So you decided to transition. Awesome! Now it’s time to rid yourself of the old products and tools that you used when your hair was still relaxed and straight. Below I outline the products to use when transitioning from relaxed to natural. Even if you wear your hair straight, you can use these tips to make your hair look its absolute best.
Trusting Company’s Marketing
Why?: They don’t always do what’s best for naturally curly hair.
Instead: Don’t trust the labeling. Trust the ingredients. It’s best to research name of ingredients and their true purpose, so you know what to look for and what to avoid. I’ve given you some things to avoid below but it’s good to read and educate for yourself as well.
Extra Tips: Anything in the first 3-6 ingredients is the most potent. So if it says there’s avacado oil in the conditioner and you look at the back of the bottle and it’s the 13th ingredient, it’s really doing nothing to benefit your hair.
Oil, Grease with Petroleum Jelly or Mineral Oil
Why?: They block the hair strands from obtaining any moisture or nutrients they should receive.
Instead: Use natural oils and butters, extra virgin olive oil (also known as evoo) in the natural world. You can buy it at Walmart for like $10 and it lasts a year!). What’s also great is coconut oil, castor oil, shea butter, grapeseed, apricot, jojoba, avacado, and more. Basically any oil that is natural will work wonders on your hair.
Extra Tips: You’ve probably heard a lot about moroccan oil and argan oil. People rave about how they eliminates frizz and help when straightening curly hair. It’s because there’s usually silicones added in it, so use those sparingly if purchased.
Generic Shampoos with Sulfates
Why?: The sulfate is harsh on hair and strips our hair of the oils our curly hair despreately needs.
Instead: Look for moisturizing shampoos that say no sulfates or parabeans on the bottle.
Extra Tips: Shea Moisture has a great line of products. All their products are great but I stick with their orange line (Restorative for Dry Hair.) The shampoo, conditioner, and DEEP CONDITIONING MASK are the truth! That is my staple, and no, I’ve never been paid to advertise!
Conditioners with Silicones
Why?: They can block the hair strands from breathing after excessive use which causes dryness and can lead to breakage. It’s also difficult to wash out of your hair. You have to use a harsh clarifying shampoo with strong detergents to clean the silicones out of your hair completely (after two washes the silicones should be removed).
Instead: If you don’t want anything expensive, Tresseme has a natural moisturizing conditioner that works wonders. Also Trader Joes’ Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner. At Whole Foods look for the Giovanni conditioner. I use Jane Carters’ conditioner, but I don’t really get my bang for my buck with that, it’s a small bottle and costs $15. Another brand I love is Desert Essence’s $6 conditioner. It works well.
Extra Tips: Silicones are not completely bad for hair if need extra slip or for straightening hair. Since it does help lay hair and protect from heat.
Your Straightner & Blow Dryer!
Why?: I’m just kidding don’t get rid of them completely but definitely reduce the usage. I’d say stop using any and all heat for at least a year! It slowly damages your hair – you’ll see an extreme difference. I use a hooded dryer maybe 3 times a year for setting styles, but I still don’t use a straightner or blowdryer. It’s been over 2 years and it has helped tremendously!
Instead: Try set styles like bantu knot outs, flexi rod twists, perm rod rollers, curl formers in a wet wrap (this will come out looking like a blow out), wash and go (definitely use a leave-in conditioner then a little oil), twist outs and braid outs.
Extra Tips: There is no “good” hair dryer, straightner, even hooded dryer even the ones that claim to “reverse ions and prevents damage” are not going to save all. Ultimately they all add damage every time, eventually causing your natural hair to become flat and or loosing your natural curl from heat damage.
Brushes & Combs
Why?: Brushes break off your hair, which becomes counter productive to you trying to retain length. I always use my fingers when styling or detangling as they can feel a knot where as a brush or comb will blast through it. The only time a brush is “okay” is to lay hair down & make it neat, but try to avoid brushes. They are not your friend.
Instead: Finger detangle – using your fingers as your comb is optimal. The benifit is you being able to feel a knot forming and gently removing it before it becomes impossible. Since I swithched to using my fingers I hardly ever use a comb now and my hair thanks me for it.
Extra Tips: I recently invested in the ‘Tangle Teaser’ (can be found in sally’s or target). Probably the only brush I would recommend. Combs are okay only if wide toothed, they can also cause breakage.
Get Rid of Ponytail Holders or Any Metal Clips
Why?: Basically any thing that can get caught in your hair will snag/pull at it.
Instead: Use hair claws, bobbi pins or hair pins. Also the “Ouchless” hair bands made to prevent snags.
Extra Tips: Bobbi pins have become my favorite hair accessory. Although be gentle taking them out! They can snag your hair as well. High quality bobby pins won’t peel over time (sometimes the paint/color will come away from the metal).
Cotton Pillow Cases & Cotton Scarves
Why?: They dry hair out overnight. Also, rubbing, tossing & turning on cotton pillows pulls at hair stands causing breakage and split ends.
Instead: Invest in satin pillow case and/or satin scarf.
Extra Tips: On those days you forget to put your hair up at night in a satin scarf, satin pillow cases still protect your hair from abrasive damage.
Chemically Processing Hair (including Relaxers, Perms, Texturizers, Color etc.)
Why?: It all weakens your natural hair and dries it out.
Instead: Henna is a great alternative to chemical coloring. If it’s not expensive then it’s not pure henna – there may be metals compounds in it which can mix badly with already processed hair. Also try coloring products without ammonia or other harsh chemicals (Shea Moisture has a color line) although those still dry hair out. Best thing to do is embrace your natural hair color.
Extra Tips: The only time color would be okay again is after your hair is back to its healthiest state and you understand how to properly moisturize your hair, Color dries out your hair no matter what product you use but the healthier it is when you start, the better it will be when you finish.
Your Heavy Hands!
Why?: I had to learn how to be more gentle with my hair. I noticed in the begining when my curly hair started coming in strong that I had excessive shedding. It was caused by me pulling too hard and more hair then necessary was coming out.
Instead: Block a time to do your hair. When you have time to dedicate to your hair you’ll be kinder to it. If you’re already frustrated or in a rush, pick another day to detangle/style your hair and instead put your hair in a simple protective style.
Extra Tips: You can shed up to 100 strands a day. Any rough combing or pulling or super tight brading can cause breakage and even traction alopetia. If you braid your hair too tight, too often, always on the same side, it can start to break strands of hair, even pull strands out from the scalp.
Your Mindset of How your Hair Should Look
Why?: Every single person’s hair is different even from kin to kin. So even from mother to daughter ,find what works best for you and refrain from copying your mother’s hair routine. Even with my relaxer I had a loose curl and I thought my hair would be like that when it became very healthy and chemical free. I also thought my hair was going to have a shiny curl, not kinkier, fine curls.
I also thought that as my hair grew they would fall and be longer, but as my hair grows it just gets bigger. Adjust your mindset and embrace what God has given you.
Instead: All in all embrace it! Learn how to work with your pattern and it will reveal its natural beauty in no time. Don’t try to manipulate your natural curl in to something it isn’t. That WILL only frustrate you.
Keep this as a reference because I know it was a lot to take in. But for myself sticking to my hair diet by ridding of the things above my hair has seen levels it never imagined. So give it a try.
Photo Credit: CreateHer Stock
