There are many reasons that we, as Black women, choose to
embrace and wear our natural hair.
Some have to do with our African consciousness and wanting to free ourselves from the bondage of Western beauty norms.
At last, we now have a wide range of products available that have been developed with us in mind.
For us as Black women, our hair is a clear sign of our personal politics and identity. Most of us have had our hair chemically treated at some point. So how does one transition back from treated to natural hair?
Here is a quick guide to getting back to 100 percent natural hair:
1. Transitioning takes time.
Whether you decide to cut it all off and leave it to grow, or let it grow while wearing a protective hairstyle, the transition still takes time. Exactly how long depends on genetics and lifestyle factors. So be prepared to wait a few months to a year to go back to being 100 percent natural.
2. Conditioning is essential
During the transition phase, the interface between your new natural hair growth and chemically treated hair is extremely sensitive. So treat it with extra care and avoid heat treatments. Deep-condition it more often – at least once a week.
3. Plan your look
The fact that you've opted for natural hair means that you're no longer interested in looking the way you did with your chemically treated hair. You need to feel good during this time, so you need to find a look that suits you and maintains your confidence as you transition. Invest in some great transitional looks like braids or Afro wigs to cover your head during this time.
