If you are anything like I was when I began my transition in March 2010, you may not know what to expect with your natural hair transition.
It’s definitely a journey — both mentally and physically (see these myths), so you need to prepare yourself for the following…
1) You are dealing with two different textures, and if you want your hair to look its best, you may be limited to styles that blend your two textures effectively — especially as your transition progresses (rod sets, twists, etc.)
2) If you are eliminating direct heat (recommended) and your hair is short (no ponytails), then your styling options are limited even further
3) If you’ve never managed your natural hair before, it takes some time to find out what it likes and needs. It’s tempting to copy someone else’s routine, but I quickly learned I had to discover what my hair likes.
4) Be prepared to deal with naysayers who may not like natural hair and attempt to discourage you from this journey. Your confidence WILL be tested, for sure.
Having said all that, it’s absolutely the most rewarding experience in the world once your transition is over and you are fully natural.
My Story
Below I will tell you what you can expect during your natural hair transition by the month. Keep in mind, a lot of this information has been influenced by MY journey and the health of my hair at the start of my transition (which was not very good.)
Also, I was texturizing prior to my transition so my hair was not completely straight, and I had some natural hair in the back because the texturizer didn’t take at all.
Just as a reminder, my last relaxer was June 2009 and my last texturizer was March 2010. My hair was bob length when I began my transition.
So more than likely your hair is in a different condition, length, etc. than mine, so your results may be different. This is just a general guide.
Months 1-2
These are obviously the easiest months of your transition because it’s not much different than when you were relaxing. Most people wait at least 6-8 weeks between relaxers so the first two months won’t require much change to your routine.
However, I would highly recommend you start to wean yourself off direct heat — i.e. blow dryers, curling irons and flat irons. You want your natural hair to grow out healthy and retain moisture. Direct heat is not its friend.
If you are going to use heat, at least limit it to the ends of your hair (bumping/curling ends etc.) Remember those ends will eventually be chopped off anyway.
However, if you’re going for a long-term transition, you’ll want your entire strands to remain healthy. Eliminating heat altogether is the best option for long-term transitioners. However, if you must use it, read my guide here.
I didn’t do much different during these months in terms of styling. I did use the flat iron to curl my bangs once, but that was the last time I ever used direct heat on my hair.
Months 3-4
This is where it started getting challenging for me. This was the longest time I had ever gone without relaxing my hair and new growth seemed to be coming out dry and brittle.
I had too much new growth to successfully wrap my hair, but not enough natural hair to wear natural styles. My hair was too short for a decent-looking ponytail, so I was at a loss for styling.
If your ends are still healthy and not too thin (like mine were in this video) you can try to do two strand twists or two strand twist outs, but you should put a rod on the end to help your ends look finished.
This is when I started experimenting with rod sets. My first one didn’t come out too well, but I got better with practice.
Rod sets eventually became my go-to style for months 3-8. This style blends your hair textures so well, and if you use small rods they can last a long time.
In month 4, I started deep conditioning my hair every week with Organics Olive Oil Replenisher. This was the best thing I could have ever done. My natural hair began to soften up and my hair seemed to be retaining moisture better.
You MUST deep condition your hair regularly!
Scab Hair?
Some believe that if your hair follicles become damaged during relaxing, your follicles produce “scab hair.”
This is hair that grows out with a protective coating. The coating can make your hair more brittle and dry to the touch.
Basically your hair is trying to protect itself from the chemicals. Even when you stop relaxing, your follicles may still produce scab hair for awhile.
It can take several months for your hair to grow out healthy again.
So if you notice that your new growth is hard/dry and you are not using any direct heat, it could be a result of scab hair. This may not be your true hair texture you’re seeing. I DEFINITELY noticed a huge difference in my texture as my transition progressed.
Many women stop transitioning because they assume the scab hair is their natural texture. In some cases it may be scab hair. There’s really no way to know unless you keep transitioning.
Some people don’t believe in scab hair, but I can tell you that the texture of my new growth is drastically different than when I first started transitioning. I honestly believe I had scab hair. Deep conditioning and patience is how to get through this period.
Months 5-6
Things started getting a bit easier for me during this phase. I should also add that I trimmed my hair every single month during my transition… even if it was only an 1/8th of an inch. Sometimes I trimmed twice.
I’m not saying you have to do this, but remember my hair was very damaged when I began, and since I was doing a long-term transition, I knew I had to trim to keep my ends as healthy as possible and maintain some length.
By this time you will probably have anywhere between 2 1/2 to 3 inches of natural hair and you can REALLY start to see your texture. I also noticed the positive impact of deep conditioning and using no sulfate shampoos.
When I finished shampooing, my hair seemed to almost glisten and I could tell it was retaining moisture better. That dry, brittle feeling was now a distant memory. 🙂
Also, by the time I got to this point in my transition, I began to notice the multiple textures of hair on my head. Most people do not have just one curl pattern.
For me, the top and front/sides of my hair had almost no definite pattern at all. Some parts were wavy, others were zig zag. And the back of my hair had a more distinct, loose S-shape pattern.
So don’t be surprised if you notice parts of your hair behaving differently. It’s likely due to the different textures.
Months 7-8
By now, your texture should be really evident. I’ve noticed on YouTube that a lot of women “big chop” between the 7th and 9th month.
For many women, they feel they have enough natural hair at this point to rock their fros or wear two strand twists. For others, they just get tired of dealing with the two textures.
For me, the transition got easier as I went along — maybe because I trimmed my ends a LOT. Also, because my hair was not completely straight when I started transitioning, I didn’t have to deal with those straight ends hanging down.
By this time all my relaxer was gone and I was only dealing with texturized/wavy hair.
Even though texturizing my hair turned out to be a nightmare, in a way, it made my transition a bit more gradual because I went from straight to semi-straight to natural hair. That also helped blend my textures better.
Having said that, I would NOT recommend texturizing to ease yourself into the transition unless you know what you’re doing or you have a professional who can help.
During this period, I finally began to get better at flat twisting. My edges were very thin and weak from relaxing so the flat twists really helped protect them while they grew back out. So I started wearing a lot of different flat twist styles.
Months 9-10
By this time, you’ll have about 4 1/2 to 5 inches of natural hair. That may sound like a lot if you’re just starting out, but remember natural hair shrinks. So 5 inches of natural hair may only be a 2 inch afro if you were to big chop at this point.
When you’re transitioning, your new growth may seem as if it’s taking over your head, but you’ll be surprised how much natural hair can shrink up — especially after you trim off the relaxed ends. Some people experience up to 80% shrinkage (especially people with more coiled hair.)
I’m not trying to discourage you from big chopping at any point. By all means, do it if you’re ready. Just don’t be surprised if your hair is shorter than you expected. A lot of women are unpleasantly surprised when they big chop because they didn’t realize how much shrinkage they would have.
So if you’re tied to your length, be mindful of this when transitioning. Relaxed ends can weigh your hair down, giving you the illusion of more length. But when those ends are cut off, your hair may curl up and be shorter than you think.
At this stage, I was mostly natural, with maybe 2-3 inches left of texturized hair on the ends. I started wearing two strand twists and I would put rods at the end so the remaining relaxed ends would curl (see pic on the right). It was winter time so this was a great protective style with help from my beanie.
Months 11-12
Congrats! You have transitioned for a full year. Most people have between 5 1/2 and 6 inches of new growth at this stage. If you big chop at this point, you’ll probably have a good-size afro and most likely be beyond the TWA (teeny weany afro) stage. Of course, everyone’s curl pattern and hair growth is different so results may vary.
One Year and Beyond
If you can make it past a year, you are officially a long-term transitioner (in my book anyway)! By this time, you probably know exactly what your hair likes and you’ve gotten better at managing the two textures.
By the time I hit my one year anniversary, I was mostly natural so it didn’t really feel like I was transitioning anymore. I continued to wear a lot of flat twist styles (to protect/nurture my edges) and I wore quite a few twists and twist outs. Here are a few pics of some styles I’ve worn 12 months and beyond…
Click here to view more of my hair styles during my natural hair transition.
Final Note About Hair Growth
One thing that surprised me while transitioning was how my hair grows at different rates. For example, the back of my hair grew out really fast, while the front and crown of my hair grew the slowest.
That is why my hair is layered. When I ended my transition, my back was much longer than the front.
So that’s just something to keep in mind. It’s totally normal to have different growth rates so don’t be alarmed.
Meet Fellow Transitioner, Aisha
This video will inspire you, and perhaps you’ll even see some of yourself in it. It’s by Make Me a Naturalista on YouTube (definitely make sure you subscribe).
In the first series they introduce you to Aisha, a self-proclaimed salon junkie who gets her hair done twice a week.
Yardley and Natasha have a sit-down with Aisha and discuss her challenges with finding appropriate transitioning styles for work. Enjoy!
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Don’t forget to read my long-term transitioning guide.
Have Questions?
Join the NapturallyCurly.com Transitioning and Natural Hair Forums to chat with other transitioners and get the much-needed answers to your burning questions about your hair!
MT hair is extremely coarse it feel like brillo how can I soften it
What are you doing to condition your hair? Do you deep condition? What products do you use?
Hi Lisa,
I love your blog, I’m a 6 month birthday transition, and my 2 biggest challanges hae been finding great products, I have always had very long, corse, and thick hair, but managing tangling has been a nightmare, and I have deciced not to dothe big/chop because my real hair is alreay 22 inches, and I prefer to do gradual clippings. My second chalange is what all steps of products should I do? (oils, deep conditions, leave-ins ect)……….please help…
Thanks
Hi Cassie,
Before you shampoo, apply a natural oil like olive oil and a cheap conditioner on your hair. This will soften the hair and prevent moisture loss while shampooing.
Shampoo with non sulfate shampoos like Giovanni products
Deep condition after shampooing and leave it on your hair for at least 30 minutes (sit under the dryer with a plastic cap for extra conditioning)
After you rinse your deep conditioner, follow up with a leave in. Now proceed to style your hair. Use a moisturizing product like Shea Moisture and then seal the moisture with oil when you’re done. Hope that helps!
So I big chopped 2 weeks ago I cut ALL my hair I have a dark Cesar and I wanted to know do I moisturize the little hair I have left everyday? And my edges was horrible before I cut my hair how do I get to grow back healthy with the rest of my hair?
Hi Tia
Try getting some Shea Moisture products. You can find them at Walgreens or Target. Rubbing castor oil into your edges at night may help stimulate growth. Also try to do scalp massages throughout the day when you think about it. This stimulates blood flow and may promote hair growth.
Hi Lisa I’m in despercim need if help i have been natural for about 19 months and my hair seems to be growing and getting thicker but then again i can’t tell i waited 12 months before i did the BIG CHOP and my hair did great but now what it seems as if my hair is braking off and shedding more than normal and getting dry really quick i need help i don’t know what to do i don’t want to have to cut all my hair off HELP PLEASE
What is your shampoo/conditioning routine like? You should also join the forums at https://napturallycurly.com/forums The ladies there also have great advice! Many of them are in the same boat.
Hey rocky why don’t you try a full sew in or a sew in we’re u only leave the bare minimum out in the front. That’s what I always do when I want a sexy look for the a while lol….
Im two months post relaxer and i usually flat iron and blowdry (with protective conditioning and deep conditioning) to blend my two textures. Not much is really going on. I, obviously, see new growth….but what do i do??? Im just so eager to cut it and experience an afro…but im found..yet lost! *i also use oils,..shea butter, olive,etc.
Hi Amirrah
What do you mean when you say “not much is going on?” Is your hair feeling dry?
I’m currently 5 months natural and I’m losing it. My transition went great up until I had braids in and took them out and it broke my hair off badly. Ever since then I have been having a hard time trying I style my hair and get it to look right. I have ran out of options. My twists outs look horrible and Bantu knot gets dry and frizzy looking after day 2. I tried everything just about and my hair is dry and brittle. Getting a texturizer or relaxer have been going through my mind a lot lately. I just don’t know what to do. I would like to complete my transition, but I’m getting limited to styling. My birthday is next week and I want my hair to look nice I was thinking using heat for the first time in 5 months and get my root blowed out and hair trimmed, but I’m scared it will be more damaging if I go that route. What should I do? Please help!!!!
Hi Rocky
Have you thought about seeking help from a stylist who specializes in natural hair? Also, do you deep condition your hair?
Hi Lisa I am one year transitioning this month and i think i have that scab hair you were speaking of. I am not really sure if i am transitioning to be natural or what i basically did this because i had bad breakage in the crown of my hair, but now my crown has grown back good. I have never put heat in my hair for 15 yrs and now that i am a yr transition i don’t know what to do with my hair. When i flat iron it , it doesn’t feel silky straight anymore and some times i just want to run and put a relaxer in my hair. I like that neat look, so what has gotten to this point is wearing wigs or corn rolls. but when i take my hair to breathe that’s where my issues start coming in.
Hi Constance, it takes a lot more heat to get natural hair silky straight. Have you tried to do a twist out?
Hi Lisz thanks for getting back to me. I am really good at that i guess i need to practice more and to love my hair more in the kinky state as well. If i have that scab hair will deep conditioning more often help bring it back to a more softer state. I have about 3 inches of relax ends to take off my hair and i am not ready to cut all in once?
Hey Tamara,
I’m no expert and I’ve prolly been transitioning for a shorter time than you but I have found some things to help your hair not be so brittle. Alot of the products you mentioned seem like strengthening products which have a lot of protein in them which would be a good thing but it sounds like you have an overload of protein and not enough moisture. Try co-washing (washing your hair w/ a conditioner instead of a shampoo) your hair instead of using an actual shampoo. Also try some shampoos that are sulfate free which is less drying to the hair like organix pure and simple or mix chicks. Also are you deep conditioning once a week which is leaving the conditioner on for 45mins no heat and 15mins w heat? If not try that my favorite deep conditioner is organic root stimulator olive deep-plenishing conditioner. This will make your hair softer and more manageable after you wash it. Last but not least always use a leave in conditioner right now I’ve been using cantu shea butter’s natural coconut curlying creme in place of a leave in conditioner and then I spray a light natural oil ( i.e. coconut, olive oil, etc) to lock in the moisture. You should prolly do that step daily inorder to cut down on the brittleness of your hair. I notice you use creme of nature and i liked it at first but I notice their leave in conditioner was leaving my hair brittle on the ends which I later discovered that it was a strengthening product not a moisturizing one. Well that’s all the tips I have, but I know Lisa will have more information for you 🙂
Great comments Erica! I didn’t even think about the protein issue. Yes, too much of that can definitely harm your hair.
Thanks my mama had scared me so bad about my hair and going natural that I’ve done tons of research. Another thought I had about the brittleness is taking the shampoo all the way to the ends. You only need to massage the shampoo into your scalp and when you rinse your hair the shampoo will cleanse the rest of the hair. Doing this will alleviate some of the dryness on the ends.
That is so true! Only shampooing the scalp makes a huge difference.
Okay Lisa. Hi uh , well im not fully black but i have a perm cause my mom is black and doesnt deal with natural hair , on the other hand my dad is puerto rican and has hair down his back.. My hair grows pretty fast i have new growth by the end of every week almost . But i just chopped my hair into a bob. & in order to keep my hair staright i needed a perm. But i want to grow it out natural again! How long will it take me?? & got my last perm sempter 10th im only 14 so chopping my hair ALL THE WAY OFF! Is not option either! PLEASE ANSWER BACK ASAPP!
Hi Imani
I can’t answer that as all hair grows differently. But the average hair grows 1/2 inches per month.
I been natural for 13months and I still don’t know what my hair likes I use all these shampoos but every single one makes my hair hard and brittle I can’t stand that I’m trying to find the right shampoo for me cause I feel like its stripping my hair. I did twists out but it didn’t last long my hair frizz up so quick my hair type is 4a I hate dealing with two textures its still hard for me cause my hair is very thick. I’m just bout ready to chop it all off its gettin very irritating please help. And I also put hot oil treatments once a month and clip my ends. Here are the products I used on my hair Mane and Tail, Aphogee, Tresemme, Mizani , Creme of Nature all of these shampoos make my hair very hard but their conditioners are alright not as great as Garnier fructis it made my hair so soft even it was drying And I know I need a leave in conditioner to I’m just trying to find the right shampoo for my hair.
HI Tamara
Don’t most of those shampoos have sulfates in them? That may be why. Try Giovanni products (Walmart) and see if that helps.
Hi Lisa,
Your website was just what I needed. My last perm was on 8/31/12 and I’m so excited. i’ve been on youtube and reading vlogs and blogs such as yours and feel that I’m armed with all the info I need to get me on my way!! What hit me most was your list of products to use when transitioning because that has been the one thing I wasn’t sure about.
I can’t wait til my 1 yr anniversary comes!
It will go fast! Good luck! Come chat with us over at https://napturallycurly.com/forums if you need some help!
Hello, I would like to thank you so much for posting this website. Your information on why go natural is AWESOME!!!. I will be at the 2012 Natural Hair show this Oct. 6 & 7 in Atlanta. Will you be there? I would like for you to chop my permed ends off.
Hi Lisa! I love your website! Thanks so much for sharing your experiences! I have been natural for a year and 6 months. My hair is the healthiest its ever been. But lately the products I use in my hair are all leaving flakes in my hair. I’v used Kinky Curly Custard, Miss Jessie’s Curly Mereign, Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding all of which left flakes. I tried using less product of course, but it did no good, now I hardly use any at all but the little bit I do use still leaves flakes. My twist turn out great, but because of the flakes I can’t wear them out! My hair is also very dry and lately doesn’t seem to hold moisture as well as it useto. What do you think?
Hi Gina,
I actually have the same issue. It’s not bad with Miss Jessie’s but it’s REALLY bad with KCCC. I don’t know if I’ll use that again. Have you tried clarifying your hair before using the products. Sometimes shampoo doesn’t get all the previous residue and it can mix with the cream products. Also your leave in conditioner can mix with the products and cause flaking. I’ve found that if I dilute my conditioner and make sure my hair is very wet before applying the products it minimizes flaking considerably.
HEY LISA, THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE…well turns out I woke up the next morning and just started oiling and combing thru my hair which I never really do i just bunch it up in a ponytail. Turns out I have a load of new growth just tangled and not sure if that was making my scalp so sensitive but I have been combing thru every day now and pain or irritation free. 9 months relaxer free but have no intention of big chop..thanks again.
Awesome!
Hello Lisa, I did the BC in Aug. so I am 1 month full natural. And I LOVE IT. by my hair so short, is there a style I do? As of now I just keep it comb to the back.. I use, castor oil. And love that to. And coconut on my hair. People tell me I should not go natural, and that hurts for someone to say that.what should I say back. Thanks
Congrats! I would tell them that this was the healthiest option for your hair and you’re excited about exploring all the different styles you’ll be able to do. Also tell them you appreciate their opinions but you know what’s best for your hair. LOL Folks will always have something to say. Just keep it moving and enjoy the journey.
Hi Lisa!! Great forum!!!! My question: 8 months in no relaxer. I was wondering why my head slightly hurts… It’s like it wants me to perm it… Before trying to go natural I got perms every 12 weeks for the last 15 years… Now that I want to stop getting perms like my hair Needs the perm… Have you heard of hair or scalp aching like this?
I’ve never heard of this. The only time my scalp aches is if I put stress on it with clips or wearing it in tight hairstyles. Are you sure it’s not something else?
I am a 56 y/o, whose grey hair is mid-way down my back. I got my last relaxer in February, 2012. I do not want to do the big chop. I am currently deep conditioning and then using a leave-in conditioner weekly. I just only recently started doing this. The problem is because my hair is long, I do not know what style to do (other than a pony tail, which when combed back, the new growth around the edges is frizzy). What style can I try?
My last relaxer was August 10th 2012. I am going to transition to natural hair without a “big chop”. I am extremely nervous because I do not know what texture of natural hair I will have, as I have been relaxing my hair since my pre- teen years. My hair right now when in need of a relaxer is kinky at the root in 2 areas on my head but still just remotely wavy in another area. Needless to say I think with all of my different hair textures I have going on now it’s going to be a long hard process. I have never been great at doing my own hair so I’m hoping that like you I can learn from YouTube. I am worried about how I will look as you were at the beginning, but I am hoping for the best. 🙂
Also what rod sets did you use and how did you use them to get you so curly i love it
Hi Nicole
You can watch this vid to see my whole rod set process. I use the plastic ones from the beauty supply. https://napturallycurly.com/2010/09/rod-set-with-pompadour-video-tutorial/
Hey, I’ve been thinking about going natural for awhile now and I want to know how do you wear your have the first two months and what did you put on it since you didn’t use the flat irom
I had kinky twists the first month and wore my hair pinned up the 2nd. So there was no need for heat with those styles.
I haven’t had a relaxer since April 2012, so I guess I’m like 5 months post-relaxer. But I’m only really counting the start of August because that’s when I took out my braid for the Summer and really starting messing around with my hair. I co wash and deep condition weekly and my go to style are perm rods. I like the style and usually pull it all back in a head band but I’m starting to see my texture which I love ! And when I finish washing my hair and it’s moisturized well I love my new growth but when my hair is all dry it seems like my new growth in the front that I pull back is always puffy and weird. Is there anything you recommend to create that moist look for my new growth without getting the rest of my “permed” hair wet?
Hi Keturah,
That’s probably just your texture. Mine is the same way. You can put gel on it when it’s wet but if your hair is naturally frizzy (which is a lot of us) then any gel will only be temporary. I just had to stop pulling my hair back until all my texture was the same. Now that my hair is longer and regularly conditioned, it’s softened up a lot and doesn’t look as course and dry as it did when I first started my transition. So hang in there. You are doing all the right things. Keep experimenting with curl defining products and see if responds to anything, but hard for me to recommend something without knowing how your hair will like it.
This is my third time transitioning. But the first time I ever did it on purpose. The other two times I was pregnant and did not texturize during that time. So both times my hair had been growing out approximately 12-15 months. I wish I had just chopped off the ends and went with it instead of going back to the salon after 8 weeks! I texturized my hair for years and so I wear a bunch of wash N go’s for now and I love it so far. My texturized hair has very small curls and tons of volume when I do it that way. I love it. I really love the new hair coming out, I can’t stop touching it! I guess finally my head is in the right place and I will see this through all the way this time.
Hi,
I have tried the rods and the work great. I will be 3 months transitioning on September 23. My hair is long on one side very short on the other. Should I get it,trimed so,both sides even. I am really excited about ,going natural.
Love to hear about people embracing their curls. Keep it up, Lois!
Ive been perming my hair since i was very little girl, my natural is very thick and super curly, I just started transitioning since about June and since then ive been wearing senagalese twist and i currently have in braids…but it still seems like my hair isnt growing as fast as it would with a perm or maybe im not used to it yet but i think i may have scab hair aswell how long does it take to grow out? and if i do sew in weaves can i still condition my hair (roots from new growth in weaves or braids) …. and/or deep condition?…..
Hi Chelsea,
It can last anywhere from 3 months to a year. Just depends. You can still condition your hair with braids.
Hey I just found your website and it inspired me to keep pushing. I haven’t had a perm since may 2012 so i’m a little over 4 months. I’ve been six months without a perm before because I was on the swim team in high school, but now i’m making a conscious effort to go natural and restore my hair back to health. The only problem I’m having is the scab hair that’s coming in and split ends. Before today I didn’t even know the scab hair existed and I was scared my hair was going to break at the demarcation line but now I know that it’s just scab hair. I also am having problems with split ends it seems like the more i cut the more i see which could be because I haven’t totally given up heat. Do you think at this stage i should give up heat and is moisturizing and sealing the scab hair enough to keep the perm hair from breaking at the demarcation (hope i’m spelling that right) line? Please help I would really appreciate your advice.
Hi Erica
I would def give up heat as soon as you can. If your hair is already splitting and breaking, the heat is only going to make the issue worse.
Thanks Lisa…ur a doll lol..one more question… I just did a rod set & let it air dry because now I’m terrified of putting heat to my hair.. Now, I’m used to doing rod sets in my relaxed hair & I know how it comes out looking…idk about this time because my roots aren’t permed… Do u think I shouldve sat under the dryer for a little while under low heat?
Hi Tracy
I usually sit under for at least 20 minutes to help the curls set. As you said, use low or medium heat and you should be fine.
I have not permed my hair since Nov. 2011. I have about 9 inches of new growth and still about 6 inches of relaxed hair. Should I cut off the relaxed part of my hair now? I would like more new growth to come in first. But sometimes I feel that its slowing up the process because I have not cut off all the relaxed part of my hair. I would also like to know what are the best products for relaxed hair.
Hi Kerry
No one can and should tell you when you should chop. It’s a big decision and one that should be made by how you feel. If your hair is getting difficult to manage, you may want to consider it but you don’t have to do anything you’re not ready to. You can get extensions if you want to give styling a break and then chop when you have more length. It’s really up to you. I would never tell anyone to chop unless it was breaking off to the point you couldn’t do anything with it. It’s def a personal decision.
I have a page here (under Products tab at top) that talks about what I used while I transitioned. “Best” is relative and depends on the person.
Oh OK well I have a page on natural products that I use too https://napturallycurly.com/natural-hair-products/
Hello! I’m freeeaking out right now. So I’m in my almost 4th month of my transitioning process & I have been using heat (unfortunately). So yesterday, I got my hair pressed because my ends are still permed & today while I’m at work, I’m running my fingers through my hair & there are several strands coming out every time. So, is shedding like this normal in the 3-4 months of transitioning???
Hi Tracy
It’s normal if you’ve been using heat. Your hair gets weaker as you transition so it’s only natural for it to break. And if you’ve been using heat your hair is going to be even more prone to breakage. I stopped using heat after 1 month and started doing rod sets and pin up do’s. It really helped.
Hi Lisa,
My last relaxer was in May, 2012 and so far I am really embracing this journey back to natural. My question involves how or what to do for a sista that constantly works out and sweats in her head. Right now I am wearing flat twists because this is the only style that will last, especially when you need to look decent for work or church. Do you think it is ok to continue with flat twist? I do mix in some rod sets with a flat twist updo. I also use olive & castor oil or some type of moisturizer on my hair to keep the style from getting dry and brittle. Can you use ACV with applicator bottle to help keep scalp from getting itchy or flaky while wearing flat twists?
Thank you.
Hi. I’m attempting to transition to natural but the process thus far has been very difficult. I believe the last relaxer I had was in December of 2011. Since then I haven’t even put heat in my hair. My hair was so unmanageable that my go to style was quick weaves. Even with carefully ensuring that the glue wasn’t taking my hair out I still noticed that I was losing quite a lot of hair. Now that I’m not wearing quick weaves anymore and still not putting heat in my hair, my hair seems to be in a very awkward state. It is very unmanageable. I can’t wear my hair out without fear of being embarrassed. So many hairstyles are out of the question. I can’t wear buns because my hair won’t stay slicked back and also my nape hair aka kitchen is very short and even if I cover my hair to set it, it puffs up. I can’t do twists or braid outs because my hair texture still won’t support it so it falls after minutes. I tried to flat iron my hair and wrap it yesterday only to have it puff back up an hour later. I almost feel like giving up because I’m not used to this. I hate the only styles I can wear don’t involve my real hair. I think it’s partially because I really don’t know how to take care of my hair. I was tought to keep my hair greased and wash it every 2 weeks. Other than that I don’t know what to do. Please help?!
I’ve been interested in natural hair for a while now, but I never quite thought “Hey, that could be me. I could do this.”. I’m 17 and I first started getting sew ins back to back, since my junior year, high school homecoming, 10 months ago. I wasn’t exactly taking the best care of my hair under my weaves or even the hair left out for the matter, which resulted in severe breakage in the back of my hair and around the perimeter of my head. When I took out my weave (a few weeks ago) I was amazed by how thick and full my natural hair was, but I was determined to perm it. Luckily I thought it through because I did have a great deal of natural hair (4.5-5in) not including my hair that is short in the back and perimeter of course, and not to mention the front leave out of my weave that I did perm about a month ago. But in all honesty I know what really made me decide to get a perm, and that was washing my hair. When the shampoo touched it my curl pattern came to life, and it was simply amazing and I was so intrigued with my hair! A feeling I’ve never had before. I’ve never in my life taken such good care of my hair like I’ve been doing these past weeks, and I suppose the point of my rant is to thank you for your youtube channel and this website because it has given me so much determination and inspiration to continue my transition a healthy way. I have no regrets about my hair journey besides, begging my mother to let me get a perm when I was 13, because I was too caught up trying to fit in to realize God gave me my hair for a reason, and it’s not suppose to look like every other race. Thank you again for your suggestions and styles, they have really given me insight and hope for the future of my transition to one day becoming 100% natural. & hey it might take years for me to be ready, but I’m determined none the less 🙂
Sincerely Juhidi M.
Hi Lisa! ive been debating this natural hair thing for months now & now i think im ready! The thing is, im not one who knows how to do my hair now while its straight, so i know it’s gonna be harder to do natural. i thought about getting a sew-in so that i would’t have to see my hair in the beginning. is that a good idea? i appreciate all the tips you gave during your transition. i hope to have success during my process.
Chanda
What I want everyone to know is I wasn’t either. I wore my hair in a wrap the entire time I was relaxed. I never did anything special to style my hair but I learned a lot via YouTube. So if I can do it, anyone can!
Hey, I’ve been texturizer free since February 2012, I haven’t really been deep conditioning/moisturizing until around May/June 2012. I do notice my hair is feeling softer and easier to manage but the tips of the front of my hair is still somewhat straight. I’ve avoided heat since Feb. and only once used a straight iron on it. What should I do and should I be worried about my tips. Also, I was curious to know if applying long twist extensions on my hair will effect my transition at all.
I have some straight hairs in the front too. I think it’s just my texture. You’ll find that your head has multiple textures. A lot of it did eventually curl up as I got farther into my transition but I do still see the occasional straight hairs. Extensions are fine as long as you don’t get them done too tight and you let your hair rest after taking them down before getting more.
Ok I’m a man so I’m coming from an outsider looking in perspective, but to me it seems like some of these natural styles take more maintenance than getting your hair relaxed almost? I mean I’m checking those pics out and those hair styles look like they take a lot of work. If I’m a woman that has to be to work at 8 am, I’m not trying to wake up at 5:30 just to put some twists in my hair every morning but that’s just me. I thought the whole point of wearing your hair naturally was to reduce or eliminate the hassle and maintenance? Get up and go if you will……If I were a woman, I’d go straight amber rose out here, natural and low maintenance. But like I said, I’m just a dumb man….So what do I know anyway? lol
Hey Askia,
Always great to hear a man’s perspective. Women go natural for different reasons. If low maintenance is what you’re after than wash and go afros or short do’s will be her choice. Not everyone minds spending time on their hair and for me going natural was more about healthier hair. Relaxers may be quicker in some respect but my hair was thinning. I knew I was going to be investing more time and I am OK with that.
Natural hair doesn’t have to mean a lot of time. It’s just some women choose it because they want to achieve different styles and explore the diversity of having natural hair.
As far as twisting my hair every morning, I’ve never had to do that and I often wear styles that last 3 weeks. In fact, right now I’m wearing a puff/afro that took all of 15 minutes to prepare out of the shower. I just blogged about it here https://napturallycurly.com/2012/08/wash-and-go-natural-hair/
I have been transitioning for six months now and I found that it is so convent for me to slick it back with a little eco styler and put it in a ponytail,is this changing my hair natural pattern?
No, gel does not harm your pattern.
Hey Lisa,
I’m a 17 I have been really wanting to go natural since the 11th grade, but I’ve been too scared too because my parents weren’t so supportive, but my question to you is when you go natural does it grow back to your normal hair length? Meaning the longest your hair has ever been would it go back to that length just in natural form? And also if you were to straighten your hair after it had grown out naturally would that be the same as straightening it while it was permed, worse or better?
Hi Kadeaz
Natural hair doesn’t necessarily mean longer hair. If you don’t take care of it then it can be as troublesome to grow as some relaxed hair can be. I personally am at a length that is longer than I’ve ever been and I attribute it to no heat and lots of protective styles (twists, etc.). So having natural hair doesn’t necessarily mean longer hair. Although many women discover it does because they don’t use as much heat and manipulate it less. How long your hair grows will depend on genetics, diet and hair maintenance. There isn’t one catch all answer.
Well I think I have finally convinced myself to go natural! I have been on the fence about this for the last year and a half. I attempted several times over the last 2 years but i would only make til about month 3 or so. Then I would just give in and get a relaxers. Well this time I have been relaxer free since April 2012. i have Seborrheic Dermatitis and Rheumatiod Arthritis. So with that beening said…. I had a major flare up in June 2012. I was just about to get another relaxer when the flair up happened. I ended up on massive amounts of steroid by mouth as well as topical to my scalp! So I went another month nappy. I now have micros since July 2012. I want to continue this journey but I have no clue what to do with my hair once I take down the braids. My hair is damaged from years of relaxing as well as my disease process mentioned above. My hair is thick, coarse, and coily. It is broken off around my crown and near my edges. It is dry and brittle and so hard for me to keep moisturized partially again related to my disease process but even before my hair has always been dry. I have looked around on your website but basically I would like you to make some recommendations based off what I told you about my hair. I plan to take down my micros next month and possibly get kinky twist depending on the shape of my edges but if not braids….I will need some help!!! I was the girl who went to the salon faithfully to get my hair done so me doing it myself will be an interesting challenge!! And I have no idea where to start….PLEASE HELP!!
Your hair needs lots of luv and TLC. lol Start deep conditioning your hair as soon as you take out your micros. Try doing a rod set or bantu knot out or any style that doesn’t require heat. You need to rest your scalp from all the pulling and deep conditioning weekly will help you retain moisture better. Check YouTube for some great bantu knot out vids.
Hey Lisa, I’m a sophomore in high school and my last relaxer was on April 10. So I’m almost 4 months post- relaxer and I haven’t cut or trimmed my hair at all since then. Getting my hair to look curly or even kinky is so hard. I mean it does work until after the 3 or 4 try. I have tried braid outs and twist outs . The only thing that really works is bantu knots but those are hard to sleep on, pull my hair, and I once read they werent healthy for your hair so I’m kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place. I moisturize my hair each time I wash it which is every week. So from the little that I’ve told you, you can tell I’m new to this. I would just like some tips on …
1. How do I get my hair curly ?
2. Am I moisturizing enough ?
3. How often should I trim ?
4. Will trimming my hair make it grow faster/ How much should I trim at a time ?
5. What will make my hair have the curly look?
6. Why doesn’t my hair get the curly look after the braid out and twist out ?
7. What should I do for back to school do I don’t go with such a big poof?
8. Is there any products that will make my hair curly?
9. Is there any styles you would recommend me trying ?
10.How do I get my curls to stay for more than a day ?
Hi Tanaya
First of all, I’m no hair expert so I will try to answer as best I can. Everyone’s hair texture is different and it’s going to be hard for me to recommend something because I do not know how your hair responds to different things.
1) Rod sets worked best for me when transtioning, but you cannot make your natural hair do what it’s not meant to do naturally. Not everyone’s hair is curly. You may have a more zig zag pattern than curls or coils.
2) If your hair doesn’t feel dry, you are moisturizing enough. Go by how it feels.
3) As often as you need. If you don’t see split ends or excess breakage probably every 6-8 weeks is enough.
4) No. Trimming has nothing to do with growth. Your follicles have no idea what’s going on at the end of your hair. Optimal hair growth can be promoted by eating healthier, drinking water and exercise but nothing makes your hair grow faster than its optimal growth.
5) See #1
6) Try using setting lotion for harder hold or leave them in longer
7) Keep experimenting with twists and rod sets. Use a setting lotion or something with hold to see if you can get the braids to make your hair more wavy
8) Nothing can make relaxed hair curly unless you do a rod set.
9) Check my transitioning styles at the top of the page.
10) See #6
Also stop by the forums https://napturallycurly.com/forums for more advice and to chat with other transitioners.
Thanks so much ! I’m going to try everything you said and get back to you.
My last relaxer has been in April and I have been looking up your website and ‘YouTube-ing’ a lot of tips and helpful hints to go ahead and transition. But I’m at such a loss! I recently took down my micro braids which had a lot of breakage and shedding. But I deep conditioned my hair and moisturized it. I tried to do a flat twist out, but it came out horribly. Are there any styles you could suggest to try to more effectively blend my natural hair with the processed hair? And also any twists or braids are hard to do when my hair is wet because the relaxed ends automatically unravel when I let go even for a second. I really want to continue this journey, but I need some help!
Hi Keturah! It sounds like you’re on the right track, congratulations! I went through the exact same thing with my ends unraveling, so I had to chime in. I would hold the end of the twist and twirl it into itself, creating a pin curl I guess, and used small bobby pins to pin them down. I also experimented with other small clips that I would see in the beauty sections in different stores (Walmart, Walgreens, Target, etc.). I did not use rubber bands. Slowly but surely, I needed less and less of them until now I don’t need them at all! This was from January when I started, until around May. Give it a try and see how it works for you. Try not to be discouraged, remember its a journey! You’ll be fully natural in no time, just try to be patient. Good luck!
HI Keturah,
Have you tried rod setting your hair? That was my go-to style between months 3 and 7 when I was transitioning. The smaller the rods, the easier it will be to blend the hair and the curls will last longer. If you search for rod set in the search box, I have some posts on that.
I’ve tried to transition twice already, but I never stuck with it. Now, I really want to. A few months ago, I noticed breakage in the middle of my head (I assumed it was due to dryness), so I continued with relaxers for another 3 months or so, while also trying to keep my hair moisturized. Is me going natural healthy for my hair at this point (especially where it broke off)? I cheer most of the year, so I’m thinking about keeping sew-ins throughout the cheer season. What do you think I should do to protect my hair?
Going natural is the best thing because it may be from the chemicals. You will know in a few months if it starts growing back. Be careful with the sew-ins though because they can put stress on the hair. My friend went thru this and finally had to just do a BC because her hair kept breaking off due to the tightness of the braids with her sew-ins.
Did her hair grow back normally after the BC?
It’s slowly starting to come in. She’s always had thin edges so right now it’s hard to tell. She has NO regrets though and feels free with no extensions.
Hello, I started my transition back in May and I wasn’t having such abig deal.. But this following month, I’ve been tired of having braids in my hair and thinking if I should relax my hair this Saturday so I can simply wrap it.. my question is should I give up this easily (2 months) or should I continue to fight until after 5 months? Also what good hair styles are decent looking for medium sized thick hair?
Thanks so much for the tip! I will pick up some aloe vera tomorrow and look for some cute head bands. I tried my own spin on Bantu knots yesterday and must admit it turned out great! My hair is nor short and not long enough for a ponytail so I have that in between thing going. I made about 12 plaits in my head after co washing an conditioning really well. I twisted the plaits down in little
balls or knots and secured with a rubber band as they were all
I had on hand. I let it dry naturally…18 hours to dry for me!! I wore my little
Knots out in public with cute accessories and a little dress so it can give the allusion
That I did this purposely
lol @ “I did that purposely.” You go girl!
Thanks so much for sharing your journey. Last yearbimwent 6 months before I fell back for the hype of chemically straightened hair. Now I’m 3 almost 4 months in. My hair was Ina bob so I am very limited in what styles I can wear. I am building a support system because I am not brave enough to big chop yet. What do you suggest on your edges? Mine are a mess!! I also have very thick course hair so I can barley get a comb through the back it’s like a briar patch!!!
Have you tried using some aloe vera gel and a tad bit of gel to slick them down with a headband? Aloe Vera Gel is less drying than regular gel. I wore a lot of headbands when I was in the first 6 months.
HELP!!!!! im currently 11 months into my transitioning and ive noticed
that the back/middle of my hair is growing alot faster
than my front/edges. I was wondering of theres anything
i could possibly do to help the front of my hair grow
because it seems to be sitting in place and not growing?
should i try more protective styling like braiding the
front of my hair often..
Hi Barbara
This is all very common. My hair grows unevenly too. To this day my back is longer than the top/sides and my hair is in layers. Nothing you can really do to even it out as most people’s hair grows unevenly. It’s not that your hair is not growing, it just grows slower than the rest. Everyone has their own “normal.”
I have decided to go Natural! I’ve been transitioning for about 5 months now! I would like to learn more about what is good for my hair and what is not! I should tell you that i am also in the Marching Band (high school), which is the main reason i have decided to go natural anyway! I would like to really learn more about what products to buy!
Hey girl. Read some of the transitioning articles here for product tips on the left side. You really have to experiment as no one can tell you what your hair needs or likes. But my articles here for the kinds of products should give you a general idea. Good luck!
Thanks very much! This website is soooo helpful! I think everyone should go natural! lol
Hey,
I was only about three months into transition when I did the big chop so now I’m a year into transition and my big chop. I have used any heat towards my hair within the time that I’ve been natural, nor any chemicals. My hair seems to not be growing fast enough to me, but more importantly why I’m writing you is that the back of my hair seems to be growing at first. Now it seems that, that hair is thinning. I don’t style my hair and it’s like the part that I lay on when I sleep, do you know why this is happening, and what I can do to get it back?
Do you sleep on a satin pillow case or wear a satin bonnet?
Hi I am wondering how your hair reacts to sweat while transitioning, I have a rod set, and a new baby, and I am worried about how my curls will react to working out. Do you work out, and do the rod sets stand up to a good sweaty gym work out?
It frizzes badly. I don’t sweat much and if I do work out and sweat a lot (rare) I’ll wear two strand twists.
Thanks for your advice it is tempting to cut it, though
Thank you I’m very impatient so do you think if I used roller sets instead of the rods will it have the want affect? Im interested in using jessies products could I use it now 6-8 months since my last relaxeror do I have to be fully naturally
You sure can. I used Miss Jessie’s when I was far into my transition. I just used rods at the ends of my hair. I personally like rods better. Rollers didn’t work for me. They didn’t last long but you’ll have to experiment. What works for me may not work for you.
hey lisa im 6-8 months post relaxer and mostly the back, sides and front are almost natural but the middle still has quite a while to go. I tried the two strand twist and the back looked amazing but the front had that wet dog look. I dont know what styles to put my hair in. I guess I’m afraid of what might not look good. Ive grown so accustom to my relaxer styles. What styles could I do at this point and do you put any moisturizers in your hair before doing the rod set?
Hi Ashley,
A wet dog! lol… oh my. 🙂 I can relate. We all tend to have different textures. My back will hold well, while my crown area often gets dryer/fuzzier faster. When you do your rod set, try to use smaller rods in areas where your hair doesn’t hold as well. I don’t moisturize before unless you count the leave in conditioner.
Make sure your hair is sopping wet (remember, water is moisture) and then I usually apply the setting lotion (Bronner Brothers Foam Wrap) and then some aloe vera gel (Fruit of the Earth). Also make sure you are holding the rod taught to get a tight hold.