So You're a Transitioner: 10 Tips To Begin Your Natural Journey

 

So You're a Transitioner:  10 Tips to Begin Your Natural Journey

By:  Lauren Francis-Jackson

 

You have made the decision to join the world of natural hair!  You may have grappled with the decision-- going back and forth, perhaps even feeling the uncertainty of what lies ahead.  Maybe, it was an easy decision to make but have no idea of where to start!  Whether it was an easy or challenging decision, you are starting a journey that may change YOU in more ways than one.  Many natural women report they have gained confidence, more positive attitude, a boost to make overall lifestyle changes, and more!  Today, let's just focus on first things first-- what to do next?!?

 

 

1.  Decide on whether you will transition by gradually growing out your natural texture, or plunge right into natural with the big chop!

 

If you don't know how you want to begin the journey, now is a great time to think about how soon you want to embrace your natural texture.  Neither way is good or bad nor right or wrong.  It just has to meet your comfort level of what you want to do with YOUR hair!  Some ladies transition for a short amount of time then want to do the big chop and some are determined to transition for the long haul as the relaxed hair is gradually cut.  You will know which is right for you!

 

 

2.  Your hair care routine will change!  You need to take care of both textures, natural and relaxed, to promote healthy hair growth. 

 

Taking care of transitioning hair is different than caring for relaxed hair.  Your hair will become more delicate-- it may be more prone to breakage especially at the point where both textures meet.  A solid hair care routine involving gentle shampoos and conditioners, deep conditioning, and easy styling will help "train" your hair as you move toward natural textured hair!

 

 

3.  YouTube (and the internet as a resource in general) will be your new bestie!

 

On YouTube, there are lots of videos on transitioning hair from hair care routines to styling!  You will gain knowledge on product usage, hair care tips, and support to continue on your journey.  Also, there is a website sponsored by Carol's Daughter (www.transitioningmovement.com) that has lots of hair care advice, stories of other transitioners, and inspiring photos showing hair progress of transitioners.  There is also an abundance of information on natural hair care, natural beauty advice, and more!  Also, search for other websites

 

 

4.  Join natural hair pages on Facebook, and follow natural hair bloggers on Twitter and Instagram!

 

I learned so much from other women who were already natural by following different natural hair Facebook pages and Twitter personalities.  Some of my favs are:

 

• Thank God I'm Natural
• Transitioning to Natural
• I Love My Kinky Curly Natural Hair
• Natural Girls Rock

Some of my favorite natural hair bloggers when I began my transition:

• Sunshine's Natural and Loving It
• Natural Chica
• SimplYOUnique
• Taren916

5.  It will be challenging at times-- any life journey has its ups and downs!

Transitioning to natural hair is no exception to any other journey!  There will be days where you love your hair, and others when you will not and ask yourself, "What in the world am I doing??!?"  That is totally normal-- when we make a big change that feeling of doubt can creep in!  Keep strong with a good hair regimen, keep positive with motivating stories and hair progress! 


6.  If you choose to wear your hair loose, do more curly styles and wet sets! 

In time, it will become more challenging to blend the two textures so curly styles are a great way to transition.  Curly styles like flexis, spiral curls, and bantu knot outs all allow one to wear your hair in fun styles while blending the two textures as much as possible.  You also do not want to damage the new growth by pressing it as straight as the relaxed hair. 


7.  Use braided styles, sew-in weaves, and other styles where your hair is fully protected. 

When I transitioned, I wanted to let my hair grow through protective styling where my hair is braided up and not exposed to the rigors of daily manipulation.  Braids, kinky twists, sew-in weaves, wigs, cornrows, flat twists, braided updos, and afro twists are all examples of protective styles where your hair can grow from being braided up in unmanipulated styles. 


8.  Moisturizing is extremely important!  And typical grease and hair oil is not the answer!

In this transition period, take the time to educate yourself on the benefits of natural essential oils for moisture.  Olive oil, castor oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and almond oil are good oils for moisture with natural curls.  Moisture is key in any hair regimen, and it is even more important in the natural world.  As you will learn, you may find your hair seems more dry-- this could be from product use or because you are transitioning between two textures.  If it is due to product usage, obviously you need to change what you are putting on your hair!


9.  Understand that finding products that work with YOUR hair will be a journey within itself!  Just because it works for one natural gal doesn't mean it will work for YOU!


Sometimes we think that "I saw so and so on YouTube, and her hair looks like mine!  Let me try this product she used too!".  It sounds logical, and seems like it will work.  Then, after you have spent the money on these products, and they didn't do the same on your hair- you are one salty sister!  It will take time-- sometimes you may try a product, and it is a winner or a dud.  The key is not to get discouraged-- just means that product may not be for YOU!  Talk to other transitioners and other naturals to find items to try.  I tend to stick to more natural products with no parabens, no silicones, no mineral oil, no sulfates.  These ingredients tend to dry out natural textured hair!

10.  This is the most important step to ME:  Enjoy learning more about YOUR hair!

Taking on this journey back to natural will have ups and downs, however it should be an incredible journey at every stage!  Enjoy the period of transitioning and/or big chop!  Get the feeling of empowerment, pride, beauty, elegance, confidence, and maturity as you begin your journey.  As you learn YOUR hair, you also learn more about you as a person.  Self-discovery is a beautiful thing and

 should be cherished as you evolve into the natural diva! 

 

Are you transitioning now?  Do you plan to big chop or be a long term transitioner?  For those natural divas, how do you look back on the beginning of your natural journey?  What were your thoughts?

 

~The Sisterlocked Diva

 

 

Check Your Hair Routine: Winter Hair Tips

Check Your Hair Routine: Winter Hair Tips

By: Lauren Francis-Jackson

 

 

Depending on where you live, you may be experiencing some challenges with keeping warm in the colder temperatures.  If you are like me, you are not be a fan of cold weather AT ALL!  I am the chick with fuzzy socks galore, hot tea in abundance, and several pair of snow boots (don't judge me

:-)!  Guess what natural hair does not like it anymore than you do!  Certain weather conditions such as blustery winds really does dry out natural hair.  This makes retaining moisture even more of a challenge!

 

These changes in the atmosphere's temperature cause us to make some changes with the products that we are using as well as our wash routine.  Let's start with the wash routine for the loose natural.  Before I get to the step of washing my hair in the shower, I am going to begin my routine with a pre-poo.  I ALWAYS pre-pooed in the winter for every wash day because it allowed by 4b/c hair to retain moisture for longer.  Choose your favorite oil such as olive oil as a pre-poo or create your own oil concoction.  I pre-pooed for at least 45 minutes before I washed my hair.  I am going to wash my hair less frequently because I am stripping  my hair of those natural oils  by keeping with the same frequency of washing.  If you are not already, I would switch to doing more co-washing (washing one's hair with conditioner) when you do wash your hair.  My leave-in conditioners are going to be water-based moisturizing conditioners.  I used to use Kinky-Curly's Knot Today, Curl's Coconut Curlada conditioner, or Cantu's Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream.  All of these conditioners are creamy in texture and a little heavier.  Since I love the LOC method, I made sure that I sealed in using oils and butters.  In additional to natural oils, I love the African Pride Hot Six Oil!  This was magic on my hair for retaining moisture!  Lastly, I would seal with a creamy butter like shea butter.

 

For my loc'd divas, your action will depend on where you are in your locking process.  In general, you want to moisturize with your natural oils and protect your hair from the cold by using protective head gear like head wraps/scarves, and satin-lined hats.  For moisture, you can also use a oil mixture in a spray bottle or apply it directly to the scalp.  It is also important not to overwash your hair as well!  For those with sisterlocks, what you will do would depend where you are in your locking process as well!  As a newbie, spritzing my hair with water only is my moisture treatment.  At my salon, they preach, "no to oils!" religiously to everybody.  I have heard a few sisterlock wearers talk about using a light oil to keep moisture in their locks.  For sisterlock products, there is the moisture treatment, which is sold on the Sisterlocks websites. 

 

In your home, you can also help bring moisture into the air by reducing the amount of furnace ehat you are using if possible.  Furnace heat will also dry out your hair.  I am the newest fan of humidifiers!!  I love my humidifier for my allergies and sinus issues, however the moisture they add in the air is also good for my hair.  You can get these for $25-60 at most stores like CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, etc.  Even a kid-sized humidifier is adequate for moisturizing the air in your home or office.  Also, good sleeping habits such as sleeping with a satin scarf and /or satin pillowcases will make your hair smile! 

 

 

How do you change your wash and moisturizing routine for winter?  What types of chnages in clothing and environmental changes do you make in the winter?

 

~The Sisterlocked Diva