Taking a Natural Approach

by Gina
(No. California)

This is a lil long, but worth reading! - I have been getting relaxers since age 6 or 7 when “Kiddie Kits” were popular. My mother had mostly boys and didn’t really care about doing a lot of hair for my older sister or for me. It seemed that having it relaxed was easier. So for years, I would get my hair relaxed and put in ponytails. It grew pretty long, past my shoulders as a kid.

After several years, I attempted applying my own relaxers. BIG MISTAKE. I did experience damage over the years, but never had severe problems and my hair would grow back quickly. I discovered the “bob” hair cut and always had my stylist maintain that style. So by the time I reached 30, I decided to let it grow past my shoulders again. I wasn’t used to hair that long, I preferred the bob. I didn’t know how to style it – ponytails were part of my weekly routine.

At age 35, (summer 2009), I decided after my daughter was born, that I was going to cease with relaxing my hair. I didn’t want to introduce her to that chemical cycle so I figured I better get started with my natural lifestyle so by the time she is older, she can understand to embrace her hair. As I worked with her hair, brushing, oiling and styling, I realized that it wouldn’t be that hard to adapt to natural hair. Boy was I wrong.

The first few months were okay. My hairstylist was able to flatiron my roots and make it look like I still had a relaxer. Well, by the time January and February 2010 came around, it was a different story. The moisture in the air was making it frizz at the roots and edges. So I contemplated going back to relaxing, but I didn’t. I decided to stay on the natural path. I talked to friends who were going through it or went through it and they felt happy they did; however, the journey was long.

I was told to find a regimen that worked since I was transitioning from chemical to natural. They told me to look up “blogs” of people who are going through the same thing. One regimen won’t work for everyone. I discovered I needed to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!!! After cruising through a hair supply store and talking to various friends, I decided on what products to buy and how to use them and discovered how well they worked.

MY REGIMEN: First, I rinse my hair (not shampooing) every morning in the shower, then I use a spray moisturizer like what you would use with a Jheri Curl, Sta Sof Fro works, then detangle with a wide comb. Then I use a very creamy and thick conditioner (thick like egg yolks) and section my hair and apply it evenly. After that, I use a creamy oil moisturizer carrot cream (I like the smell) and distribute that throughout my hair. By this time, my hair is “sloshy” with products. I make sure to comb it through and slick it back (not too tight) in a bun or pony tail. I know it’s a boring hairstyle, but it works during the transition.

My hair gets tangled a lot with the relaxed ends and it’s frustrating because it limits what I can do with it for now. I have a year down and about 5 inches of growth, but I am still not at a point where it looks “good” to me, although I get compliments. My stylist gave me a trim awhile ago and told me it was looking good and healthy. I am contemplating doing the “big chop” soon, just to see what happens. I’m scared to cut it, since I don’t know what I’ll be able to do with it. It’s long enough for a pony tail and that seems to work.

The main three pieces of advice I would like to give is, keep it moisturized, avoid pressing, and have patience – it takes a long time to get it going, but worth it!