For the past month, I’ve been experimenting with different ways to wear my hair since I decided not to get relaxers anymore and wear my hair natural. I got my last relaxer in December 2009 and so far have about an inch and a half of new growth. So many people said braids or kinky twists would help with the transition process, I decided to go with braids. I’d never had braids before, and only wore a weave twice in my entire life for about a month at a time. Before I got braids, I cut off about half my hair (four or five inches) because I couldn’t bring myself to do the “big chop.” The braids were beautiful, but they were so itchy, I couldn’t take it after just a few weeks. Then I began reading up on co-washing and other ways to care for your hair when transitioning, and bought a gazillion new products to try on my hair. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve tried doing a braid out, setting my hair on flexi rods, and getting a roller set. I’ll share my experiences with each, but ultimately the roller set turned out to be the best method for me right now.
The Braid Out (done myself)
I can’t braid worth a damn, so I knew this process was going to be iffy. I co-washed my hair with Carol’s Daughter black vanilla hair smoothie, then towel dried and oiled my scalp with Lisa’s Hair Elixir and put some on my ends. Then I braided all my hair up and let it dry. When it took it down, it was fuzzy and my ends we still straight. Go figure. After watching more braid out styling tutorials like this one, I realize I was supposed to put a roller on the ends. I don’t know what to do about the fuzziness. But this is how it came out. I had to wear this hair to an event that morning. With a headband.
Flexi Rods (done myself)
I guess I couldn’t even bring myself to take a picture of this. I shampooed my hair with Carol’s Daughter black vanilla herbal shampoo, then conditioned with Carol’s Daughter black vanilla hair smoothie, then used a setting lotion on each of the four sections of my hair as I rolled it up onto the flexi rods. The curls came out OK, I guess. It was just that they stuck so close to my head, I looked like the black Annie. My hairdresser said this was because my hair is already short, and the flexirods shrink your hair length because they make such tight curls.
Roller Set (done by a hairdresser)
I finally got fed up with my own efforts and went to the hairdresser and asked her to do the flexi rods. I said I must’ve done mine wrong. She said no, I’d done them correctly, that was just how the style comes out. She said that if I wanted a looser curl, I might want to try getting a roller set with small rollers. I was ready to try anything at this point, so I let her put them in. She washed and conditioned my hair, put my hair on rollers, then under the dryer for about 45 minutes, maybe an hour. When she took them down, she asked me if I wanted some kind of straightening gel on my edges. “No way,’ I said. I wanted to become one with my naps. Here are a few photos of how my hair looks now. I’m one happy transitioner!
As you can imagine, I’m reading as much as I can about natural hair and how to care for it as mine grows out. Here are just some of the great natural hair blogs and YouTube channels I’ve come across, please share some of the ones you like!
happyblackwoman
happyblackwoman
happyblackwoman
happyblackwoman
wait, wait… how did she do your roller set? did she do a blowout first? there is no way I could get my hair to even consider playing nice with rollers unless it was already straightened… (lol at me sending you comments & messages while you’re on vaca…)
Hello Rosetta! I love how you showed your progress with photos. My favorite way to transition gradually is called “Indigofera Sophiticate Twists. Two Strand Twists, Set on Perm Rods, Intensive Hair Mask Treatments, Biweekly Trims and Patience. I welcome your readers to reach out to me from free Hair Care Consultations on my website. Check our my guide on “How to Transition” http://indigoferabeauty.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-to-transition-to-natural-hair.html Be Radiantly Beautiful.
Oh thanks for checking out BlackHairPlanet! The forum is super helpful too. Hope you are coming along just fine with your hair!
Oh thanks for checking out BlackHairPlanet! The forum is super helpful too. Hope you are coming along just fine with your hair!
Hi the braidout fuzziness could be down to two thing;
Try to avoid drying with the towel as the texture cld be creating the fuzziness – if you can’t cope with the water dripping; try sponging your wet hair just three times with the towel – don’t rub.
When doing your braidout apply a small amount of castor oil and coconut oil to hair right through to you ends and braid whilst the hair is still damp.
Oil your fingers whilst taking out your braid – when dried – and this should control the fuzziness a little bit more.
Good Luck.
I recommend the big chop BTW as I feel when transitioning the tempatation to relax hair is too great (personally speaking) and you get to enjoy the natural hair journey right from the start.
Hi the braidout fuzziness could be down to two thing;
Try to avoid drying with the towel as the texture cld be creating the fuzziness – if you can’t cope with the water dripping; try sponging your wet hair just three times with the towel – don’t rub.
When doing your braidout apply a small amount of castor oil and coconut oil to hair right through to you ends and braid whilst the hair is still damp.
Oil your fingers whilst taking out your braid – when dried – and this should control the fuzziness a little bit more.
Good Luck.
I recommend the big chop BTW as I feel when transitioning the tempatation to relax hair is too great (personally speaking) and you get to enjoy the natural hair journey right from the start.
Once the perm is gone, the braiding technique should work. I use a double strand twist, then curl the twist under itself for the evening. In the morning, I take it out and your hair should be voluminously beautiful! Looking great!
Once the perm is gone, the braiding technique should work. I use a double strand twist, then curl the twist under itself for the evening. In the morning, I take it out and your hair should be voluminously beautiful! Looking great!
I have been on Nappturality since it was started, Dee’s site won’t lead you wrong. Good luck on your natural journey. I have been natural 10 years now and for the most part have no regrets, granted I still have bad hair days and get frustrated but I could never see myself going back to the creamy crack.
I have been on Nappturality since it was started, Dee’s site won’t lead you wrong. Good luck on your natural journey. I have been natural 10 years now and for the most part have no regrets, granted I still have bad hair days and get frustrated but I could never see myself going back to the creamy crack.