Growing out relaxer

by Marie
(Boston, MA)

I'm considering the transition from relaxed to natural hair. I don't think my natural hair has the defined spiral curls you have. In fact I'm pretty sure my hair is much more afro-kinky, since I'm not of mixed heritage. If I wanted to go natural, would my hair type be more prone to breakage?

I have heard that growing out a relaxer as a black woman can be detrimental to the hair strength and health. Any advice? What products are good? And how should I deal with going to salon in the midst of this transition?

Are there any good products you recommend? Should I consider a texturizer instead (though I'm thinking my natural roots are too kinky for a texturizer to create a defined looser curled look)?

How should I proceed with the transition in the best possible way (knowing that my hair will probably grow back really coarse)?

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Nina's Response

Hi Marie,

To answer your first question, I do not think that the texture of your hair when natural makes it more prone to being dry. It will all depend on how you style and care for your hair.

Well, if you just take a look around, you can see that plenty of women have transitioned to natural hair without it being detrimental to their hair health. In fact, I would guess many people gained even healthier hair!

For transitioning, I'd recommend using natural hair products and keeping your hair moisturized. Try products that you can find in health food stores like Nature's Gate. You can also try Carol's Daughter moisturizers like Healthy Hair Butter.

As far as going to a salon, you should have a stylist who supports your decision to transition. Also, it will depend on how you choose to wear your hair throughout your transition. Do you plan to wear it straight or non-straight?

Considering a texturizers is up to you and your expectations of your hair. What is your goal for transitioning to natural hair? Is it for you to wear your hair in its natural state? Or do you want to typically wear it straight? Or are you looking for a stylist curly look that you don't believe your natural texture will give you? You'll need to evaluate your goals to determine if you want a texturizer or not.
Nina Dyoran, Editor, Long-Healthy-Hair-Advisor.com