Going Natural: Why Transition from Relaxed to Natural Hair?

Posted by admin on Sep 20, 2011 in Before Your Transition to Natural | 4 comments

 

 

 

 

Congratulations!  If you are reading this, you are thinking of making the transition from relaxed to natural hair or you are about to help someone else with their transition.

Before taking the leap into the transition, you need to really think about why you want to transition from relaxed to natural hair.  Write down your reasons or at least commit them to memory.  If you do not have any reasons in mind, then it will be easy for you to change your mind and go back to relaxers when it becomes difficult to manage your new growth.  Once you have determined your reasons for transitioning to natural hair, make a goal for yourself of how long you want your hair to be at the end of your transition.  Having a specific goal in mind will also help you to stay on track and continue with your journey to natural hair.

Another thing that you need to think about is the time and dedication that it will take to transition to natural as well as some of the frustrations that come along with managing different hair textures on one head.  As your new growth becomes your new head full of hair, it may not be all one texture as it once was when relaxed.  Many people have patches of natural hair on their head that are different curl patterns and/or textures.  Lately I have heard this referred to as the whack patch.  Are you ready to manage your potential whack patch?

When you make the decision to transition to natural hair, you will no doubt hear comments from friends, family members and co-workers about your decision.  Some of these comments will not be supportive and some of them may even try to talk you out of your decision.  Be prepared for the criticism, and if you feel compelled you should share your reasons for wanting to transition to natural hair.  Nobody has to love your new look except you.

We have all heard the terms “good hair” and “bad hair” where the bad hair most often resembles naturally curly hair and “good hair” represents relaxed hair or hair that closer to the European standard of beautiful hair.  Although standards of beautiful hair are changing, even in the media, the reality is we are not yet there such that your transitioning hairstyles and your curly hair alone may result in some negative attention.

If you are prepared to handle all of this, then by all means, start your transition from relaxed to natural hair.   Going natural without the big chop is possible and you can do it.