Help with Transition Styles!

[srauterkus]

HELP! I've been transitioning for about a month now. So, I'm just at that stage where I either need to seriously commit to going natural or go back to the relaxer. I ordered the 'Transitioning Diva' kit and a few other things recently and they are great! However, I'm starting to wonder if I have the skills and patience for all of this!

The trouble is that I have a very active lifestyle. I swim three or more times a week and usually go straight to the office from the pool. I've been wearing a 'wash and go' style for the last two months, but it's starting to look a little tired. I co-wash every morning, spray on a little moisturizer and then work a little 'Milkshake' around the edges before I put a headwrap on. However, by late afternoon, it starts to look dry and a little bushy.

I keep hoping that once it grows out a little more I'll get a more manageable texture. Right now, I've got about 5-6 inches of relaxed hair and an inch or two of new growth. I can only get the (very wide-toothed) comb through it if it is good and wet.

On the positive side, I absolutely love getting my hair wet whenever I want and not worrying about it. I also love not frying my hair (or my ears, neck, etc.) with curling irons and smelling burnt hair all day. I do understand the feeling of liberation that curlies talk about and it is quite wonderful.

HELP! My husband tells me it's beautiful but my mother keeps telling me to get to the hairdresser as fast as I can -- since I don't have 'good' hair. I just want a style that works through this transition period that will last all day. HELP!

-- Having second thoughts in Birmingham, AL

[mdellinger]

srauterkus,

do not give up...you will be SO happy once you have fully transitioned!

this does take time and patience, as you are learning!

have you incorporated a natural oil in your regime? your scalp and hair desperately needs this.

do you have any photos of your hair we can see to offer more solid advice?

also, how often are you co wash, i hope not every morning...this can lead to over conditioing.

[ford5746]

I am a new customer to Curls and have enjoyed reading all the blogs about curly hair and the best hair care recommendations offered by others. I am a 3c most day but sometimes 4a. I notice that you caution against cowashing everyday. I have taken the tips and I do wear a satin cap at night but since my curls are so small I wake up and still see major friz and have only found that rewetting and conditioning it to be the only way to make it look presentable. I am open to any suggestions or feedback.

[soblessed]

Originally Posted by ford5746

I am a new customer to Curls and have enjoyed reading all the blogs about curly hair and the best hair care recommendations offered by others. I am a 3c most day but sometimes 4a. I notice that you caution against cowashing everyday. I have taken the tips and I do wear a satin cap at night but since my curls are so small I wake up and still see major friz and have only found that rewetting and conditioning it to be the only way to make it look presentable. I am open to any suggestions or feedback.

Have you tried just re-freshening your hair thoroughly with the Quenched Curls Moisturizer and then applying either one of the Curls styling creams or Goddess Glaze to your hair in the morning. The Goddess Glaze ofers the most amount of frizz protection, so it is definitely a product that you might want to try incase you haven't already.

I am not one who washes their hair everyday, so this is basically all that I do to re-style my hair in the morning. I make sure that my hair gets dampened with the Quenched Curls all over and then I apply either the Curls Milkshake or Whipped Cream to it and I just let my hair airdry.

[soblessed]

Originally Posted by srauterkus

HELP! I've been transitioning for about a month now. So, I'm just at that stage where I either need to seriously commit to going natural or go back to the relaxer. I ordered the 'Transitioning Diva' kit and a few other things recently and they are great! However, I'm starting to wonder if I have the skills and patience for all of this!

The trouble is that I have a very active lifestyle. I swim three or more times a week and usually go straight to the office from the pool. I've been wearing a 'wash and go' style for the last two months, but it's starting to look a little tired. I co-wash every morning, spray on a little moisturizer and then work a little 'Milkshake' around the edges before I put a headwrap on. However, by late afternoon, it starts to look dry and a little bushy.

I keep hoping that once it grows out a little more I'll get a more manageable texture. Right now, I've got about 5-6 inches of relaxed hair and an inch or two of new growth. I can only get the (very wide-toothed) comb through it if it is good and wet.

On the positive side, I absolutely love getting my hair wet whenever I want and not worrying about it. I also love not frying my hair (or my ears, neck, etc.) with curling irons and smelling burnt hair all day. I do understand the feeling of liberation that curlies talk about and it is quite wonderful.

HELP! My husband tells me it's beautiful but my mother keeps telling me to get to the hairdresser as fast as I can -- since I don't have 'good' hair. I just want a style that works through this transition period that will last all day. HELP!

-- Having second thoughts in Birmingham, AL

Swimming pools have chlorine and other harsh chemicals in the water, so by your swimming with your hair unprotected this will cause more and more dryness to occur. I really suggest that you buy a bathing cap. I know that the main people who use them are professsional swimmers, but they are excellent for providing protection for your hair while you swim. After swimming, you would take off your swimming cap, spray your hair with the Curls Quenched and then proceed to apply styling product to your hair.

However, if you are not interested in wearing a bathing cap, then before you go to swim rub small amounts of coconut oil thoroughly thru your hair from root to tip. Because, oil and water don't mix, the oil will create a barrier on your hair protecting it from the pool water's harsh chemicals. I suggested coconut oil because it is probably the best oil that I have ever used on my hair. As, it delivers incredible softness and hydration to the hair. Now, you would smooth the coconut oil through your hair from root to tip and next pull our hair back into a curly ponytail or puff. So, while you are swimming at least you'll have some protection from the chemicals in the water totally robbing your hair from all of its moisture. And, after swimming, take the ponytail/puff down, lightly blot your hair (never rub) to remove any excess drippies and then spray it all over with the Curls Quenched. Next, take a section of your hair, then detangle it with a brush (instead of a comb). As, a brush, will make your newgrowth much more manageable and detangle your hair better. After you finish brushing the first section, then apply styling cream to it and then move on to another section of hair. Because, you are strapped for time in the morning, the sections, can be as big as you want.

There are several companies that sell coconut oil on the Internet. So, purchasing it online isn't hard to do. Also, check in your local mass grocerey or health food stores to see if they sell coconut oil. The best kind to use is the unrefined version. But, it will cost you somewhat more than the refined version. However, you can use either version, as the effects are basically the same. I have purchased both versions and didn't really notice a difference, so that's why I thought that I would share this little bit of information with you.

Also, I would suggest that you incorporate either Curls Souffle or Whipped Cream into your regimen as well. If your a Type 3, then the Curls Souffle would be the one that you would want to go with next. However, if you are a Type 4, then the Whipped Cream would be better suited for you. to help in raising your hair's moisture level.

In the morning on your non-swimming days, just spray your hair thoroughly with the Curls Quenched Moisturizer and then apply styling cream to it. Your hair really doesn't really need to be co-washed everyday, whether you are transitioning or wear your hair natural. I would suggest you instead using a non-sulfate shampoo like Curls Curliscious Cleansing Cream to cleanse your hair with and a deep conditioner like Curls Asian Hair Tea afterwards to really hydrate your hair with once a week. If your hair is being exposed to the water in the pool and then being co-washed on a daily basis then your hair will begin to become more and more susceptible to dehydration and brittleness. As, Black/Biracial people's hair is naturally very dry. And, co-washing it on a daily basis isn't the best solution for this problem.

Your hair would only needs to be washed every 7 days. Also, you could co-wash it by day 3 or 4, if you are noticing that your hair is starting to look dirty or you are noticing buildup. Now, when co-washing you would always use a lighter rinse-out conditioner and never a deep conditioning product like Curls Asian Hair Tea Conditioner. Co-washing or any type of hair washing is best done in the early evening time as this allows your hair sufficient time to dry while your at home, in a undisturbed state (not being exposed to extreme heat, wind, or cold) . And, after co-washing or shampooing, you would just spray it with the Curls Quenched all over, take a section and detangle it, apply Curls Milshake to it, braid it, and then move on to the next section. And, right before bed, you would put a satin bonnet over you r hair to protect your hair while sleeping. In the morning, if you are going out to swim, just apply the coconut oil to it, and then pull it back into a curly ponytail or puff. The ponytail/puff doesn't have to be neat as you would just need a quick style, in order to get you out the door fast.

Putting product only on our edges, and keeping it wrapped basically all of the time isn't the proper way to take care of your hair while transitioning and especially if you are a person who swims alot. So, that is why, I am sharing bettwer ways of taking care of your transitioning locks. As, I truly don't want your hair to go through major setbacks while it is being cared during its transitional state. Your hair is very fragile during this period. And, if it is being overexposed to drying elements or ingredients then it will surely begin to react in a negative way, which would only end up hampering your hair's progress.