9 Tips To Care For Transitioning Hair
Posted on: 16 July 2015
As more African-American women are transitioning from relaxed to natural hair, a lot of wrong information is being shared about how to make the transition without damaging the hair. Taking care of transitioning hair is not difficult, but it does require spending time learning what should and should not be avoided. To help you with your transitioning journey, here are 9 tips for taking care of your hair.
- Comb from the ends to the roots. When your hair is relaxed, combing it from the roots to the ends is no problem. However, transitioning hair can be damaged using this method. Always start at the tips and move up to the roots.
- Use new products slowly. One of the biggest mistakes transitioners make is throwing out all of their old hair care products and buying new products designed for natural hair. By using new products one by one, you can see what works and what does not.
- Detangle while wet. Never try to detangle your hair once its dry. When you do, you place a lot of tension on the hair, which can be damaging.
- Schedule a beauty salon visit periodically. Another misconception about transitioning hair is that visits to the salon are not needed. In fact, you need a skilled pro to trim your hair and help you address any problems you are having.
- Moisturize your hair. Moisturizing your hair is possibly one of the most important parts of transitioning. Deep conditioners and daily leave-in conditioners should be used often.
- Avoid sulfate and petroleum products. Products with sulfates and petroleum can work against your hair and dry it out. The brittleness can result it in shedding. Instead, use products containing natural ingredients, such as shea butter.
- Wear protective styles. Protective hair styles, such as sister locks or quick weaves, can help keep your manipulation of the hair low. As a result, your hair has less breakage.
- Wear a satin bonnet or wrap. The bonnet helps to not only preserve your hair style, but it also keeps your hair from becoming more tangled.
- Avoid heat. Heat from a curling iron, flat iron, or other appliance can be damaging to your hair. If you must use heat, try to use it sparingly.
Talk to your hair care stylist about other things you can do to help your transitioning hair stay healthy and grow. It can take some time to learn exactly how to care for your hair, but with your stylist's help, you can handle it.
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