How to Start Transitioning to Natural Hair

By DiscoveringNatural


Transitioning to Natural Hair is a process of letting your new growth (natural hair) grow with your relaxed ends.
Let's start from the very beginning...

When it comes to knowing how to start transitioning to natural hair, you have to have a starting point. The starting point is you having relaxed hair and wondering how to convert that relaxed, chemically treated hair back to its natural state. 

Speaking from experience, when I ventured into the great unknown which was natural hair, I did not know what laid ahead for me. I knew that I did not want to cut off all my relaxed hair just 8 weeks after my last relaxer. I also knew that I wanted to learn more about this new world. You would think that it would be easy for me since I just got done transitioning my daughter for a year and my youngest daughter has always been natural. But there is a difference when it comes to caring for your own hair.

Step 1: Have a Plan
Having a plan as to how I wanted to be natural, was the first step I took. I knew that I was not going to do the Big Chop; chopping off all my relaxed ends, which will only give me about 2 inches of natural hair.  It was easy for me to realize that transitioning was the way to go.


Step 2: Have a Regimen
Developing a regimen early in your transitioning journey will help you have an easier transition. A regimen can be as simple as what you do on a daily basis, nightly basis, wash day, and monthly, when it comes to caring for your hair.

Step 3: Have Several Transitioning Styles
Due to the difficulty of blending your relaxed ends with your new growth, which can cause some unwarranted frustrations. If you are like me and choose to transition without the aid of extensions/attachments, wigs or weaves, having the right transitioning styles can take a lot of creativity.  Know that there are so many resources out there that can help you. YouTube is a great place to start when it comes to learning how to style your hair.



Step 3: Facing the Struggle
Like every new venture, transitioning can have its own challenges. Getting over those challenges can help make your transitioning period long and less stressful. The longer your transition, the more new growth and length you can have.
  • The first struggle I had when I started transitioning was the dryness I experienced. Substituting the use of shampoo that contain sulfates with sulfate free shampoo helped with reducing the dryness. Also, using conditioner to wash my hair (cowash) made my new growth soft.

  • Another struggle I had was with the constant tangling of my relaxed ends and my new growth. The point where the relaxed hair touches the new growth is known as the line of Demarcation. This point is prone to breakage. What helped me was finger detangling rather than using a comb.
Transitioning to natural hair can be a wonderful time for you to learn more about natural hair and how to care for it. Take each day at a time and learn from your mistake.

11 comments

  1. this is really good. i found transitioning really hard i just had to o th big chop. and i loved it because i get to learn about my hair from the roots. amazing. this would be really helpful for those who want to transition.

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  2. This is right on time as I'm just 3mths along in the transitioning stage and God knows I'm tempted to relax my hair

    Senabrushover.blogspot.com

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  3. Great article. I transitioned, without even knowing it, wearing braids. This will be helpful for those that do not want to take the "extension' or " big chop" route.

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  4. This is a quite educative. I Wanted a fresh start and so I did the BC.
    This would help my sisters who want to go natural but don't want to big chop.
    Thanks.

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  5. I did the BC about two days now! I am so SCARED people think I am crazy cos I didn't say I was going to cut my hair I just did it. I think imma color it nt sure yet. I really don't knw wat tmrw holds I don't knw wat2do to it. Its so low! I don't even bother I am just enjoyin d bliss of feelin d gentle breeze caressing my scalp. And oh! Hw I now look forward2bathtime.

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    Replies
    1. Congrats on the BC. I know it can be such a scary decision. First thing, make sure you keep your hair moisturized. Personally, I do not advice coloring your hair when you just big chop because coloring can cause further dryness. But the decision is totally up to you.
      Rock your low cut with your head held high!! The confidence will show and others will see that in you.

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  6. this is really good.for we that just want to go natural without big chop

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  7. This is really good and helpful,but my question is what hairstyle can one make with a transitioning hair?. Thanks.

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