Hello Phenomenal Woman!

When I first went natural I transitioned for about a year. I was so excited to see the wavy curly hair growing from my scalp. As my hair got longer, the straight relaxed ends made washing and detangling more difficult.

Some products worked great on my natural hair but did nothing for my ends (and vice versa).

After months of transitioning, I grabbed some scissors one morning and gleefully cut off my relaxed ends.

IT. WAS. HEAVEN.

Now don’t get my wrong…every naturalista doesn’t need to do a big chop.

Each person’s natural hair journey is uniquely different.

Caring for your hair while transitioning is still very important.

Nina Harwell, from Beauty Addicts Online, is back with 3 simple tips for transitioning! At the end of the article, I share videos for how to do my two favorite protective styles.

Enjoy!

Easy Transitioning  

After relying on relaxers for so many years I found it hard to enter the realm of the naturals. Sure I wanted the most awesome curls in the world but how do I get there?

Going chemical free can open many doors for growing super long locs, but there are three things that will make your life easier.

1. Keep Scalp Clear of Debris

Your hair grows from your follicle, or the pore on your head. The African American hair follicle is much more narrow than others, which is why it takes more time for our hair to grow.

Products and dry skin can build around the hair strand blocking the follicle, which slows hair growth.

In order to achieve long lengths, you want to ensure your follicle is clear so it is easier for the hair to push through.

Tea tree or peppermint oils are great natural ways to exfoliate the scalp!

Check out Franno’s Transitioning Journey & Gorgeous Styles 

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree comes from the Malaleuca tree and has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. 

Today, it is commonly used to treat acne because it helps kill bacteria. It can also be a godsend for the hair.

Tea Tree helps exfoliate the scalp which creates a healthy environment for hair to grow. Pure teat tree oil can be very potent, so only mix a few drops in your products!

2. Keep Hair Hydrated

Your hair thrives on hydration, without it your hair will get dry, brittle, and could possibly break.

Since only 90% of your hair is alive at once, you want to be sure that you prolong the life of as many strands as possible. 

Water is one of the best things you can use! Essential oils are also great tool for hydration. Jojoba, vitamin E, castor, and argan oils are perfect for hydration and sealing in moisture.

Vitamin E

High in antioxidants, Vitamin E can help protect the skin against harmful free radicals found in the environment. This will help slow the aging process by helping preserve collagen and elastin.

It can also treat burns, scars, stretch marks and sunburn. As far as hair goes, vitamin E provides a load of moisture and will leave an awesome shine. The oxidation properties of Vitamin E, help slow graying since gray hair usually comes from the oxidation of tissues.

If you have split ends vitamin E is awesome to use as a repairing treatment.

Argan/Moroccan Oil

You may not realize it, but these two oils are exactly the same. Argan oil is obtained from Morocco, hence the name Moroccan Oil.

This oil is great if you need to moisturize your skin but don’t want a greasy feel. Argan oil absorbs like no other and can be used on your face and body. It has also been said that Argan has the power to brighten and fight wrinkles!

Argan is a great oil for all hair types because of its thinner texture and awesome absorption abilities. Use this as a finisher to add luster to a great style, or add it in your conditioning treatments for intense moisture.

3. Protective styles

Protective styles are great for any naturalista but they can be even more beneficial for those who are transitioning. A protective style is a style that protects your hair from constant manipulation.

Weaves, braids and twists are popular options, along with flexirods, curlformers, and good old fashioned roller sets.

If you want to still want a natural look, companies now make weave that mirrors kinky textures. Finger Comber is one of the companies I use for adding kinky length to my twists (and no they aren’t paying me to say this:).

Twists and twist outs are great while transitioning whenever you want a head full of curls. Twists will curl the hair without heat leaving you with luscious natural curls.

I love protective styles because they contribute to hair growth and keep you from constantly checking your length!

Video Tutorials for Easy Braids & Havana Twists

 

For the full article and havana hair butter recipe mentioned in this video, see my Havana Twists Tutorial for Goddesses. 

Don’t give up!

There are many things you can do to ensure your hair will transition smoothly. Remember patience is key so don’t get discouraged by slower growth.

 

Transition Lavishly:-)