Crucial Tips for Transitioners
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Question of the Day,
Transitioning
What are the most crucial things you think every transitioner must know. What are things that you wish you would have known during your transition? Isn't it more than a physical transition? How have you grown as a person? What new things have you learned about yourself and the others since you decided to stop getting relaxers?
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I recently BC'd after nearly a year of transitioning and I would have to say the biggest lesson I learned through transitioning is PATIENCE! I learned to work with my hair by becoming keenly aware of what products were working and which ones were not. I also learned that it's detrimental to your hair and your self-image to have unrealistic expectations for your hair. I learned not to look at others' hair texture and try to emulate it to a tee, because in the end every curly head is not the same. I learned that you never really know your texture until all the relaxed ends are gone...so stop categorizing your hair as 3c or 4a prematurely. I wish I would have done more twist outs as a transitioner - maybe then I could have transitioned longer. I also believe above anything else, transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair is a MENTAL one, as well. You have to be mentally ready for the jokes, criticisms, questions, and even admiration that will come your way once people learn that you are no longer going to get relaxers. I would also say that it is so important to acknowledge the reasons why you are going natural and be willing to stand on those reasons regardless of what friends, family, significant others, and colleagues may even say. Because at the end of the day, it's your hair and you have to live with it - not them. I could go on and on forever about the things I've learned, but the points mentioned above are the most important for me.
ReplyDelete...that the BC did not mean cutting off ALL my hair when there's already a nice length of new-growth (the stylist decided; I didn't know any better). I wish that I was more comfortable in the beginning rather than resorting to texturizers to achieve a certain look (stopped this a long time ago...been natural for 6 years). I wish more websites like this was around in the early 00's. It is truly more than a physical transition. I've truly grown as in individual; how I view beauty is truly different than what I did before. I am much more confident; I walk with my head held high. Being natural isn't always about "Mother Earth" or "Sister Soulja"....militant-Black-Panther style (not that there's anything wrong with this) but it's about rocking your favorite pair of stilettos and being comfortable with yourself and crown of glory the Lord blessed you with. It's about being chic...just as this website is all about. As for my thoughts on relaxers, I have nothing against them. MY personal choice is not to have one, but for those that do, just take better care of your hair. I do sometimes feel like some want to escape the creamy crack though. I get a lot of stares...strangers come up to me and compliment my hair all the time. I don't blend in, and I am proud.
ReplyDeleteI would tell transitioners to please please PLEASE be careful and gentle with their relaxed ends. It takes little to no provocation at all for your relaxed hair to knot and mat. Unless you want to end up having to BC way before you're ready, take care of those ends!
ReplyDeleteDon't be impulsive! BCs are not only a physical change but a metal one as well.Don't be lazy, if you are trying to get your hair healthy your body has to be healthy too. Eat right, If there are certain ingredients you wouldn't put in your hair-don't eat then as well. Know the shape of your face and hairstyles that compliment your structure. Don't get your hair color treated if you haven't found a regime or conditioner that works for you. Know the goals or set goals you plan to achieve, visualization is the key to success. Last but not least, If you find yourself saying "I wish my hair was more like her's" or "Why won't my hair curl like that" and "Why isn't my hair shiny, soft or growing?" You need to stop and think about what you're saying, maybe being natural isn't for you If you can't accept the hair you are born with and it is simply foolish to think your hair is not growing. There are ways to account for your new growth, your nails grow at about the same rate as your hair-hard nails that are growing most of the time means your hair is becoming, if not already, healthier and growing. Having healthy or long natural hair isn't a overnite genie command, it's a process like therapy- you are not cured after one visit. I get told all the time,"Oh it's easy for you to be natural you have good hair or white folks hair" I didn't wake with this hair, It has taken me a year and a half to get where I am and I'm still under-construction. In the end you'll love the results of your hard work and discover lots of interesting things, like I didn't know the natural color of my hair is a caramel reddish color and blonde around my edges. Makes me want to research my family's history.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate all the comments. I am seven months in to my transition.
ReplyDeleteSectioning off your hair for everything. Yeah it may be time consuming but it helps sooo much in the end. Especially when DCing. Really section and get those roots and that demarcation line!
ReplyDeleteI've grown as a person by me just being comfortable 100% with myself. I felt like I was lying to myself with a relaxer. Im not saying all people are lying about who they are with a relaxer but in my case I was.
I BCd march of last year and when I BCd I vowed to take better care of myself overall. And I have - working out more, eating better, sleeping more. Less partying more studying..and its paying off.
To all transitioners, if goin natural is something you really want to do, dont get sidetracked by distractions (doubting yourself/hair or mean/rude comments) remember its for YOU and no one else.
i really appreciate all these comments & tips! I am just beginning my transition (3 months since my last relaxer) & you can never have too much help =)
ReplyDeleteWhatever you think you hair type is, go up one. If you think you 4a your probably a 4b and so on. I thought I was 4a/b, I'm 4c. 'Nuff said. LOL!
ReplyDeletei have been transitioning for 1 year and 1 month. Super excited. Plan to transition for at minimum at least another year.
ReplyDeleteI am now transitioning and I am really looking forward to this journey but finding hair styles that work and I can maintain is the hardest thing I have ever done. So there are a lot of challenges that are faced while transitioning but reading the stories and doing the research makes it worth it.
ReplyDelete