B
Bublnbrnsuga
Guest
Wow! There are tons of threads on this site about transitioning to natural
I decided to create this thread because I noticed that there are still some misconceptions and questions about what to do and how to go natural. I am NO expert,but since I have transitioned from October 2002 to February 2004, I know a lil something something
Here are my personal tips and advice to those who have decided or are contemplating going natural. Other natural ladies,please chime in for completeness
1. DO NOT comb natural/transitioning hair when it is dry!!! This is the main problem that women experience and is the most important concept when going natural. Have you all ever been told that if you grow out your perm your hair will break off? Well,it is not the the growing out process itself that is the problem,it's trying to comb the hair as you would if you were still perming. YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR TIME AND COMB YOUR HAIR! You cannot just rake a comb through it at all. The best times to comb natural/transitioning hair is in the shower,when it is soaking wet and full of conditioner and even out the shower,when it is wet/damp and it has some sort of hair product in it. For detangling purposes,use a wide toothed comb. I prefer the K-Cutter. Not only does it detangle,but it can be used as a pick if you want to be froed out that day.
Personally,I even use a small rattail comb on my hair for further detangling,but that is only after I detangle my hair with a wide toothed comb and my hair is still full of product and is wet/damp. Another great detangling tool is the Denman 3-da bomb. It can be used as a detangler and greatly distributes product throughout the hair. If you have curly or wavy hair and you are having problems seperating your curls or waves, this brush will hook you up.
2. Wear low maintenance styles. You will experience breakage if you are styling your hair often. I recommend wearing braid/twist extentions, braidouts, rollersets,strawsets, or cornrows. You can even body wrap your hair while transtioning
3.MOISTURIZE,MOISTURIZE,MOISTURIZE!! I cannot stress this enough. When I transitioned I learned this technique a little later,but I learned it. I purchased an applicator brush and applied moisturizer to my newgrowth this way. It helped me evenly distribute the product on my new growth. If you are wondering what an applicator brush is,it is the type of brush beauticians use to apply perms to the new growth.
4. Ladies, try to find a hair buddy. Search for hair albums that resemble YOUR hair type. I am NOT saying don't look at other hair albums,but you really have to be careful when you do. This is where the having the proper mindset about going natural comes in to play. Some women can spray water and gel on their hair and voila! That's their style for the day. Others,well, we all can't do just this,so please be careful when looking in others albums,ESPECIALLY if you are not completely sure about your decision to go natural or not. Here is a list with hair albums and hair types of young ladies who are either transitioning or already natural:
1. 2a-3a or b: Search fotki for- Irresistible (member here), Hairlove (member here),Potterville, Carefree (member here), lovelykinky (picture trail),Dreamypisces (has an album on Nappturality)
2. 3a-4b Search Nappturality for: Sweet Africa (awesome album!!!), Me (Naturali-t), CocoaDiva, Delightfulflame,Pookeylou,Ravensholst2, Melanizm,Azure,Honeychild, Earthangel, aww heck, just go to nappturality's hair gallery! For 3a-4b ladies on fotki,search icurly, Naturallynursey, Micarae (oh my goodness-ya'll ain't ready!!), 2twisted, Maestradiva77, Mecca, thighslikewhat. There are many more,but this is enough for me to type right now
Also,about shrinkage-it is inevitable. Many may be in for a rude awakening while transitioning-I know I was. See, while transtioning,the permed ends stretch the new growth a bit,causing the new growth to appear longer than what it really is,but when you cut of the new growth
Take a look at this young ladie's album on fotki: http://public.fotki.com/N4U2LM . This girl has some shrinkage. If you search in the right hair album,you will note that she has the versatility of wearing her hair in a puff,but when her hair is stretched out
yall ain't ready!! This girl has past brastrap length hair!!
Lastly I want to add that going natural involves 50% mindset and 50% styling and maintaining your hair's health. If you are not sure about your decision,don't tell people. They will not understand why you want to show off your napps and if you are not sure yourself,you will perm again. You need to find a support system to help encourage you along,but please don't make the support system YOUR final say. After awhile you should be comfortable with your decision and be ready to support someone else.
Also,if you ARE ready, please get rid of all of the box perms and texturizer kits in your closet
Just my 7.00 on going natural. Hope This Helps!
1. DO NOT comb natural/transitioning hair when it is dry!!! This is the main problem that women experience and is the most important concept when going natural. Have you all ever been told that if you grow out your perm your hair will break off? Well,it is not the the growing out process itself that is the problem,it's trying to comb the hair as you would if you were still perming. YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR TIME AND COMB YOUR HAIR! You cannot just rake a comb through it at all. The best times to comb natural/transitioning hair is in the shower,when it is soaking wet and full of conditioner and even out the shower,when it is wet/damp and it has some sort of hair product in it. For detangling purposes,use a wide toothed comb. I prefer the K-Cutter. Not only does it detangle,but it can be used as a pick if you want to be froed out that day.
2. Wear low maintenance styles. You will experience breakage if you are styling your hair often. I recommend wearing braid/twist extentions, braidouts, rollersets,strawsets, or cornrows. You can even body wrap your hair while transtioning
3.MOISTURIZE,MOISTURIZE,MOISTURIZE!! I cannot stress this enough. When I transitioned I learned this technique a little later,but I learned it. I purchased an applicator brush and applied moisturizer to my newgrowth this way. It helped me evenly distribute the product on my new growth. If you are wondering what an applicator brush is,it is the type of brush beauticians use to apply perms to the new growth.
4. Ladies, try to find a hair buddy. Search for hair albums that resemble YOUR hair type. I am NOT saying don't look at other hair albums,but you really have to be careful when you do. This is where the having the proper mindset about going natural comes in to play. Some women can spray water and gel on their hair and voila! That's their style for the day. Others,well, we all can't do just this,so please be careful when looking in others albums,ESPECIALLY if you are not completely sure about your decision to go natural or not. Here is a list with hair albums and hair types of young ladies who are either transitioning or already natural:
1. 2a-3a or b: Search fotki for- Irresistible (member here), Hairlove (member here),Potterville, Carefree (member here), lovelykinky (picture trail),Dreamypisces (has an album on Nappturality)
2. 3a-4b Search Nappturality for: Sweet Africa (awesome album!!!), Me (Naturali-t), CocoaDiva, Delightfulflame,Pookeylou,Ravensholst2, Melanizm,Azure,Honeychild, Earthangel, aww heck, just go to nappturality's hair gallery! For 3a-4b ladies on fotki,search icurly, Naturallynursey, Micarae (oh my goodness-ya'll ain't ready!!), 2twisted, Maestradiva77, Mecca, thighslikewhat. There are many more,but this is enough for me to type right now
Also,about shrinkage-it is inevitable. Many may be in for a rude awakening while transitioning-I know I was. See, while transtioning,the permed ends stretch the new growth a bit,causing the new growth to appear longer than what it really is,but when you cut of the new growth
Lastly I want to add that going natural involves 50% mindset and 50% styling and maintaining your hair's health. If you are not sure about your decision,don't tell people. They will not understand why you want to show off your napps and if you are not sure yourself,you will perm again. You need to find a support system to help encourage you along,but please don't make the support system YOUR final say. After awhile you should be comfortable with your decision and be ready to support someone else.
