Hair Lounge -How To Go Natural Without The Big Chop.

Kudos to every lady who took the big chop plunge just to go natural.

 Not everyone is bold enough to rock a low cut just to start over and it is not always necessary unless you want to make an hair statement. I'm considering this for next year because I love how fitting low cut is on me.


Dear sisters, did you know that you can transition from relaxed hair to natural hair within a year? Yes, you can!


Below are the important things you need to know and do to get it right no matter how relaxed or long your hair is;


1. Discard Relaxers and Chemicals: Sorry but I have to state the obvious. You'd have to do away with relaxers else there's no need to bother about transitioning. Your hair has to go through the break up stage and for those who have been through a real life relationship break up, you must know how that feels like. You'd hate your hair and your hair would hate you too during this period until it finally sticks to one texture. Hair would be torn between two phases (relaxed and natural new growth) but do not panic, the end result is always amazing.

  

2. Avoid heat: Natural hair dislikes heat, avoid it as much as possible. Stay away from dryers, straighteners, oh and fire(for those hairstyles that require some kind of fire to smoothen hair in braids).
There are some thermal protective dryers and irons. You can get it's temperature as high as 450 degrees but c'mon even water doesn't need to get that hot to boil. The thermal protector has a barrier between your hair strand and the heat emitting from the iron.
Instagram sellers swear this iron is between N8, 000 and N9, 000 but I got it for N3, 500 and my colleague even said I was cheated Honestly, I recommend leaving hair to dry on it's own without the aid of a dryer and for styling you can get flexi-rods or curling rods for that extra va-va-voom look.






3. Moisturize: Yes, did you think I wouldn't mention that? You hair needs moisture whether relaxed or natural. It needs it to survive and grow else you'd end up with brittle hair and lots of breakage. Get good leave in conditioner like Cantu or any other type of your choice. Leave in conditioners are great after wash to leave hair moisturized.



4. Maintain a clean scalp: Transitioning requires you to keep a clean scalp to enable new hair growth, you'd have to get your scalp clean as often as 2days or daily depending on how greasy your hair gets. To avoid stripping your hair of oils when you clean, you can limit your use of shampoos and stick to conditioners to get your scalp clean except for crucial wash days when you know your hair is very dirty. You can also just wash with Luke warm water, please do not use HOT water to wash your hair. Days I have my natural hair out, I wash daily with my black soap or only water to remove excess oil and dirt. I strongly recommend just water. Infact, water is a great moisturizer.




5. Get the best Comb: Most days I have to wash my hair before I can put a comb through but I always and only use my wide-toothed comb. My comb is quite bigger than the one in the image I found online but I'm sure you get the point. Also, comb from your ends and work your way up. Do not dig comb directly into your hair especially when it's wet. Wet hair breaks easily, start from the bottom then work your way in.





6. Protective styling: I talked about it here 

http://www.stelladimokokorkus.com/2017/11/hair-lobby-protective-styling-can-do.html?m=1. It helps you transition easily when your ends are tucked in. Protective styling would help you achieve this easily.




7. Trim: Just like natural hair, relaxed hair is susceptible to split ends. Most Nigerian women will know what I mean when I use the term "my hair is due". People who are not on natural hair can totally relate to this but sisters know that if you're transitioning, your hair looking due is normal. You're required to trim your hair at least once every 2/3 months anywhere from a 1/2 inch to an inch at a time (go to a professional not Iya Sikira) This is very important to avoid getting hair breakage to travel from the ends of hair to the root.


My sister and friend transitioned between late last year and this year, trust me their hair is as natural as natural can be. You won't even know they transitioned.