5 Things Naturals Don't Tell You When You’re Transitioning

Chime Edwards Jan, 30, 2015

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It Doesn't Become Easier After The Chop

I've heard women say, "I'm natural so I don't have to do anything to my hair now." Uhhh ma'am...what have you been sippin'? Your hair is all one beautiful texture now but the maintenance is the same, if not more. You must stay on top of prepping your hair at night and stick to a healthy hair regimen or your hair will become damaged.

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You May Have to Cut, Not Trim

Even if you take great care of your hair as you transition, it can still end up looking a little whacky. So, you will need to actually cut your hair. This could be due to your hair breaking as you transitioned at the line of demarcation. After the hair breaks, it can split and leave the strand damaged. Sometimes it’s best to just cut, and not keep old ends.

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Your Hair Is Stretched

As you're transitioning, your hair is still slightly stretched due to the weight of the relaxed hair pulling at the ends. As a transitioner, you can't gauge your shrinkage by how far your new growth "hangs" since you're not completely natural. You will likely have more shrinkage than anticipated when you big chop.

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It Will Grow In Varying Lengths

Your hair may grow different lengths in different areas of your hair, so you may have to cut your hair for this reason as well. With natural hair, the shape of your 'fro is everything so it will be well worth it.

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It Won’t Grow As Fast As You Think

Natural ladies always claim that when you big chop your hair will grow fast, but this isn't true for everyone. In fact, it may seem as if your hair isn't growing at all. This could be due to shrinkage or your hair grows slower than the normal rate. It doesn't mean you won't reach your hair goals—it will just take you a little longer to get there.