Transitioning to Natural Hair: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve relaxed or chemically straightened your hair and want to grow out your natural texture, transitioning means letting your natural curls come in while gradually trimming away the treated ends. It’s a journey that requires patience and a new routine, but the result is fully natural, healthy hair . 1. Set a Plan and Mindset Decide how long you want to transition. Some women choose a “big chop” (cutting all treated hair off at once), but a gradual transition can be less intimidating.

If you go the gradual route, plan for regular trims to safely remove relaxed ends as your new growth takes over . According to natural hair experts, getting rid of split or damaged ends early is crucial . Start by cutting off at least 2–4 inches of dead, brittle ends right away . Regular dusting or trimming (even just ¼ inch at a time) every few weeks will keep breakage in check . Mentally prepare: it can take months or over a year to fully grow out a relaxer , depending on how fast your hair grows.

Along the way, understand that you will have two textures at once (new growth vs. ends). The “demarcation line” where these meet is fragile, so it’s normal for detangling or washing to become trickier as time goes on . Many transitioning women note breakage around this line if it’s not handled gently . 2. Revamp Your Hair Care Routine Healthy hair starts with the right care. Use sulfate-free, gentle shampoo or a co-wash that won’t strip natural oils from your new growth .

A weekly clarifying wash can help remove product build-up if needed. Try the “pre-poo” method: before shampooing, apply a moisturizing conditioner or oil (like olive oil) to sections of hair . This pre-poo step protects fragile ends by strengthening them and making detangling easier under the shower . When cleansing, work in sections. Shampooing large sections at once can lead to extra tangles. Instead, section hair (especially after a few months when it’s longer) and wash each part individually .

This saves breakage. As soon as you start washing, apply conditioner liberally. Always follow with a deep conditioner on every wash day . The length that is still relaxed will absorb conditioners differently than new hair , so focus on treating the line of demarcation and ends to keep them from drying out . Deep Condition Weekly: A good hair tip is to treat your hair to a rich deep-conditioning mask each week . Apply a thick cream or mask from roots to ends, cover with a plastic cap, and use heat or warm towel for 15–30 minutes.

This helps both textures stay hydrated and more elastic during wash days . Detangle with Care: Always detangle wet hair with conditioner . Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb. Take your time and work in small sections . As hair grows, increase the number of sections you divide into. The NapturallyCurly guide advises starting in four sections, then as your hair lengthens, moving to six or more . Let Hair Air Dry or Use Low Heat: Minimize heat styling.

Many transitioners follow a “no direct heat” rule, meaning no flat irons or blow-dryers on high heat . If you must blow-dry, use the lowest heat setting and a diffuser or hooded dryer for indirect heat for a short time . Using heat can damage both your new natural curls and the remaining relaxed ends.37 37 38 39 39 4036 39 39 40 41 4243 • 41 41 • 4044 4044 • 45 46 5 Protective Styles: Hairstyles that tuck away your ends are invaluable while transitioning.

Try braids, twists, flat twists, buns, or bantu knots. These styles minimize manipulation. For example, flat twists help blend the two textures and require no heat . You can also wear short weaves or wigs (with no-tension install) to keep your hair protected and give you some styling variety. When braids are in, use a curl mousse or curl cream to lay down flyaways, and apply a light scalp oil to keep the scalp and new growth moisturized .

Frequent Trims: As mentioned above, trim split ends often . Even tiny trims (dusting) every month or so prevents slits from creeping up. The NapturallyCurly expert trimmed at least monthly, sometimes twice, because breakage was inevitable . Use sharp hair shears to avoid causing new splits. 3. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize New natural hair thrives on moisture, and relaxed hair can quickly dry out. Keep your hair and scalp hydrated with water-based leave-in conditioners and creams.

A popular approach is the LOC or LCO method (Liquid/Leave-in, Oil, Cream) to lock in moisture. For example, spray damp hair with water or a water-based leave-in, then apply a hydrating cream, then seal with a natural oil (like castor or coconut oil) . The NapturallyCurly guide emphasizes water is key (“Water = moisture”) and then sealing with oil every few days to hold that moisture in . You can also refresh moisture between wash days by misting water on dry hair at night (like a gentle “rain”) and then covering with a satin bonnet .

This technique, which curls community refers to as “spritz and seal,” helps revitalize curls and keep them from drying overnight. 4. Embrace Protective Accessories Use headbands, scarves, and hair cuffs to give old styles new life and protect edges. The transitional journey included a tip to “buy lots of headbands” . When a braid-out or twist-out starts to look frizzy, slipping on a stylish headscarf can instantly hide it and prevent further tangling.

Satin-lined caps or silk scarves at night are also great for maintaining moisture. 5. Build Patience and Support Expect some breakage: it is inevitable when blending two textures . However , trimming regularly keeps it under control. Celebrate the small milestones: a length gain, the day you finally get a proper detangle, or how soft your natural curls feel after a great deep-condition. Joining online natural hair communities or reading transition blogs can provide encouragement and tips.

If full transition feels overwhelming, remember you have options. Some choose a big chop at some point. The key is to do what makes you comfortable. Whether you clip off the rest of the relaxed ends now or continue trimming gradually, the end goal is the same: healthy, natural hair . In short, transitioning to natural hair is a process of gentle care and patience. Trim damaged ends, avoid heat, and moisturize like crazy .

Protective styles and satin at night will help minimize breakage. Most importantly, give your hair and yourself time. Soon enough, you’ll be flaunting strong, natural curls or coils from roots to ends. • 47 48 • 4 38 49 49 50 51 52 4549 6 This is the end of this article.