Natural Hair Journey: My Transition from Relaxed to Natural

I’ve been sharing the products that I’ve been using in my hair, my washday routine and hair care products that I’ve discovered recently but I haven’t really shared my hair story/journey so far with you. So I thought I’d share it in this blog post… My hair is currently natural (i.e. not chemically treated). If you go use the hair typing system by Andre Walker, I’d say my hair is Type 4 kinky hair with tight z-angled coils.

Relaxed Hair 

Firstly, let’s go wayyy back… as a child growing up in the Caribbean I remember crying every time my hair was combed or washed because my hair was ‘thick’, my scalp extremely sensitive and I had the worst dandruff. I dreaded hair wash days as they felt like torture to me at the time and never seemed to end.

Next came the day my hair was relaxed (I think I was about 12 or 13 years old) I was honestly pleased and excited for the level of manageability relaxed hair promised… Once my hair was relaxed, I experimented with various hairstyles, more so during my teens (I feel so old saying that lol). I rocked super short hair at one point (think Lupita c2014), had my hair texturised, bleached and dyed. I wore tracks, slicked my TWA with gel, wore weaves, braids, you name it, I probably did it to my hair…

Also, I worked part-time in an afro hair salon from time to time and supported my Aunt a professional hair stylist at pageants and events – it was here I think my passion for hair care started as prior to this I wasn’t massively into hair.

Then in my early 20s (OK, I really feel old now…) I settled with relaxed hair (mostly short/medium length with the occasional rinse/highlights) which I always tried to grow to a longer length and gave up when it reached the awkward mid-length stage… I constantly gave into ‘the scissors’ and rocked that classic Taraji P. Henson relaxed hair cut. My relaxers were DIY as a student and once I started working full time I’d go to a local salon to get my relaxed hair retouched.

Transitioning Hair

However, around Spring 2015 I think my hair had enough of the manipulation and chemical treatments… The back of my hair began to break - like seriously break – a result of not taking proper care of my hair and my overall wellbeing. I knew better from my experience of working in salons and from working in the beauty industry but I just wasn’t looking after my hair as I should have. I tried to hide the breakage but in the end decided to get a weave to help it grow back… The plan was to relax my hair again once the back of my hair had caught up a bit in terms of length.

This weave marked the beginning of a string of protective styles. like crochet braids, extensions and canerows. I used protective styles to give my hair a bit of a break and choosing those which gave me access to my scalp and in between protective styles I treated my hair with nourishing and strengthening hair treatments.

However, I became frustrated with dealing with two different textures (relaxed and natural) in between protective styles. Also at the time I began researching more about natural hair and effects of relaxers and this made me consider going completely natural.

Healthy Natural Hair

Eventually, I decided to big chop and cut off the relaxed ends on a wash day in December 2016… I felt relieved as I didn’t have to deal with two textures anymore but had no clue how to style my newly natural hair. So I took to YouTube and Instagram for help. The likes of LoveYourTresses (aka @itsfinallyfiona), Fusion of Cultures (@NeffyFroFro), The Gabe Fix (@GabeFlowers) and Yolanda Renee (@etcblogmag) helped me figure it out (thanks ladies!).

I also began to pay closer attention to the products that I was using in my hair by reaching for those with more naturally inspired ingredients and adding in my own DIY oil mix, concoctions and natural ingredients to products to make them work better for me the way I wanted them to. 

Additionally, I rediscovered so many oldies but goodies in terms of ingredients which were used on my hair as a child to help keep my hair and scalp healthy - notably Aloe Vera and Jamaican Black Castor Oil. I fell in love with Coconut Oil and Honey and discovered an array of natural hair products by the likes of As I Am, Shea Moisture, Kera Care Natural Textures to name a few. Oh and Mielle Organics (thanks TreasureTress).

So, I guess I accidentally transitioned to natural hair as my intent was to relax once the back of my hair had caught up. Since then, I have truly been on a journey of discovery with regards to my natural hair. I’ve been learning so much about how to care for my natural hair. I now love the shrinkage, texture and versatility. Wash day aka ‘hair weekend’ isn’t dreaded like when I was a little girl in the Caribbean – I actually enjoy it (especially deep conditioning stage)! My hair is now healthier than ever and the back is longer too… A combination of not just the right products, technique but a healthier lifestyle, exercising regularly and greater focus on eating healthy wholesome foods and my overall well-being.

So there you have it, my hair journey to date from relaxed to beautiful healthy natural hair.

Are you on a hair journey? What has your hair journey taught you? I’d love to know! Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by!

Krista x

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