Whether it’s to reduce the use of conditioners, which have been said to have chemicals that are harmful to women, or it’s just to get a feel of being “natural,” a few women may have considered transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair a few times.
Don’t worry, though. Here are some tips to know if you are considering going natural by transitioning.
1. Consider the ‘big chop’
It is common for people transitioning their hair to go ahead and do the big chop—that is, cutting off all the relaxed hair, leaving a short amount of new growth near the scalp. is certainly the best option for creating healthy growth, but not everyone wants their hair to be less than an inch long.
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If you’re bold enough to try a new look, the big chop is an excellent choice for immediately getting rid of all your relaxed hair, creating an immediate full transition to natural hair.
2. Trim your hair regularly
If you’re not willing to go for the big chop, the next step is to do regular trims of your hair.
Start by cutting off a few inches of your hair, and then once a month, cut off ¼ to ½ an inch of hair. Over time, you’ll have removed all of the damaged, relaxed hair above the demarcation line, allowing your natural hair to grow more strongly.
3. Find a great styling product
Many women can vouch for the importance of owning a good hair gel, pomade, or spray; with the right products, you can cover up even the most unsightly of hairstyles.
Sort through your styling products, and try using them (rather than a tight style with clips or elastic bands) to style your hair. You may like the results better, and it will be safer and more gentle on your fragile hair as
4. Try using braids or twists
Although tight cornrows can cause breakage, using loose cornrows, braids, and twists is a great way to add interest to your hair without damaging it. The most manageable transitioning hairstyles are box braids and Senegalese twists.
These hairstyles include little to no hair manipulation and they give a lot of hair protection since the extension hair is covering your real hair.
Mastering each style can be tricky, so spend some time finding which works best with your hair and personal stylistic preferences. The most important thing is to keep whatever style you use very loose, so as to avoid stressing the strands of hair
