I have helped a good bit of people start their transition and helped them on their journey. While doing this, i have noticed alot of the same mistakes that they all make. Learning how to take care of your hair is something new for most people so it takes time. But it just so happens that every single person i help makes these exact same mistakes.
- Overspending on products because they are trying to buy everything “all natural”
For some reason when people say “I’m going natural” they automatically associate it with this holistic way of living so they go out and find all natural products, which are usually the most expensive, to use on their hair. This is just not true. If you refer to my older post, “You Use White People Products?” you will see that i dont use all natural products myself. Whatever you use in your hair when your transitioning, you can use those same products when you cut the permed ends off. Dont be fooled into thinking that you have to use products from “Mother Earth” because of the word “natural”. Do research on products and look up product reviews to see what others are saying about a particular product. DONT assume.. please - Cutting your hair too soon because you think that your hair is way longer than what it really is.
I cant even began to count the times i have seen this and the times i have just shook my head. There is always ALWAYS this misconception that their hair is way longer that what it is not realizing that its natural AND permed hair their looking at. Before you chop, do yourself a favor, grab a ruler, and measure your new growth then google hair with whatever inches you come up with. THAT’S how long your hair is and that’s not even counting shrinkage. If your one of those people that don’t mind short hair, cut away. But if your one of those people that can’t imagine, don’t ever wanna see, and would cry if you had short hair, transition for as long as possible. 1 year of hair growth is not what you think it is. - Flat ironing your way to natural
The first thing i ever say to anyone considering transitioning. GET RID OF THE HEAT. STOP.IT.NOW! I say this because your not even giving yourself a chance to get to know your own hair. Flat ironing natural hair and flat ironing permed hair are 2 different horses. Since your hair is already straight with a perm, you can’t lose your curl pattern from heat damage because its already gone. But for a natural, you CAN AND YOU WILL lose your curl pattern if you don’t know how to properly use heat or use it too often. Most people don’t know that you can cause heat damage on natural and transitioning hair. So my advice is until you learn how to use it the right way, don’t use it at all. There are so many heat-free hairstyles and not using heat often causes your hair to flourish as well. Learn about moisture/protein balance, make sure your hair is getting enough of both, and spend a little time with your unaltered hair before you decide you want to flat iron your way to natural.
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I still don’t why someone would go natural, only to straighten it with a flat iron. Really, what’s the point?
People stop using perms for different reasons. I stopped because I was in denial over the years of how it was thinning my hair. I never did it to wear my hair in its”natural” state. I get my hair pressed by a stylist biweekly and I’ve notice a great change in the health, growth and thickness. I’m happy with my decision. I’ve been perm free for 16 months.
I stopped using perms as well. I was going to college and there were no black hair dressers in the area. My hair was breaking and looking really bad. Unfortunately I fell into all three mistakes. B/c I used the flat iron so that I could deal with the transition I lost my curl pattern and my hair is permanently straight in some spots. Now I wear my hair in double strand twist. I would really love to start going to a salon but it’s not in the budget yet.
I really agree with this post. I have been doing natural hair for 9 years and these are the main major no no’s
I committed the second mistake but in my defense my two textures were at defcon 4 with each other. I had to cut my hair at 7 months but I was in total shock as to how short my hair was. Shrinkage was my biggest issue.
Great advice! Transitioning is lot of work! Thanks for the helpful tips!
I wish I had did more research when I was transitioning. I have a section of my hair that doesnt curl like the rest of my hair. More likely its because I was flat ironing my new growth for a year. smh. I chopped it off after 14 months when it was a length i could deal with
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I’ve tried to transition so many times over the years and successfully have failed. However, I told myself that this year 2012, I would no longer fall into the same mistakes. I am currently wearing single braids as a protective style in transitioning. It’s been working great for me because I re-braid my hair every two months. When I take my braids out, I always deep condition and wear it natural for at least two weeks. This time I’m more ready than ever to be natural because I miss the versatility that natural hair brings. Also, I suffered so much damage at the hands of “beauticians” that getting a perm has left me traumatized. I am almost 5 months creamy crack free, and I cannot wait til I’m a year creamy crack free. Thank you for having this blog to educate the community.
I am so glad you mentioned about not spending too much money on natural hair products, i just recently gone natural and i when started doing research on line, most of the products for natural hair i have seen people using where very expensive, until i searched around a lot and found products, like even Crisco, Olive oil, and i use it for my twin girls as well.
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