I wanted to make a blog where it tells you exactly what I did while transitioning my hair. I’ve just started transitioning. My last relaxed hair was in October 2010. I’ve done ALOT of research, for several months, on the Internet about how to transition your hair without the BIG CHOP. I’ve looked at blogs, YouTube and Websites on the “What To Dos”, and I’ve learned a lot of things before making my decision.
Why Transition to Natural Hair
Why am I Transitioning
Well, I actually am just curious about the whole Natural thing. My mom and sister have both been natural for several years and their decision was simply a “just because”. My sister just kept putting her hair in extensions so that’s how she became natural, and my mom simply just stopped wanting the breakage in her hair and she did the Big Chop. I decided to do it because I thought: 1) it would be a fun project and 2) I just had my daughter in July 2009 and I would like to keep her natural, which means I need to know how to do it, and 3) I was just sick of relaxing my hair every six (6) weeks.
Why not the BIG CHOP?
Well, I don’t want to go that short. Frankly, I’m just scared of that entire idea, and I like my hair length. But the MAIN REASON is that doing the Transitioning thing will actually HELP ME learn how to manage my hair while it is completely natural. You can go get the Big Chop and then you would be like, “Okay, now what? What do I do?” This way, I keep my hair, I’m learning as I go, and I’m not stressed out trying to figure out what not to do and what to do.
Being Natural is Too Much Money
You got that right! Everything I researched, and listening to my sister, I hear of all the bottles that are thrown away because they just don’t work for their type of hair. So, for me, I just didn’t want to spend all the money on “products”, so I decided I wasn’t going to go natural–just too much money! Then, while researching one day, I found an answer! TADA!! FOOD!!! Yep, Food! If I can’t eat it, or wear it, I’m not using it. Yep, that’s right. Going Natural using Homemade Products and Recipes. So what does that mean? What kind of “products” are those? Well, here’s a list.
- Coconut Oil
- Baking Soda
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Honey
- Aloe Vera Gel (Can’t eat but I can put it on my skin)
- Almond Oil (Optional)
- Jojoba Oil (Optional)
So, yeah, I can cook with Coconut Oil, and Baking Soda has all kinds of usages such as brushing my teeth, and soaking up odors in the refrigerator or washing cloths. And Apple Cider Vinegar I use on warts/moles, and to clean out my system. Honey I can put in my tea or on some bread rolls. And Aloe Vera, I can put on my rough feet. Almond OIl can be used to remove those dark circles under my eyes and a substitute for Olive Oil for salad dressings and also for cooking stuff. Oilve Oil I put on the bottom of a pot, add some popcorn kernels, and shake that bad boy — Popcorn Night for my Netflix Nights!! Jojoba Oil I can use on my rough skin too, especially as a Lip Balm.
I don’t have enough time to go Natural
Me Neither! I started during the Holidays so that I can have some three-day weekends to get myself started. And while I’m figuring things out, I’ve been making a list. I don’t want to keep constantly working on my hair. I’m a new parent! And I’m still not getting much sleep at night with my daughter waking up and her constant colds. So I don’t have time, and I only have 5 minutes to do my hair in the morning before my 1-hour commute to work. But I figured out that I really haven’t added too much more time than what I’ve been doing with my hair before. The added time, for now, is just my trying to figure out what to do. Let’s compare
My Regime for Relaxed HairOnce a week wash hair with shampoo and conditioner while taking a shower and then air dry or blow dry — (40 minutes)Nightly roll up of hair (Just a mushroom of rollers around my head) — (10 minutes)Morning comb/brush hair back and place in banana clip — (5 minutes)Every six (6) weeks relax/shampoo/air dry hair (2 hours)
My Regime for Transitioning to Natural HairOnce a week wash hair with conditioner while taking shower (20 minutes)Once a week condition hair by putting under shower cap/rinse out/air dry (30 min – 1-2 hours–depending if I get too interested in watching a movie or doing house chores)Nightly spritz hair, comb and make 5-12 twist in hair (15 minutes)Morning, take out twists and hair is done (3 minutes)If twists don’t come out right, pull hair back with a hair band, and pin under (3 minutes)
So, yes, it’s a bit more extra time to go Natural because of the air drying and the weekly conditioning of my hair, which is required to keep it from breaking. But I figure, once I’m all natural, I wouldn’t have to do so much conditioning, and I’ll be right back down to the exact time for hair management as when I had relaxed hair.