The Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Transitioning to Natural Hair
The Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Transitioning to Natural Hair
If you’ve just kissed relaxers and perms goodbye, then we want to welcome you with open arms to the wonderful, freeing, and sometimes confusing world of natural hair. Here, you finally explore and nurture your natural kinks, curls, and coils, and hopefully, that thought excites you. But we know that even with the exciting journey ahead, there’s probably a lot you still want to know about how to transition to natural hair without damage.
From creating a new hair regime to figuring out what styles will work for your hair as it's in its growing state, baby naturalistas have a lot to learn about what not to do during this transition stage. So let’s get right to it, shall we?
Here are five common mistakes when transitioning to natural hair that you should avoid so you can stay on track toward your hair goals:
1. Not ramping up the hydration.
Your natural curls aren’t like your chemically processed strands, and if you want to keep your curls healthy and defined, it’s important that you moisturize your hair‚ including from the inside out.
Get into the habit of deep conditioning your hair with a high-quality, nourishing conditioner weekly or bi-weekly, and definitely don’t forget to moisturize your strands on a daily basis.
2. Using too much heat.
While you might be used to putting heat on your hair on a regular basis, now that you’re transitioning to natural hair, it’s critical that you give your curls a break.
Too much heat and manipulation can lead to damage, so keep the blowouts and silk presses to special occasions, and work on finding transition-friendly natural hairstyles that require zero heat!
3. Trying to use the same hair products.
You’re a new woman now, so those old hair products that you used on your relaxed or permed hair might not be as effective these days. Instead, it’s time that you graduate to natural hair products that are designed to help your curls thrive, so start experimenting and discover what works best for your hair in its new state.
If you don’t know what products to begin with, try asking your stylist for advice, watching Youtube videos, or reading natural hair blogs for inspiration!
4. Comparing your natural hair journey to someone else’s.
It’s going to be tempting to look to other naturals and their transition timelines as a guide for your own, but this can do more harm than good. Everyone’s hair is unique, and there are so many different factors that affect your natural hair and its growing process, so do yourself a favor and focus on staying in your own lane.
5. You don’t find a natural hair community.
Transitioning to natural hair for the first time can be lonely, especially when there aren’t other naturalistas around you. So get out of your comfort zone, and find your natural hair community in all of us at Silent Naturals!
We’re here to help make this journey easier and more enjoyable for you, so visit our blog for more inspiration, tips, and advice on natural hair!