I’m taking it back to the basics this time around because this is a much requested post especially for you, that wants to start this natural hair journey but doesn’t know how to go about it. This is also for you, if you’ve been thinking of just giving up and relaxing your hair because you feel your hair is not manageable at all. I got you! Mind you that every natural hair is manageable with the right hair practices. I will be starting off with these very important but yet often overlooked knowledge.

source: pinterest

Common Mistakes People Make While Transitioning/Returning to Natural

• Unnecessary Comparison: This scares the hell out of me and I always find it difficult to help when someone is doing this. I remember getting this dm from one of my followers on Instagram (you can follow me @viola_ekene). She needed my guide and advice as she complained her hair was difficult to manage. On further questioning about her hair regimen, she honestly told me she wished her was like that of someone on Instagram she admired her curl pattern. I found it hard convincing her to do the right things and embrace her curl pattern. To cut the long story short, her hair is doing well and she is absolutely in love with her curl pattern now. This took months but I love the fact she was determined. The process would have been shorter if there were no comparisons. In essence, love your curl pattern. It is unique!
• Buying every new hair product that hits the market: You see, you don’t even need all those products to have a successful hair journey. Discover what works for your hair and stick to it. You can start with the very basic ones I mentioned in this post. Click here to read.
• Not making out a reasonable amount of time to take care of your hair: By a reasonable amount of time, I mean it can be as small as fifteen minutes! Yeah! Fifteen minutes except on wash days which is quite dependent on how dense your hair is to take much time washing and deep conditioning. Moisturizing your hair once in while which can be just three times in a week won’t even take 5 minutes of your time. So sis, you think it’s that time consuming to take care of your hair? No!
• Impatience: I find it quite funny when people have the big chop today and expect their hair to be at bra length in six months. Really sis? You have to be patient and understand what your hair needs. Once it’s healthy, growth will be effortless. Fast hair growth is also dependent on one’s genetics but you know what? I choose HEALTH over LENGTH anytime, any day!
• I’ll just keep on straightening my hair while transitioning. Lol! No sis! You’re killing your hair! Constant heat weakens your hair and soon enough, they’ll start breaking off. I know you don’t want that. If you’ve been thinking of constant stretching, change your mind now.
• Neglecting your hair porosity: Ayee! I see people being so totally obsessed with their hair type/curl pattern and neglect the very important factor which is ‘hair porosity’. Hair porosity is how fast/slow your hair can absorb moisture. That is why some people’s hair hardly retain moisture and is as such referred to as low porosity. Mine is of low porosity. Knowing your hair porosity will guide you when shopping for natural hair products as you already know what your hair will accept or not.

With that established, this brings me to how you can transition and what to do at that fragile stage.

How To Transition/What to do While Transitioning to Natural Hair

The transitioning stage is very delicate and can be frustrating if you have no idea on how to handle your hair at that point in time. I understand you have to deal with a lot of ‘undergrowth’ and most hairdressers won’t pity you when making your hair. Lol!

Big-chop (source: pinterest)

• Quit relaxing your hair: I transitioned for 6-8 months before I had the big chop. Some transition for as long as 2-3 years; it’s your choice girl! At that transitioning stage, do not use shampoos that contain sulphate and parabens as this will excessively strip your hair of moisture. Ever washed your hair and it felt so frizzy? Yeah! That’s the effect of using shampoos that contain sulphate and parabens. You can find out by reading the ingredients on the product container.
• Deep condition regularly: Very pivotal to a successful hair journey. Do this at least once in two weeks. Be sure to use a water based product for this. You’ll know if it’s water based when water is the first ingredient written on the product container/bottle as the case may be.
• Moisture! Moisture! Moisture!: The worse thing you’ll ever do to your hair is not moisturizing. Water is the cheapest moisturizer but it is also advisable to invest in good, affordable leave in conditioner for extra moisture. Your hair will thank you for this!
• Seal: invest in sealants which can be as basic as coconut oil or shea butter. This is best used after moisturizing as this will seal in the moisture. That is why they are called SEALANTS.
• The big chop: When you feel you’re ready to chop off the relaxed ends of your hair, please go to a salon to do this so you don’t chop off the ‘upcoming natural hair’. Lol! I did not do the big chop at once. I gradually trimmed off the relaxed ends of my hair after every three months. However, some people do not go through the transitioning process but choose to barb off almost all hair at once. Well, if you’re very comfortable with very short hair, Nice! But if you’re not, please go through the transitioning process.

Very Short Natural Hair (source: pinterest)

Once you’ve chopped off all the relaxed ends of your hair, you’re fully on natural hair and will need lots of advice on how to take care of it. I send most of these tips to my email subscribers which is very important you join. Click here to join! I’ve announced this like hundred times and I’ll do that again. Lol! I’ll be giving away some natural hair products soon so if you didn’t click that link to subscribe, scroll up and do that to stand a chance of winning.

Hope you found this post helpful. Do well to share on your social media platforms. This might help a sister struggling with her natural hair. What other questions do you have? Do you have other natural hair issues you’ll want me to address in a blog post? Tell me in the comment section!

Till next time, Shalom!