By Michebly Whitehead
If you really want to master the character trait of patience, try becoming a naturalista! The transition from relaxed hair to curls and coils can be frustrating when you want to see immediate growth. Nine times out of 10, you’ll get frustrated with your hair and neglect it. Luckily, God created natural hair vloggers for such trying times.
Linda Lynn is one of my fave natural hair vloggers. Her tutorials are easy to follow and honest! She’s not going to hype you up with a bogus product review, and when it comes to transitioning, she knows her stuff! When I was on my journey from straight to curly, her advice came in handy and I probably would have given up on my hair if I hadn’t stumbled across her content on Facebook. Here’s what Linda says about going from relaxed to au natural hair!
Lay It Down
This is such a make-it-or-break-it moment for any styling you do on your natural hair.The goal is to make the chemical-free parts of your hair blend in with the rest.
“Edge controls, styling butters and gels are your friend!” says Linda. “Seeing the line of demarcation between your new growth and relaxed hair can be annoying for some women who are transitioning from relaxed to natural. It’s key to invest in great quality edge controls, styling butters, and gels to help to tame and disguise as much of your new growth as possible. These styling products will also aid with taming frizzies and creating sleek styles.”
Find a Leave-In You Love
“Spray leave-ins are great for transitioning to natural hair,” says Linda. “Your transitioning hair is fragile and needs extra T.L.C. Be sure to experiment and invest in spray leave-ins that aid in nourishing. Spray leave-ins are more light-weight than cream-based leave-ins that can weigh your hair down. If you still love to blow your hair out for best styling, then spray leave-ins will be a game-changer for you.”
Color with Caution
If you will be a color-treated natural while transitioning, you’ve got to pay extra attention to the health of your hair, especially the ends! Invest in quality protein treatments for your hair and seek a stylist who can help you on your color-treated, natural hair journey while you are transitioning.
Use Rollers
When you’re in transition from relaxed to natural, you will not see your actual curl pattern until all the relaxed hair has been cut off. Perm-rod sets, roller sets and even twist/braid-outs are all styles that can help your beautiful, bouncy curls, which will help you embrace your new journey as a natural ahead.
Detangle Diligently
Don’t rush to detangle your hair. Do it with patience, or don’t go natural at all. Understand that dealing with two different textures can be time-consuming, but raking your hair any kind of way can cause severe breakage. Take the necessary time to brush and comb through your transitioning hair.
Follow Linda Lynn on Instagram at @lindabhurd for natural hair tips and inspiration.
Photo by Isaiah McClean on Unsplash
