Transitioning isn’t for sissies! Unless you plan on big chopping with only .05 inches of hair you must be fully prepared for this journey. One must know the hairstyles to steer clear from to avoid looking a hot mess as well as the products to throw away. There are also hair practices that will no longer work at certain points in your journey. When that new growth rears its head it’s a new ball game baby!
The first sign of new growth is usually when you would reach for the creamy crack but now you’re a transitioner and you have to find to manage this kinky texture of hair. Instead of trying to fight the kink and puffiness of your new growth; embrace it! Don’t straighten your hair. Instead, style your hair in ways that promote volume since your new growth is creating a thicker look. Curly hair ‘dos are the best. Even when you encounter humidity, your roots will still blend with the rest of your hair.
If your mane was straightened, you would easily be able to see the frizz of your new growth. So when you finally make it home what are you going to do? Reapply heat to correct the style. But the more heat you add to your hair the more damage you are risking. Try to avoid heat as much as possible. It is hard for some women to believe this but natural hair can be permanently alter and lose it’s original pattern. Now, some may think it is a good thing to lose some of the kinkiness of their hair but it is never even and it will still be coarse. You will likely end up having a variety of textures around your hair and when it comes to styling that is never a good.
When your new growth reaches a certain length, combing your hair when it’s dry will become more difficult. It is better to wash your hair when it is wet with conditioner applied. When I tried to comb my hair dry, I had flash backs of my cousin sitting on the porch crying as her mother attempted to run a comb through her hair. My comb was not moving. It was as if it was saying, “No ma’am. You’re not going to break me. ” Using a conditioner that makes your hair soft is the key to getting your comb to glide through like Nancy Kerrigan on ice. Also, holding your hair directly under the water helps the detangling process.
It is okay to take product suggestions and try different things but don’t become a product junky. There is no miracle product. So many women are looking for magic in a jar that will completely transform their natural hair texture. If you don’t change your mindset while you are transitioning you’re going to be a sad puppy. If you are still thinking that bone straight hair is the most beautiful texture and kinky/nappy hair is bad you’re going to have a difficult time embracing your natural hair that is growing in.
Instead of being happy to see every inch of new growth you’re going to dread it and feel anxiety as your afro-textured locs grow in. One way to embrace your new hair is by reading and researching where the dislike of our natural hair comes from; slavery. If you know the history, you will be more inclined to acknowledge and change the negative way you are thinking about your natural hair. I’m not exempt. I loved with a capital “L”my straight hair. I felt more beautiful with my hair flowing but once I realized why I felt that way, who taught it to me and how it was affecting how I viewed myself I made a change. It takes time. Gradually, you will begin to view hair differently. Styles that once thought that you would never try and looks that you believed you never would embrace will slowly gain your liking.
It will also take time to grow out so your must practice that painful “p” word. Patience! The average head of hair grows one inch every 2 months. Simply do the math. Don’t expect to have hair as long as Beyonce’s weave after a year. It’s just not logical. Enjoy your hair at every stage. You’re going to be unhappy for months, even years if you simply focus on where you want your hair to be once you reach your ultimate goal.
One regret I have is not trying out more styles on my shorter hair when I big chopped. I always thought, “Once my hair is long, I can do anything I want with my hair.” But there are so many dope styles that I can’t do because my hair is too long. Don’t rush it. You will reach your goal. In the mean time, have fun with the hair that you have. Finding a good transitioning style, practicing patience and working toward fully embracing your natural texture of hair will help you stay in your right might and keep you out of that chic straight jacket.
Written by Chime Edwards reposted from Transitioning Movement
