It’s been almost five years since I’ve transitioned to natural hair.
I wish I could tell you that it gets easier to manage, but it doesn’t. Natural hair is much harder to manage than relaxed hair, but the benefits of natural hair are well worth the extra work that it requires to maintain.
When first making the transition I avoided the ‘big chop’ which means that my hair was in a state of horror for about the first year. However, I found that these hairstyles made the transition easier and now that I’m fully transitioned I do revert back to them to make my daily hair routine quicker and easier.
Now, let’s get started!
See Also: How To Do A Two Tone Hair Dye in Natural Hair
Kinky Twists
Kinky twists are my go-to protective hairstyle. I typically get them a few times a year – especially in the winter months – so I can take a break from having to constantly flat iron my hair each month.
The best part is if you take care of them properly they can promote hair growth. Plus, since they are individuals the hairstyle options are limitless.
I do recommend doing some sort of dry scalp treatment before having them installed though to avoid wanting to tear your scalp out from excessive itchiness.
Lastly, when it’s time to take them out you want to make sure that you take your kinky twists out correctly to avoid losing all of the potential hair that you’ve grown.
See Also: How to Take Care of Kinky Twists
Havana Twists
Havana twists are similar to kinky twists, they are just a little bit larger and take less time to install.
I typically leave mine in for about a month, but I have seen other people leave theirs in for longer.
Despite being a little larger in size, they are lightweight and you can wash them to extend their lifespan.
Wigs
If you’re avoiding the ‘big chop’ and don’t want to sit for a few hours to have individual twists installed, you can always consider wearing a wig. When you’re at home you can let your hair breathe and whenever you need to go out you can throw it on quickly.
My favorite wigs include the ones from the Bobbi Boss wig line. However, I haven’t been able to find the perfect wig for me yet so it’s hardly ever that you’ll catch me with a wig.
Twist Out
If extensions aren’t your thing or you’re looking for a cute way to let your hair breathe in-between extensions, a twist out is a great solution.
I somethings get this done during the winter months after a hot oil treatment and it turns out nice.
I’ll have my stylist, do the twists on Friday, and then by Monday I’ll untwist them.
However, this is totally something that you can do yourself (there are a ton of YouTube tutorials) I just prefer to have someone else do my hot oil treatments when possible and after that, the twist out is the next step. To date, I haven’t tried doing it myself, but it is totally possible.
Senegalese Twists
Senegalese twists are a great protective style when you’re first making the transition to natural hair.
I recommend it during the early stages of the transition because the hair is silkier, so I’m not too sure how long it would last on more natural hair vs relaxed hair.
When I did this style it lasted for about a month. However, I think it probably could have lasted longer, but I purchased the wrong type of hair and my hair was getting frizzy so it definitely had to come out.
Crochet
Crochet is my go-to when I need my hair done for a special occasion or I’m only looking to wear extensions for a week or so.
While I know a lot of people keep crochet styles in longer, regardless of the hair brand I use and the pre-hair treatment before installation, by week two my scalp itches like crazy and I have to take them out.
The style does keep you from having to do heavy daily maintenance though and is great for special occasions since it only takes about 1 ½ – 2 hours to be installed.
Final Thoughts on Transitioning to Natural Hair
Overall, making the transition to natural hair can be complex, especially if you don’t do the big chop. However, with these hairstyles, you can help make the transition a little easier.
