Where are all the transitioning folks at??? We got something specially made just for you. When it comes to returning your hair to its natural state from the relaxed version, the natural hair world is mainly about the “big chop” (which is cutting off all the relaxed parts away all at once); some people can decide to let the natural part grow out and then trim off the relaxed part little by little which is known as transition. Sometimes, before a big chop, you also decide to do a bit of transitioning process and cut it when it has grown out a little or just cut and start from a very low level of hair like 1 inch or a few millimetres.

While for the transitioning, you keep trimming little by little until all the relaxed part has come off, there is no set time for when it ends; it can take as few as some months to as long as years. There is no wrong or right way to it. It all depends on which is more convenient for you and your personal preference. Can’t decide whether to do the big chop or transition? Let’s look at the pros and cons of both.

The Big Chop

Pros

• You don’t have to deal with the stress of having 2 different hair textures.
• You use your products on the parts that matter, leading to effective product usage.
• You get used to the natural hair world and hair texture faster and better.

Cons

• It can be a drastic and overwhelming change as you lose your hair length suddenly.
• It limits your choice of hairstyles

Transitioning

Pros

• You retain length. You don’t lose a lot of hair at once.
• You have a wider choice of hairstyles than when you do the big chop.

Cons

• It takes a lot of time and patience to be fully transitioned
• You have two different hair textures, which can be disadvantageous when making certain hairstyles like twists.

Now that we have looked at both ways, you should be able to make your decision more effectively. We would now look at the dos and Don’t of transitioning

What to DO

• Be very patient with your transitioning journey.
• Consult with a natural hair expert to curate a hair regimen for you. You can also read the previous blog post on a simple hair routine you can work with.
• Find your best go-to style and always do protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles like braids would always be a good option because you can hide your hair without worrying about the different textures
• Always keep your scalp clean. Do scalp treatment like scalp detoxification when necessary.
• Detangling is very important. Finger detangle your hair, and always detangle when your hair is wet. Do not detangle dry hair.
• Trim the ends of your hair regularly. Get a trim; leaving the loose ends is just retaining a fake length that can lead to more hair losses. Remember to trim with hair shears, not regular scissors. You can book an appointment for a trim section here. Getting a trim card lets, you keep a record of how regularly and often you trim
• Always keep your hair moisturized. Do not let your hair be starved of moisture. Use water-based products.
• Get the right hair tools. Check out our blog post for must-haves for all naturals. Use the rights tools. Get a detangling brush, steam cap, processing cap, here etc.
• Deep condition with a steaming cap at least every 2-3 weeks
• Stay away from applying heat to your hair. If the use of heat is necessary, use the lowest heat

What NOT to do

• Don’t over-manipulate your hair.
• Don’t set stretch goals for your hair. Don’t pressure your hair to grow out at a fixed speed or specific time
• Don’t use drying alcohol-based, sulfate-based, paraben-based, and silicon-based products. Not every product on the market is good for the hair. Get the right products and be consistent with them. Also, stay away from texturizers.
• Don’t make the tight hairstyles and styles that make your edges vulnerable to breakage.

While the transitioning journey can be exhausting, it is always well worth it. Find friends that are also on the transitioning journey and form a team to motivate and encourage each other or join a natural hair community. Find a good natural hair stylist that can cheer for you, handle your hair properly and give you tips on how to have a smooth transition.