Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Hair

Styling Options for Transitioners

I've been getting a lot of emails from ladies who would like to know how they should wear their hair as they transition from relaxed to natural. Now, if you've been a subscriber of my YouTube channel for quite some time now, or one of my faithful divas, then you should know that I do not advocate the use of heat during the transition process. The reason for this is that the hair is more susceptible to breakage as the two textures merge, so it's very important to treat ALL the hair like it's natural the moment you decide to go natural. Therefore, keeping it well conditioned and moisturized is key. Abstaining from heat and or harsh styling methods is also key to minimizing breakage.

Now, I've said many times that you should, "Find what works for you!" Thus, I can't tell anyone how they should wear their hair during the transition process, or at any other time for that matter. Finding the right style depends on many factors--your hair texture, your lifestyle, your job (Yes, because your boss and colleagues may not be able to handle the afros and cornrows!), and your wallet. What works for one person, may not work for another, so you should consider the many possibilities before choosing one style. And, you should also consider switching up your style from time to time to avoid placing tension on the hair in the same place, and or just sheer boredom!

Below is a list of hairstyles you should consider wearing as you transition from relaxed to natural. Happy hairstyle hunting to you!

  1. Roller set: Start out with wet hair and sit under a hooded dryer to minimize the amount of direct heat.
  2. Straw Set: (Pic below) This is a really pretty twist on the standard roller set. This style requires the hair to be set on straws and or very thin rods. This style can last up to two weeks max, but may start looking crazy after one week :).
  3. Phony Ponies: I wore these A LOT while I was transitioning. It enabled me to keep my hair well protected and moisturized as I simply oiled it down and slicked it back into a bun (The above pic is of me in my go-to transition style).
  4. Braidouts: Braidouts can work on ladies with any length of hair. Here's the link to my tutorial on braidouts: Braidout Tutorial.
  5. Braids: Singles and cornrows are your best bet. Please, no micros! Those can lead to breakage and dreading faster than any other type of braids. I wouldn't recommend wearing any style of braids often. Plus, you should only leave them in for two months max.
  6. Buns: Buns are a simple hairstyle that will allow you to protect the ends of your hair and keep them well moisturized (That is of course only if you plan to transition slowly and will retain length). You can jazz up your bun with accessories. All you need is a little bit of gel to slick those edges down, and voila!
  7. Weaves: I'm not a fan of weaves, but I do know some ladies who have successfully transitioned wearing weaves. I would HIGHLY recommend that you get them installed professionally and take them out after two months.
  8. Kinky Twists: This is a beautiful, "natural" style that can be worn as a nice alternative to braids.

6 comments:

Ms. Harmony said...

LOL! I love your picture...too cute! Thanks for this information. Since following your blogs, you-tube channel, and other hair care forums recently I’ve been contemplating transitioning. Not to long ago I started stretching my relaxers to 14 weeks and when the new growth started to come in I kept my hair curly. I wore a lot of braid outs and rollers which also helped me to keep my hair moisturized and abstain from heat. My boo loves the curly look as well and that’s always a plus. Any who….when I got my relaxer a couple of weeks ago I had a rod set done and continued to wear my hair curly or in a pony tail. Well, I must admit that I don’t think I’m feeling the creamy crack anymore. I can’t believe I just typed that because before I started my journey I kept heat in my hair. Of course I paid the ultimate price, DAMAGE! So I may transition I’m not sure just yet but I plan to have my next relaxer around June/July. Please continue to do what you are doing because you are helping me to the light…I just haven’t looked into it yet, LOL! ; *)

Thanks again and keep up the good work!

DPrincess28 said...

Thanks girl! If you do decide to take that leap, I'll be here to hold your hand, LOL!

Ms. Harmony said...

LOL! Thank you that means alot!!

Anonymous said...

You don't understand how helpful this blog is to me!! haha I have had a relaxer put in my hair since I was around 10 (yup the Just for Me's) lol and my hair has always been long, but I don't miss it!! haha I cut it about 1 1/2 years ago, not the BC though, and have been transitioning for almost a year. Now, I TOTALLY understood why my mom had to put the relaxers in, having 3 girls with thick heads of hair lol but my scalp just couldn't take it anymore. I wanted a change, and thanks to the internet I will be off the beaten paths of wraps haha Seriously though, I've been inspired by my mother, who has been natural for years now, and my sister who did the chop years ago and had a mean fro! I loved that fro haha Well, I am here because the YouTube video you gave on tips for transitioning has been very educational and I just feel even more inspired!! I feel a lot better consulting a stylist where I am now knowledgeable and have GREAT questions to ask!! haha Any who, I rambled a bit, yup, but keep posting these and I will keep reading them :-) Thanks and peace and blessings!!

Rose @---} said...

thank you for this post. I am one of those who never took care of their hair and now i'm learning a bunch of stuff b/c I want to be natural (transitioning for about 8 mos now). I have no idea how to style this stuff lol. Thank you again and for your videos.

Unknown said...

Hi. You have helped me make my decison to go natural. How ever I don't want to do the big chop. So I am going to be dealing with the 2textured style hair for a while. But my questions or..is it ok to use setting lotion for my roller wraps. Also I work out on a regular bases so I usally cowash my hair once in between my shampoo days and deep.condition on my shampoo days. Is that to much moisturizing for the relaxed part of my hair. I find the the braid outs and bantu knots have helped my in styling my hair thru the transitioning period. But how often should I cut my ends on my hair? And last but mot least what oil should I use for my ends of my hair?