When you’ve been relaxing your hair for years and you want to go natural, sometimes the process is easier said than done. It can be extremely overwhelming especially if you don’t know how to deal with your natural texture. Yet don’t be alarmed use these tips, to make the transitioning process much easier.
When Going From Relaxed to Natural – Stick to your decision. Many women with relaxed hair see a celebrity or a woman on the street with a full round afro or thick curly hair and decide that they want that look for themselves, but as soon as their roots begin to grow in they become ready to throw the relaxer on it.
So put the relaxer down, and stay encouraged. Instead prepare yourself about your fears whether it’s the fear of not being attractive with your natural hair, of not knowing how to manage your hair, or if you fear you’ll lack styling options. Encourage yourself with pictures of beautiful women, celebrities and otherwise with natural hairstyles to remind yourself that you can be just as beautiful with your natural hair too. Educate yourself by reading natural hair magazines and books so that you can learn how to take care of your hair in its natural state and so that you can see the variety of styles that is available to women with natural hair. Remember just as it took time and practice to learn how to take care of your relaxed hair, the same thing goes for natural hair, you’ll just have to have the patience to learn new techniques and styles.
When Going From Relaxed to Natural – Decide whether you’ll do the big chop or let it grow out. In order for you to have the natural style you crave you’re going to have cut off all of your relaxed hair, eventually. The easiest way to get started is to do the big chop asap. Just cut it all off and start fresh, and you won’t have to deal with two drastically different hair textures, and so you won’t damage the natural hair with the thin relaxed ends you’re carrying around. Obviously this move is for the gutsiest women around, and if you’re game you can rock the low haircut with fearlessness, or don a wig or extensions until your hair grows in more.
For those who are more attached to their hair, there’s an option for you. You can grow out your relaxed hair while trimming off an inch or so every month and a half to make the transition more comfortable for you. This will get you by for a while, but eventually all of the relaxed hair is going to have to come off so that the natural hair doesn’t split, and you’ll have to do deal with short tresses for awhile.
In the mean time if you’re still trying to style your hair straight don’t use a pressing comb while you still have too textures, because you can damage the relaxed hair and further weaken the line where the straight part of your hair shaft meets the natural end and cause breakage. Be careful with blow-dryers and flat-irons as well. The most sensible options for your hair while you transition is to just begin to wear it curly, braided, or some other option that doesn’t put a lot of strain or heat on your hair.
When Going from Relaxed to Natural – Get a support system. While the natural look is definitely becoming more and more embraced in the African-American community, to some the natural look isn’t viewed as attractive or just seems to high-maintenance. So if you really want to go the natural route, find a stylist who knows how to care for natural hair to make your transition easier, if the one you have now isn’t supportive or doesn’t know how to deal with your hair in it’s half natural/half relaxed state. The stylist will be able to give you more styling options and keep you looking and feeling good. If you have friends or family members or even acquaintances who have made the transition or never used a relaxer before ask them for tips on how they managed their hair, or for words of encouragement.
Also visit www.motowngirl.com a must see website for anyone who’s trying to make the transition. It’s founded by a woman who went from relaxed to natural years ago. She gives great tips and advice to women who’d like to do the same, and addresses all the concerns and questions a relaxed girl might have about the transitioning process. While other natural hair care advice sites tend to look down their noses at women who relax their hair, creating an ‘us versus them’ environment. Motown girl promotes women to love their natural hair, but isn’t pushy about it, and still makes everyone feel at home, regardless of how you style your hair.
