It has been a hot minute since we talked about transitioning! Since I’ve been natural for six years (I’m officially done counting btw), I’m reaching the point where I’ve completely forgotten the transitioning struggle. If you’ve read my FAQs, you know that I did transition to natural hair with weaves and braids, and I can’t imagine doing it any other way.
A fellow Nigerian sister, Anayo of the Mayvenn Hair team, also transitioned to natural hair using weaves after a relaxer broke her healthy hair off in just 8 months! Check out her story below, and then continue on to the Real Beautiful blog to find out five tips for transitioning to natural hair with weaves.
When I was young, I was like my mother’s own personal black Barbie. She would play in my scalp every day, braid my hair, and send me to Malibu. Ok, that didn’t happen, but she took care of my hair like I took care of my toy dolls. My hair flourished, and I had not a care in the world.
Then, I got to middle school and 10 types of hell broke loose. All the fly girls rocked perms and relaxers. My young 12-year-old mind was mesmerized by the bouncy, soft and sleek look of the cool girls’ post-creamy crack hairstyles. I had to have it. After 12 years of growing my long and healthy natural hair, I wanted a relaxer. I was ready for my transformation and even my momma couldn’t tell me nothin’.
We went to the local hair salon where it smelled like lye and bleach were the only things on the menu. Approximately 3 hours later, I had sleek, bouncy straight hair with Kelly Rowland circa 2002 flips on the ends. I WAS ECSTATIC. I didn’t care that I didn’t instantly become one of the cool girls on campus. My hair actually moved when the wind blew and flipped on command–the key to my seventh grade happiness.
Until it became my seventh grade nightmare. After about two months, it was time to go in for another round of frying my strands into submission. Except this time my mom (and yes, I fully blame her for this) wanted to buy the $10.99 boxed relaxer from the drugstore. I didn’t know any better so I obliged. I came out with straight hair again, but it didn’t look nearly as good. In a few weeks, I noticed my hair started to get shorter, and I couldn’t put it into a smooth ponytail anymore without pieces of hair sticking up. I later learned what I was experiencing was hair breakage. A lot of it. I immediately regretted my decision to relax, and ruined my natural hair in just 8 short months. World record or nah?
Transitioning Time
After I destroyed my hair to chase popularity, I decided to transition back to natural. After tons of trial-and-error (and many bad hair days), I discovered weaves and wigs. And they completely transformed my hair! While my hair was tucked away under extensions, it began to grow longer, get thicker, and looked like the hair I had known before my relaxer.
If you went through a huge setback with your natural hair like me, or you just want to transition to natural, weaves and wigs might just be your key to salvation! Here are quick tips on how to transition to natural hair using weave:
There are many ways that transitioning can be accomplished. It’s also possible to transition without weaves or braids. I transitioned for 9 months and wore my own hair in either a bun or halo braid.
Definitely. I’ve got other posts about transitioning and in no way am I saying the only way to do it is using weaves. I’m presenting it as an option for people who either don’t want to be bothered with their hair or don’t have enough styling ability to transition without protective styling. Thanks for commenting!
Yes, I transition with the weave,wigs and braids. I really like the unit(full wig) sewn around the perimeter of your hair. Your hair was braided into a beehive and the unit was sewn around like that very much. To me,it was better than sewing in tracks which makes getting to hair accessible.