How to Transition from Straightened Hair to Natural Curls

Straightened hair gives you sleek and glossy locks that last for around 6-8 weeks. However, the transition back to your natural curls can be difficult, with your hair often becoming unexpectedly frizzy, split, and prone to breakage. Despite these challenges, this is a natural recovery process, so there’s no need to worry. Returning to your natural beauty is a wonderful and exciting journey that you will want to experience for yourself.

Ensure Adequate Hydration for Your Hair. One of the main challenges during the transition is preventing hair breakage caused by dryness and damage. You must work on keeping your hair moisturized and nourished with conditioner daily. Every night before bed, apply coconut or olive oil evenly through your hair and leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour. This step helps replenish moisture and nutrients to the hair, strengthening the transition zone between your natural and processed hair.

• To prevent shampoo from stripping your hair of moisture, wash your hair 1-3 times a week. When you shampoo, focus only on the scalp to remove oils and buildup, without drying out the strands. Follow with conditioner as usual.
• Consider using leave-in conditioner during the day. Apply a small amount to your hair before styling, especially focusing on the transition point between the two hair textures.

Use Deep Conditioning Treatment Regularly. Deep conditioners elevate your hair's moisture levels to a whole new dimension. While typically used just once a month, during a hair transition, your hair needs extra care and can tolerate deeper conditioning treatments more frequently. You can purchase a deep conditioner from beauty care stores and apply it once a week. Alternatively, visit a salon for a professional deep conditioning treatment.

• Follow the instructions on the product's packaging.
• If you're looking for a budget-friendly alternative, mayonnaise can serve as a deep moisturizing treatment. While it might not sound appetizing and could have an odd smell, mayonnaise is surprisingly effective at hydrating your hair. Apply it once a week for 30 minutes to an hour.
• If you choose to visit a salon for deep moisture treatments, seek a specialist experienced in handling transitioning hair. They can suggest professional products and services suited to your needs.

Avoid Heat Sources. In general, it's best to steer clear of heat styling tools to protect your hair. Curling irons, straighteners, and blow dryers can put stress on your hair, leading to breakage, especially at the transition line. During your hair transition, try to keep your hair as natural as possible. Avoid using hot tools, and if necessary, limit their use to once a week at most.

Limit Shampooing.

This habit should be paired with moisturizing treatments for your hair, as frequent washing removes the natural oils that help keep hair healthy. Wash your hair as infrequently as possible and always use conditioner afterward. If you can, aim to wash your hair just once every 7-8 days, allowing natural oils to coat each strand.

Hot Oil Massage. The waiting game while your hair grows can be frustrating. Instead of sitting passively, you can stimulate hair growth by massaging your scalp regularly. Use a bit of warm oil (coconut, olive, or avocado oil) and massage it into your scalp. This technique stimulates the hair follicles and promotes faster hair growth. You can perform hot oil massages frequently, but at least once a week for the best results.

Stimulate Hair Growth with Supplements. Maintaining a proper balance of vitamins and minerals is essential for overall health, including the health of your hair. Taking certain supplements can accelerate hair growth and improve hair strength. Doctors often recommend biotin or Viviscal supplements—specialized products designed to boost hair and nail growth. Additionally, ensuring you get enough vitamin D and vitamin A can further support hair growth.

• Some studies suggest that supplements made from saw palmetto extract may help your hair grow faster than without any supplementation.

Avoid Adding Chemicals to Your Hair. It's crucial to stay away from hair straightening or curling products during your hair transition. Additionally, avoid using hair dyes or bleach, as they can cause significant damage, leading to breakage and frizz. Opt for natural alternatives to replace harsh chemicals, as they are much gentler on both your scalp and hair strands.

Buy New Hair Care Products. Not all hair care products are created equal. With so many options on the market, finding the right products for both your hair and budget can be tricky. During the transition process, it's important to choose products that are gentle on your hair. Look for sulfate-free shampoos and other products specifically designed for transitioning hair. While these products won't change the appearance of your hair, they will prevent further damage and help repair existing damage to your strands.

• If you visit a salon that specializes in transitioning hair, ask the stylist to recommend products for your hair type.
• At the very least, find a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfates (found in most inexpensive shampoos) can dry out your hair and clog follicles on your scalp, which may reduce hair growth.

Consider a Shorter Cut. Many people going through the transition process opt for a shorter cut, removing the straightened ends and leaving just the natural hair close to the scalp. This is definitely the best option for healthy hair growth, but not everyone wants to go that short. If you're brave enough to try a new look, cutting your hair short is an excellent way to quickly eliminate the straightened sections and fully embrace your natural hair.

Trim Your Hair Regularly. Because straightened hair is permanent, any section that was treated with straightening products will never grow back naturally. Therefore, you’ll need to cut your hair starting from the transition line. If you're not ready for a drastic short cut, consider trimming your hair frequently. Start by cutting a few centimeters, and then regularly trim about 0.7-1.3 cm every month. Over time, you'll gradually remove all the damaged straightened hair, giving your natural hair the chance to grow out stronger.

Cover Newly Grown Hair. A few centimeters of newly grown natural hair may look a bit odd near the straightened sections. To prevent further damage from tight hairstyles, you should use accessories to cover the curly hairline. Headbands and scarves are popular choices that hide the roots while still showing off the rest of your hair.

Try Braiding or Twisting Your Hair. While tight warrior braids may cause breakage, loose braids, twists, or looser braided styles are excellent ways to give your hair a fresh look without causing damage. The best styles for transitioning hair that are also easy to manage include Box Braids and Senegalese Twists. These styles don't require much manipulation and protect your natural hair since the added braids cover the natural hair underneath. Creating these styles can be complicated, so take time to find the one you like best. The key is to keep the braids loose to avoid putting pressure on your strands.

• The most delicate part of the hair is the transition line, so be extra gentle when styling near this area.

Find Good Hair Styling Products. Many women report that having a good gel, styling cream, or hair spray is essential. When you choose the right products, you can even conceal less-than-ideal styles. Be selective with your hair styling products and try using them (instead of relying solely on tight clips or hair ties) to style your hair. You may find that the results are not only better, but also gentler on your vulnerable strands.

Avoid Over-Processing Your Hair. While it’s hard to avoid, the more you touch and style your hair, the more prone it becomes to breakage and frizz. Try not to comb or brush your hair too often, and avoid hairstyles that put stress on your scalp. When you do comb your hair, use a wide-tooth comb (not a brush) and work from the roots to the tips.