Hair

Transitioning Tale: Napturally-Obssessed's Story

Relaxed

Today's transitioning tale is about a beautiful diva named Napturally-Obsessed. Having been addicted to the creamy crack for eight years, she never imagined that she'd one day be lye-free and loving it! Now, without further ado, here is Napturally-Obsessed's natural hair tale, as told to PYCAG:

PYCAG: How long were you relaxed?
Napturally-Obsessed: I was relaxed for eight years (2000-2008).

PYCAG: What inspired you to transition?
Napturally-Obsessed: Two of my sisters decided to go natural and tried to tempt me, but I loved my lye. Soon after, I was watching a reality TV show with young ladies that rocked beautiful curls and silky straight hair with no chemicals; so I thought to myself, if I can go from curly to straight with no chemicals, why not give it a try? I only assumed my hair would be curly. My hair was always combed out as a child. The whole process has been very enlightening for me on more levels than one.

Natural hair with twist out

PYCAG: Why did you opt to slowly transition versus do the BC?
Napturally-Obsessed: I opted to transition verses BC, because I always had hair past my shoulders. My husband loved my black, long hair (at that time) and didn’t want me to lose my length. I measured my hair at 12 inches, and I set my goal at 24 months since hair grows, on average, ½ an inch each month. Little did I know about all the SHRINKAGE! It was a long, two-year transition. I incurred heat damage the first year of my transition. Later I slowly cut away the six inches (one year’s worth of growth) of damage.

PYCAG:  How are you caring for your hair?
Napturally-Obsessed: I put a lot of care and attention into my hair. Health supersedes length, but with health, length is sure to follow. Hair thrives when one leaves it alone. My regimen is simple, and I retain so much length and fullness from it (less breakage and splits). My regimen is as follows:

1. I co-wash my hair weekly in sections under a filtered shower head. I do not use shampoo (conditioner suffices because I use the ‘curly girl method’- no silicones or synthetic oils). 
2. I clarify monthly with bentonite clay. 
3. I use henna every two months as a natural hair treatment. 
4. I wear protective styles 80% of the time. 
5. My ‘down & out’ styles are low-manipulation styles (twist-outs, braid-outs, Wash n Go's (WnGs). My styles last until the next wash day unless it is a WnG (prefer 4 days maximum for the health of my hair). 
6. I keep hair brushing at a minimum (once/week). 
7. For the remainder of the year, I am eliminating shower combing. I will re-evaluate this new regimen (no-combing) next year for permanency (Note: When I do comb, I only do so when the hair is saturated with conditioner--no dry combing.).
8. I clip my ends pro-actively, normally every quarter. 

PYCAG: What products are you currently using?
Napturally-Obsessed: There are so many great products and brands on the market. I have tried so many, but I have finally kicked the product-junky habit. I have benefited from my past product-junky-ism by learning the ingredients that my hair loves. As a result, I have become quite the mix-tress. These are the ingredients and products that have never failed me:

Natural curls wet with no product

• Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa conditioner (co-washing) 
• Giovanni Direct Leave-in (leave-in & WnGs) 
• Shea Moisture Curl & Style Milk (hair lotion) 
• Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie (re-twist/re-braid old styles w/o re-wetting) 
• Henna (Ayurveda Indian herb for natural hair treatment) 
• Natural Butter, Oils & Moisturizers -- African Shea Butter (raw), Vatika enriched coconut oil (it has added Indian herbs {it is like coconut oil on steroids}), Castor Oil (heavy but moisturizing), EVOO, Vegetable Glycerin (natural moisturizer), Jojoba Oil 
• Homemade Products -- Flax Seed Gel (slick back edges), Shea Butter Mix (use for twists/twist-outs on top of leave-in to soften and seal moisture that lasts and lasts), Re-hydrating Spritz (water/glycerin/oil mixture) 

PYCAG: What are your hair care goals?
Napturally-Obsessed: My hair goal is to maintain healthy hair and to see how much length I can retain. I have surpassed my 8-year relaxed length in three years! I don’t worry about length goals anymore; I don’t even care to straighten my hair. My husband loves my curls and doesn’t mind if I never straighten it again. He said that my curly hair has grown on him and that he prefers my natural texture...Wow. I would have never imaged him saying that 2 ½ years prior.

PYCAG: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
Napturally-Obsessed: Without the online natural hair community, I would not have completed a successful transition, nor would I have known the endless style options for natural hair. Therefore, I have created a Fotki account to inspire and motivate others though my journey. Dprincess, I have followed your blog and Youtube page since 2009. Your site has given me so much inspiration during my transition and as a newly natural.

Thank you, Napturally-Obsessed, for sharing your natural hair tale with PYCAG. We wish you continued success on your hair care journey!