are truly inspiring!!! I will be posting my journey on my tumblr page if you or anyone else would like to join me on my journey!!!
Hi Lisa,
I have relaxed hair that goes back curly when wet. Are there any products you can recommend to help maintain the curl pattern that will not dry out my curls and cause them to shrink when may hair dries?
Hi all 🙂
I had my last relaxer in September 2011 and the last time I used heat was in mid January 2012.
I had braids put in for the first few months of my transition and while it made it easier it wasn’t the healthiest option. It tug at my roots and made the hair at my hairline really thin and fragile. It was really discouraging so I took them out and I did a big chop on the 16th March. It was the best option for me as I was struggling to deal with two textures and I didn’t know how to style it. My hair is now thick and curly and so healthy and I still follow the tips that Lisa and many other ladies have provided. I also started taking photos of my hair at least once a month and I have been watching it grow and even though I am enjoying this I am too excited to be patient! I keep thinking that I should have done this a long time ago. So thanks to you Lisa and to all the other strong women on here. 🙂
Hey Killian! I hear you about doing the big chop. From what I’ve read, sometimes that’s the best option and it doesn’t stay short forever (unless you want it to)! My hair was already in a short tapered style when I decided to go natural in January 2012; my last relaxer was in November. I’ve trimmed it here and there but since I already had short hair (and actually LOVED it), my half natural/half relaxed TWA didn’t bother me. Sometimes it really is “just hair”! Many congrats on your journey; I’m enjoying mine too!
Hey!
im baack! haha. thank you btw for answering my last question. i do however have another for you….
so all the hair on my head is 100% natural yay! but ive noticed something going on with my hair that isnt really addressed often and i cant seem to find any posts/articles talking about it. you see i know that when your curls/hair gets longer they stretch out at the crown or at the scalp. but mine seems to be doing the opposite???? in certain parts of my hair (mostly in the front where my bangs are) the curls are tighter at the top and they are a looser curl patter towards the ends? now granted the texture at the front of my head tends to have a looser curl than the rest of my hair but its really strange. the curls that make up my bangs is a mix between 3b/3c and at the ends the hair is instead of curly waving into sort of a 3a texture. the rest of my hair takes up a 3c/4a texture and towards the ends they turn into 3c or 3b curls. its really weird. my curls are tighter at the scalp and then just get looser towards the ends?
is this something that happens often?
Hi Gabby
That makes sense. Your hair tends to get looser at the ends and as it gets longer simply because of weight of the strands. And as your hair grows, you’ll probably notice it loosen up a bit. I’ve definitely noticed that my pattern seems looser overall as it grows out. It hasn’t changed drastically but definitely looser on the ends.
Hi!
The last full relaxer I had was in October ’11. Then I gave in and had my edges and ”kitchen” done in January. I also tried the keratin treatment. My hairstylist is dominican and I’ve been trying the blowouts every few weeks. Now that it is warmer outside the blowouts don’t last as long, and if I try to exercise it ruins them as well( I don’t think I sweat anywhere else but in my head lol). Any suggestions on what I should do for the summer?
Hey Lisa,
I have recently made the decision to go au natural! My sister tried, took the big chop and about 1 month in she caved. The rest of the females in my family are pretty much saying good luck with all that jazz. My husband, who is white, is the most supportive and excited about the decision. Go figure. Lol. The funny thing is I have always been envious of curly heads but I have been getting perms since I was a little girl, (too young to object.) and kept up the process out of habit. I just got a haircut (faux hawk tapered) and a perm about a month and a half ago. I just picked up the DevaCurl Package and washed the new growth and I can feel the curls deep down in the roots! I’m so excited!!! My question is would it be more beneficial for me to make the big chop? Or can I get just as good results by growing out the relaxed crack hair?
Shot out to all my ladies going natural! For too long we have been fooled into thinking straight euro hair was the only “good hair”. Part of this probably stems from the fact that back in the slave days our hair was called out and criticized. After decades of that, now we are bombarded with magazines, movies, etc of straight haired vixens. I’m embracing the hair my ancestors got off the boat with! Woohoo! :)))
Roshi, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read that white people are more excited and supportive about our hair than our own people are sometimes!! Even at work, I experienced the same thing. Just my two cents: unless your hair is severely damaged, I think a big chop is really a personal decision. There are pros and cons to starting from scratch, but as long as you follow Lisa’s tips (keep it clean and moisturized, little to no heat, etc.), you’ll do just fine! Best of luck in your transition….I love being natural and watching my hair transform!
I have a quick question. I’m on my 6th month of transitioning and I have about 4 inches of relaxed hair left. The only problem I have with styling my hair is the difference in thickness. My aunt is a liscenced cosmetologist and she suggested that I blow dry it on a cool setting with a comb. It works with keeping it straight but it’s still so much thicker than my relaxed hair. What would be the best hairstyle for me at this point?
So I’ve been on the fence about transitioning for like 3 months now, I had my last relaxer on May 5, 2012… this will be my 2nd time going natural the first time I chopped it off and it just didnt work out for me. So this time I’m going to grow it out and cut off the relaxer little by little. Wish me luck!
Good luck DeVin…..you can do it! Lisa gives some really great advice!!!
Hello,
I have a question? I’m 19 years old about to go on 20 in about 4 days and I have been getting perms sense I was little … I talk to my mom and she said that when I was little my hair was kinky hair just like my little sister but my grandma on my dad side started putting perms in my hair which damage my hair.. So my question is if I do the natural look will my hair go back to the kinky hair???
Hi Jasmine, your texture may not be exactly as it was when you were little, but it will definitely have texture if you grow out your relaxer.
wow you have no idea how much this helped me!!! thank you so much for writing this out. im transitioning from my relaxed hair(had it relaxed for about 5 years now) and im really ready to take care of my hair instead of just running to the beauty shop cause nobody never really showed me how to do my hair. sites like this help so much. thank you again 🙂
Ebonie, I understand too! I remember when I first shampoo’d my own hair, I realized that it was the first time i had done that in over 20 years! The whole process of washing it myself, conditioning, moisturizing, putting in twists….it all felt really strange, but I loved it. This site (and others) are awesome!
I am the mother of a beautiful 4 year old daughter whom I’ve chosen to raise with natural hair. My hair however, has been relaxed since early childhood. Recently, my daughter expressed to me that her hair was not “pretty” and that she wanted her hair to be straight like mine and her friends in preschool. This prompted me to do some serious reevaluating. I don’t want her thinking that her hair is not beautiful and I want the lessons I teach her throughout life to be not only heard but visualized. I want to lead by example. Soooo…with that said, I have made the decision to go NATURAL!!!(1month strong) I pray that I can see this through without looking like a freak and that in the end my baby girl will be proud of her mommy and when she looks in the mirror, love the little girl staring back at her with natural hair! Thanks for your inspiration~Nicole
Nicole, you could never look like a freak with your natural hair!! I understand your hesitation though, but I think that YOU will be proud of yourself when you look at yourself in the mirror! Be patient, follow Lisa’s advice, remember that everybody’s journey and hair is different, and you’ll see! I hope I don’t sound condescending, but I’m glad to see that you’re leading by example. You and your daughter are gonna look GREAT! Best of luck on your new journey!!
Good for you, Nicole! That story made me smile. 🙂
Hello, i am also transitioning from perming my hair as well, and there are solutions out there the best results i have had so far are the recovery treatments from my local hair salon. They help your hair build the protein and w.e else it is your hair is quenching for (=… i am going on 6 months from perms every 3 months to none at all and i am loving the new growth they are beautiful curls and i am glade i made the decision to do so. good luck to everyone and the wait for you natural hair to grow back is worth it.
Great! Thanks for the tip.
Hello, I’ve been transititoning for about 11 months the last time I had a relaxer was June 22, 2011. because I started wearing nothing but rod styles and blow outs after that; but the chemicals from the blow out were causing breakage. I stop doing that and since Oct 2011 I’ve been wearing sew-ins.I get my ends trimmed about ever 6 to 8 weeks depending on how long my sew-in is up. I got it pressed out in April 2012 and it was very healthy no breakage or anything. I went right back to sew-ins because I’m located in Alabama so we were hot and humid already and it basically puffed right back up. I’m ready to show my hair so to speak but don’t know what type of styles I can wear with the mixed texture.
Have you checked out my transitioning styles here? https://napturallycurly.com/category/hair-styles/styling/
I have recently just cut all my hair of however I still have some length on the top and its bleached. I’m deciding now that I would like to go natural and I don’t know how could you help me please!!!!!!!!! Lol I’m a little afraid.
Don’t be afraid. Start by deep conditioning your hair once/week. Your hair is probably very dry where the bleached part is. Do you have enough hair to try a rod set? That’s a great low-heat style. If your hair is very short you can buy the tiny rods.
I found your site while looking for good transitioning styles. My last relaxer was in March so I’m just now starting to really see my new growth. I’m excited to see how my natural hair looks. I’ll be visiting your site from time to time. Thanks for all of the tips and advice…I’ll need them (^_^)
Good luck on your journey, Nikell!
Thanks girls! I’ll def. check out your blog!@BP- Yeah i love them too, my hair is not long enough for the side bun she did.lol@Laqt- I’m glad I found out about her, she gave me a lot of good ideas!
I’m loving all of your tips and ideas thus far. I’ve been relaxer free for four months now! I’m afraid to do the big chop so I’ve been wearing sew-ins to keep from wanting to perm my hair. I am now bored with sew-ins and want to wear my natural hair, but, there’s this one problem. My hair is thin along the right side and the front….any suggestions on regrowth tips and styles for my particular situation,
Hi Jessica,
Get some castor oil and massage it into your sides at night. Also massage your temples/hairline for 20-30 minutes per day. That stimulates blood vessels and promotes growth. Unless you have hairline alopecia (which can come from wearing too many weaves too tightly) it should grow back as long as you stop getting weaves.
I’ve been transitioning for 11 months, I have naturally wavy curly hair anyway. I still flat iron my hair cuz that how I like to wear my hair. But I’m open to new things. I tried a twist out didn’t work out to well. Braids break my hair off as well as sew ins, I’m assuming because of the braids. I don’t like wigs or weaves. Any suggestions for me on hairstyles. I’m trying to develop my curl pattern as well.
Hey Toi
Have you tried a rod set? A lot of people worry they make you look old but you can flat twist the sides or wear headbands to young it up a bit. (If that’s your desire.)
My last perm was in Aug of 2009 and i got my permed in cut the following year. When i first got my her cut my her would curl up real nicely and now that i have been going to the salon every two weeks and getting it flat ironed by her no longer curls up the same when i wash my hair myself. do you have any suggestions on how i can get my curl back
Flat ironing every two weeks often causes heat damage to natural hair, so more than likely it won’t come back unfortunately. I would recommend limiting the amount of time you get your hair straightened (maybe once every other month) or use less heat when flat ironing. That way you won’t lose your pattern.
Hi Lisa! I’ve been natural for a little over a year now and I haven’t had my ends clipped as much as I should. I used the kinky curly curling custard last night and I still had some straight ends so I’m assuming there’s still some relaxer in my hair. Can I just cut off the straight ends myself?
Hi Shonita
You can if you’re comfortable. I’ve been trimming my hair for so long I think nothing of it, but I can understand if you’re new to it that it can be intimidating. To ensure it’s all even, you can twist your hair up in medium-sized twists and trim each twist the same amount.
Hi I live in the Caribbean an it’s a challenge to grow natural hair,because of how we have lost our roots here. I am about 3 months transitioning and it’s very difficult to keep up with. Also my boyfriend is not at all for my natural hair. Can you give me some advise and also what can I use for the front of my hair. I breaded my hair in some big plats and it pulled out the hair line of my hair. Please give some help on this.
I’m so happy I’ve found someone with knowledge about natural hair to assist me on my natural journey .
God bless!
Have you tried a rod set?
I just big chooped afted 8months and notice a part the middle an one is is curly and retains moisturs pretty well an the othed drier n more coarse hardly any curl def. What do u suggest???
Hi April
Not really much you can do to change your natural curl pattern. I have different textures too. My crown is drier and has less curl. I’ve personally had to just keep experimenting with different moisturizers until I found something that works with all my patterns.
I have been transitioning for about 8 mo. Some of my hair feels extremely nappy and the edged in the from are straight I have not cut my hair I have been wearing kinky twists the whole time what can I do to bring out the natural curls cause all I have are naps nothing soft nothing silky just tight kinky hair
HELPPPP!!!!! I have a 11 year daughter who has been without a no lye perm for 1 and a half years now. Her nape is NAPPY and brittle. I start taking her to the beauty shop 4 months ago.She go every 2 weeks.At first it seemed like it was growing etc,now it’s shorter than it was at first?. SHe has been going now every 2 weeks and it seem it has gotten worse. The back of her hair is very nappy and the top of hair still feels like it has a perm in it. I dont want her to be humilated.I dont know what else to do please helppppp!!!!!!!!!
Hi Renee,
Have you tried rod sets. I’m assuming the heat from the beauty shop every two weeks is not helping and is only drying her hair out so that’s why it’s breaking. Read this post on moisturizing transitioning hair.
Hi Lisa,
My last perm was 5 weeks ago. Since I’ve decided to let my perm grow out, I’ve still been going to my stylist. I’ve been wearing protective styles (flat twists and rod sets). I’m too afraid to style my own hair. My stylist tells me I shouldn’t be using natural hair products yet. I think she may be trying to discourage me from growing out my perm.
Lately, I’ve had itchy scalp and may need a moisturer. I reviewed you transitioning guide. Should I be using natural hair products at this point?
I’m so glad I found your site.
Ok I have found a method that is keeping my hair soft and curly. I do a cold wash then deep condition. I used a coiling creme to twist my hair in bantu knots. When I take it down I use olive oil. I was having a problm with keeping curls but now I’m happy.
Hi Lisa….this is such an informative website I can very well see that this is your passion. I have a request, I wanted to know if you would post some pics of your bathroom where you shoot your videos. I am looking for some bathroom remodeling ideas and you bathroom seems so calming and well organized.
Thanks
Yolanda
Hi, I have not permed my hair in almost three years. I flat ironed my hair to the point even twist outs barely hold. Its extremly dry and brittle. So I now put wigs on because I have no idea what to do with it. . I am going to take your advice and see how it works for me. I hope its not too late to get some curl to it.
Hi Kisha
It’s not too late. If anything you may have to trim those dead ends. But it will grow back. 🙂
Hey, I haven’t had a perm since September 2010 , I haven’t cut all of my relaxed hair out neither. Should I do that ? I’ve gotten 2 texturizers , one in august of last year and one in January of this year. My hair is breaking off very badly in the back . What should i do ?
I had the same problem because I texturized. I just had to keep trimming my hair until the breakage minimized. Granted you are going to have some breakage but a good trim and some deep conditioning should do the trick!
Hi lisa Carols daughter has a New product that is for transitioners and its similar to the keratin treatment. Do u think it is safe to use while transitioning
I haven’t used this so I can’t make any recommendations, but I may order her transitioning kit and try it on my hair. Even though I’m not transitioning, I would assume I can still use it since transitioners have natural hair to deal with too. I wish this had been around when I was transitioning so I could give it a true test.
I have been perm free since febuary and i love it so far. my hair is really thick i use moisturizer on my new growth which makes it soft. I wash my hair every three or so days to get scalp build up out. I can handle going natural its not as hard as i thought. I am starting to see me edges and other hair curl. I have one question what can i use to deep condition my hair?
My favorite is Organics Olive Oil Replenisher. You really just have to experiment and find what’s best for your hair because all hair behaves differently with different products.
Are you talking abput organic root stimulator?
Yes that’s it.
I absolutely love this site, and its very informative how I stumbled upon it, i was actually looking at you other site for some advice for writing my blog..lol.. .I have been natural for 5 years and its been the best descision of my life. Im actually getting ready to make another transition…Dreds Here I Come!!!..lol…My daughter is 8 and has been relaxer free for about 8months and I have always struggled with hair all my life and hers as well,” Im just a mama that dont do hair”…But when she looks at the diffrent natural styles she gets excitied. So I really do need more ideas of styles that I can actually do.
Thanks
Keep Up The Good Work
Thanks for the tips they are very helpful. I’m thinking of transitioning myself but my natural hair is too kinky and painful to comb. Do you have any tips on how to keep it even remotely soft at all. Please help.
Do you ever deep condition your hair? Sounds like you might need a few good treatments.
I use some of carols daughters products and I want to know what are some other good Conditioners.
What can use to give myself a hot oil treatment
You can warm up any natural oils you want or you can buy the pre-made solutions at Sallys or other beauty supply stores.
Hi!!!! Thanks for this great tool for those who are transitioning. I’m in my 4th month without relaxer. My hair is already very short due a hair loss. It is very difficult transitioning with short hair because there is no much options for someone who is not with braids and wigs, so, my transitional style is roller sets. It takes me and hour to roller set my hair and the hairdo last for about five days. I know is not so bad, but sometimes I would like to try something different. People thinks that I’m crazy and that sooner or later I’ll return back to relaxers and incredible that sounds, only my husband, that is a white guy, is happy with it. But I’m done with relaxers. I want my natural hair back!!! So girls, keep going!!!
i really would need your help
what can i do to promote hair growth I’m 6 months transitioning hair the only thing is i don’t think my hair is growing as fast as it should
Hi Davita
How do you know it’s not growing as fast as it should? Everyone’s hair growth rate is different. But drinking water, eliminating greasy/fatty foods and eating more vegetables, keeping your scalp clean, exercise and scalp massages can help promote your optimal growth pattern. But it differs for everyone.
Hi. I’m a high school senior (C|O ’12). WOOT! Anyways, I’ve decided to transition my hair. The last time I had a relaxer was just before school started in August, and since then my new growth has grown exceptionally. My mother just decided today that I should get a relaxer and she feels that I am trying to follow behind my best friends bc she went natural. But, I was just tired of always getting a relaxer to achieve straight hair and not have anything to do with it. Plus, my hair appears thicker than when it s relaxed. I’d like to be able to do my own hair myself, but I always get fed up too quickly with it & my mom usually does it for me. Are there any suggestions you could give to me to help me feel motivated? Also, I’m planning on BCing it Summer 2012. I just want some NAPPY ROOTS!
Hey Lisa! I love your site, it is very informative. I need your advice., I have been transitioning for 4 months now, due to my hair was shedding and breaking from the perms. I wash and deep condition my hair every week, however I find that when I wash my hair there is alot of (permed) hair coming out and when I detangle there is alot of (permed) hair in the comb. Its rare that I use shampoo, I mostly use Creme of Nature moisture extreme conditioner and Olive Oil replenishing Conditioner. I also did a treatment with Aphogee two-step protein treatment about two weeks ago. I use Castro Oil every night and Creme of Nature red clover & aloe (for breakage relief) yet my hair is still coming out. What do you suggest I do to reduce that? I also have not used any heat in 4 months. Thanks in advance for your advice!
I have been transitioning for six months and when I wash and condition my hair, I put it in four sections. I normally wash and condition my hair when I take a shower.
do you know any braid hairstyles that last for a year or more than a year
No. Microbraids are the longest lasting style I’ve heard of, but I’m not too up on braid/weave styles to be honest.
I think micro braids causes stress on a persons hair who is transitioning from relaxed to natural. Also I have been transitioning for 6 months and I braids cause stress on my hair. I need a hair style. Please help. Thanks
Hi Norise, have you looked at my styles on this site? https://napturallycurly.com/category/hair-styles/styling/
Thanks .,I put some kinky twist in my hair two days agos it seems to b working out so far. When should i wash my hair ? Also I need some something to smooth my edges
Thank you for this site! I recently decided to go natural instead of getting relaxers. I can’t wait to see the turn out of my hair after I start using your tips.
I wish you all the best!
I have started as of Monday,however my hair was cut really short so the transition wouldnt be so hard .. Now just clipping that Creamy Crack out a little at a time.
Hi Rolanda
I cut my hair a lot and it does make the transition easier. Good luck!
Thanks! The website really helped me out. After being in transition for two months now, I was beginning to have the urge to go back to the creamy crack. My hair is about neck length and if I cut off all the perm, it will be practically bald. So now, I was beginning to feel there is nothing to do with my hair after washing it during the transition. I will try the rod sets and kinky twist. Thank you because I do not want to go back to “crack”:).
Hang in there Shica, glad you haven’t given in yet. I’m tellin’ ya girl, the rod set style saved me during my transition.
I roded my hair and my natural hair is fuzy looking and my relaxed ends looks fine. I’m not sure how to make my rod set look good with out my hair looking fuzzy. Does any one have any suggestions. Also is it better to rod set while hair is wet or dry?what products shall I use.
Also I have been transitioning for 6months.
Did you use setting lotion? I like Bronner Brothers (no alchohol) foam wrapping lotion to set the curls while wet. Also get some Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel (Walmart in the sunburn/sunblock section) and use that to help set the hair more. If you do it wet and roll it tight, it should be more smooth and less frizzy. Make sure your hair dries thoroughly.