R U Ready to go Natural?

Transitioning from a relaxer to going natural can be a challenge. Its a difficult decision to make especially when you have no idea what to do, afraid of how you’ll look and pondering weather to make the BIG CHOP or take the journey!

So you’ve decide to go natural….. Well Gear Up, because its going to be a process! Remember, wearing a relaxer alters the natural structure of your hair and the only way to get rid of the chemicals that are on the hair is to grow them out or make the BIG CHOP. Making the BIG CHOP can be overwhelming for some and others do it with ease.

Here’s my journey, by ANNETTE JONES

I’ve done both at different points in my life and for some reason making the BIG CHOP just seemed like I was taking the easy way out. When I decided to take the “Journey of Transition” it just made me feel like there was more of a connection between my tresses and I. It almost felt like we were working as a team to make things right….I committed to eating more healthy, drinking more water, take my vitamins and researching to understand what was required for a healthy transition. I knew I had to be strong for my hair because I had put it through so much over the years from the chemicals, heat, color, and all the damage in between. I was aware the transition was going to require alot and I needed my hair to be strong, so I prepared to do my part to jump start the process.

In the beginning the hardest part was watching and feeling my new growth come in. The texture was much different then the relaxed hair I was so used to. My natural hair appeared coarse and the more it grew out the more fragile it became. Automatically, I wanted to call my stylist and make my salon appointment and hide what was naturally mines. I had to overcome that and just move forward in the process. I knew my hair would thank me later, but in the meantime, I had to figure out a way to stop the breakage and quick! The more my natural hair grew out then more I could clearly see the line of demarcation which is where my new growth met my relaxed hair and thats when I realized that was the location where my hair was becoming brittle and prone to breakage. I started reading everything I came across on how to maintain the two textures. I needed both hair types to be strong and healthy at the same time while going through this transition thang! Everything I read stressed the importance of keeping both hair textures moisturized and detangled to avoid breakage.  I purchased several different moisturizing shampoos and conditioning detanglers, I only combed my hair with a wide tooth comb. I used a heating tool on occasion to try and blend the two textures, and I purchased some really cute silk scarfs and big earrings to help me along my journey. There where days when I just wanted to give in and go back to my relaxer but I knew deep inside I was doing the right thing.

Overtime, I started to wonder why I had so many different hair textures on my head. I ran across an online article and it became very clear to me that I needed to stop using heating tools all together. I quickly realized the results from the occasional high temperature heating tools were breaking the sulfide bonds on my hair which caused my hair to straighten out in some areas and thats why I had so many different textures. The textures included the processed relaxed hair, the heat damaged hair and natural hair coming in at the roots. I vowed…. NO blow drying, NO hot ironing, and NO hot curling. Within weeks, I noticed my natural hair starting to soften, my hair became much thicker, my hair was growing strong and healthy for once, my brittle, fragile hair now had strength. I started wearing my hair in styles like two strand twist, straw sets, roller sets, bantu knots etc. and YES I was ROCKIN these styles, and they were cute tooo! ohhhhh an don’t forget as my hair was growing out and getting healthy and strong, I would wash and deep condition it really good and ROCK a lace wig like no ones business…. I’m good at that too! Lace wigs have always been my saving grace, especially when I need a go-to hairstyle with limited time on my hands, the wigs are just a fun way to be different and a wonderful way to protect your natural hair while growing it out. As my natural hair grew, I would trim my ends to remove more and more of the relaxer on the ends. This also kept my new hair very healthy and strong and at the same time I was getting rid of the old damaged hair I no longer needed.

Last but not least, I learned from this journey that chemicals such as relaxers can seriously damage the scalp and hair follicles, so its very important to treat and heal your scalp during this transition. The shape of the hair follicles will determine the texture of the new hair growing in. If the follicles are damages like mines were, the new hair will be very dry, brittle and rough. If you are experiencing this type of hair texture with your new growth, its very, very important to treat your scalp with an enriched healing treatment. You will need to massage your scalp on a regular bases and eat healthy, exercise and implement vitamins  such as folate, B6, and B12 they assist with maintain healthy hair. These vitamins play an important role in the creation of red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients to all body cells, including those of the scalp and hair follicles. When the body is deprived of B vitamins, the cells can starve, causing shedding, slow growth or weak strands that are prone to breaking.

Are U Ready for NATURAL HAIR????….. I hope sooooooo, its a great way to reconnect with what’s Naturally Yours!

ENJOY……