Thinking About Transitioning? Here's Why You Should!

A trend in the Black community has resurfaced-- returning to our natural roots... literally. Many women have taken to social media to inspire others and share their hair journey as they transition from relaxed to natural hair. For those who don't know, a relaxer by definition is a chemical solution used on tightly curled hair to soften or loosen the curls. While it may sound harmless and without a doubt lays your hair like nothing else can, the chemicals in this product have been proven strong enough to burn through soda cans, and even leave women with painful chemical burns *cringes from old memories of the pain*. So if you're on the verge of going natural but still need a bit more convincing, let me give you a few more reasons why you should cut the "creamy crack" out of your life based on my personal experiences.

1. Natural Hair is More Versatile

Believe it or not, there are so many hairstyles that you can achieve with natural hair. Bantu knots, flexi rod sets, a simple bun, twist outs, flat twists, braid outs, the braided headband, perm rod sets, and yes, you can still get your hair as bone straight as it would be if you had a relaxer! Compare this to having chemically altered hair that can only be worn a few ways: straight or crinkly. And even then, we all know once the new growth starts to appear, your relaxed hair starts looking a little crazy and becomes much more difficult to maintain. Natural hair allows wash and go's and the freedom to get away with a bad hair day or two without anyone noticing.

2. Your Hair Will Become Healthier

The ingredients in relaxers, such as "lye" (sodium hydroxide), cause hair to become brittle and weak. By embracing your natural locks of hair, your hair will become stronger, thicker, and less susceptible to the dangers of heat, chlorine, and more. I

remember the summer days before I went natural. My hair would literally fall out every time I touched my head due to how weak it was. It was no match for the sun, chemicals in both the pool, and the relaxers ... terrible combination. Since my transition, my hair has grown stronger and much longer.

3. Being Natural Can Help Build Your Confidence!

Be proud of what you were given! Embrace your curls no matter what the texture may be. It takes courage to love the hair on your head when you live in a society that tells you that YOUR natural, curly hair is unprofessional in the workplace, or simply "nappy." Be unapologetic and unbothered by the world's opinion. Once you go natural and finally develop a mindset similar to this, it's almost like you instantly become more proud to be a black woman. Going natural has helped me become more comfortable with myself, and helped me love myself according to my own standards, and not everyone else's.

Even though it may seem as though there aren't many benefits of going natural, the three reasons I listed are very important and can have such a positive impact on your life. I am 1 year, and 4 months post relaxer and don't regret one second of it. If you decide to begin your natural hair journey, remember a few things: Be patient, trim your ends regularly, don't compare your hair to anyone else's, braids and sew-ins are effective protective styles, moisturize and condition your hair frequently, and lastly, whether you big chop or transition is up to you. Do what you feel most comfortable with. Give it a try. You will thank me later and your hair will thank you!

My Natural Hair Journey Thus Far: Almost 1 Year and A Half!

#photo #naturalhair #transitioning #blackgirl