I’m 15. This Is My 7 month Natural And Unfortunately My Hair Isn’t Longer… Bad Encounter With A Dominican Salon :/.
Found Out The Hard Way That My Hair Isn’t Like Theirs.
No Transitioning For Me, I Did The Big Chop! & It Was Love At First Sight
I’m An Absolute Product Junkie But My Staple Products Are Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1, Mizani True Textures, Tea Tree Oil, & Argon Oil.
When I First Went Natural I Was Comparing My Hair To Other Natural Curly Haired Girls And Started To Feel Ugly And Just Wanted My Hair To Grow. But I Soon Realized To Embrace What God Gave Me. I Love That My Hair Is So Soft & Thick, But At The Same Time Manageable.
My Hair Has Helped Me To Gain The Confidence I Need For College Next Year, EARLY GRADUATE!!
But Some Tips Are:
Keep Your Hair Moisturized, ALWAYS! =)
Don’t Focus So Much On Length That You Forget About Health
Congrats LaShon! I am loving that curly fro! You can see more of LaShon at her blog.
How long did you transition?
I transitioned for 2 years and then in February 2012 I cut off the last 2 inches of relaxer.
What styles did you transition with?
I transitioned with braidouts, braids and buns.
What are your favorite products so far?
It’s really hard for me to pick a favorite product as I am a certified product junkie but I can’t live without my spray bottle with water and oils, my tangle teezer, coconut oil and almond oil.
What do you love most about your hair?
I love the curls and thickness of my hair. I’ve worn my hair straight for so long that I didn’t even know my hair had curls! The texture of my hair was a complete surprise to me.
List any opposition/problems you faced along the way.
I didn’t face any opposition but I was surprised to find out that my grandmother who loves everything I do was not a fan of my curly hair. She’s old school so she prefers it straight.
Looking for TWA inspiration? Look no further than this fab lady!!
Why did you decide to go natural?
I decided to go natural because I LOST WHO I WAS and I needed to find myself. For many years I hide behind my hair and forgot about the beautiful features God gave me. I knew cutting my hair I would have to find who I was because I couldn’t hide behind all that weave and fakeness.
What are your Favorite products?
My favorite products are the Shea Moisture line I just love them.
What are some important things you’ve learned over the last year?
The most important thing I have learned this year is beauty is unique so many people think beauty just means straight hair and to look like what we see on TV. By going natural I learn a whole another level of beauty.
Advice for newly natural ladies.
Newly natural ladies so many people are going to think they know what’s best for your hair. I became a product junkie within the first few weeks of my Big Chop other naturals suggestion are great, however you need to learn your hair and test out what you think would be best, else you’re going to have a full collection of hair products that aren’t for your hair. Go to hair events and meet other naturals ( meet up) . Meeting other naturals will help build your confidence I remember when I first cut my hair my friends didn’t understand they only knew about straight hair beauty. Don’t let anyone try to break you. YOU must love your new look and be confident in it. You are a new person embrace it. If you need to go shopping for your new look go for it . Just love it.
I transitioned for roughly 2 years. I’ve wore weaves for 15 years and I love my weaves! If anyone wanted to know about fake hair, how to treat and style it and what kind to buy, I was considered the “go to person”. As I started to learn extensively about my culture and history, I began to build an inner love for myself that outgrew the outer. Eventually, I started by cutting a chunk of my permed hair off while continuing to wear weaves for another 2 years. Just this past Sunday I couldnt get an appointment so I decided this was the perfect opportunity to “take the plunge”.
Kcurly: What styles did you transition with?
I wore a full head weave for two years. No one knew I was transitioning unless I told them. Kcurly: What are your favorite products so far?
So far I love Kinky-Curly’s Knot Today. It makes my hair very manageable and gives my ends a beautiful curl, even if I didn’t braid it over night.
I also love Taliah Waajid’s Curls, Waves & Naturals (The Great Detangler) This makes my hair even softer than the Kinky-Curly product. It smells great and it detangles my hair wonderfully! Lastly, I just bought Eco Styling gel today and I absolutley love the way it helps my hair to lay down in the front. I just twisted my hair using it but haven’t taken them out yet. When I do, I would love to tell you the result.
Kcurly: What do you love most about your hair?
I love that it is my hair!!! I love that it is a naturally soft texture aand my boyfriend can finally stroke my hair when I lay down. Kcurly: What qas the manner in which you BC’d?
First I cut off a huge chunk but I still had some permed ends. Everytime I had my weave re-done my stylist would cut off another inch until it was all gone. FYI – I took pictures and several videos of my BC and transitioning period.
Kcurly: List any opposition/problems you faced along the way.
I would’ve transitioned a lot sooner but one time I had a bad weave job and it pulled my edges out. I was giving it time to grow in but it took a very long time. I decided to continue to weave my hair and work extra hard to nurture my edges until they grew back in.
Tia, love the hair, girl! Thanks for being a shining example that transitioning long term is always an option when choosing to go natural. Check out more of Tia’s videos (and her to-die-for hair) below or on her channel.
How long have you been natural? How long did you transition?
I transitioned for about 18 months and have been natural for almost 6 months.
What styles did you transition with?
The first couple of months of my transition I did roller sets and wore head bands to blend the two textures. My natural hair eventually grew out of this after three months, so I started doing twist outs, braid outs and other curly styles to blend the textures. I used perm rods on the ends of my hair to help blend my relaxed and natural hair when I did braid and twist outs.
During the last two months of my transition I started using curlformers and bunning. You can see pictures of these styles in my Natural Hair Journey:
What are your favorite styles to wear?
I like to do braid and twist outs, and I normally put it into a puff or I do a half up half down style. I have a video of my post BC styles on youtube:
What are your favorite products so far?
I like Giovanni’s direct leave-in, this is the only product that I have used during my transition and after my transition. I normally used the leave in every week after I wash and when I do braid and twist outs. Lately, I’ve also been using shea butter on my braid and twist outs, which give my hair my styles some hold and helps seal in the moisture.
What do you love most about your hair?
I like the versatility of natural hair. I am able to do a range of styles with body and thickness which I couldn’t have done with relaxed hair. My hair seems to be stronger without the chemicals and breaks less often too.
What was the manner in which you BC’d?
I didn’t have the traditional big chop, but I started cutting about an inch or so every month once I hit about 15 months post relaxer. I was completely relaxer free by July 24, 2011, which was about 18 months post relaxer.
List any opposition/problems you faced along the way.
In the beginning my mom was only in favor of me going natural, if I continued to straighten my hair with a flat iron or a pressing comb. I had to show her the beauty of different natural hairstyles on youtube and forums and explain to her that I was embracing the natural me and how my hair would be healthier. It was definitely a rough road, but she eventually caught on, and is now natural too.
Any advice for the newly natural ladies out there?
I think deep conditioning is very important in order to keep my hair moisturized. I deep condition my hair every other week and I spray my hair with water in between washes to moisturize my hair. In the beginning when I first became natural I had trouble doing braid and twist outs. It always came out different, and sometimes asymmetrical, every time I did it. I found a style that I could do, no matter how my braid and twist outs came out, which was a puff, and that helped me through the bad hair days.
Here are three short and sweet stories of newly natural ladies for your enjoyment. Congrats, ladies! You are all just glowing and I love seeing those TWAs!
Lele
Hi!
My name is Nasilele and I’m 18 years old. I began transitioning in January 2011 and BC’d after 7 months. I don’t shoot a lot of pictures of myself because I’m what I like to call camera shy, but I do have the few that I took after I BC’d, plus the video I had my friend take when I was getting it all chopped off, which I posted on YouTube, lol. I just wanted to share my transitioning story with you and any other ladies who would like to hear about it. When I was transitioning I used crochet braids and still use it and cornrows as a protective style. I would have sent a photo at my 12 month mark but it’s braided at the moment, sorry. Thanks so much for reading it!
Destiny
Hi Kcurly,
I think it’s about time I introduce myself. I’m Destiny and I am truly “newly natural”. I can honestly say your blog has been blessing! To fill you in and bring you up to speed on my hair journey: I was relaxed and had very long, thick and healthy hair (for the most part). I cut my hair in a short style wasn’t really feeling it and was tired of dealing with relaxers and split ends so I decided to cut it off and go natural.
I wanted to be able to rely on myself to keep my hair healthy and use REAL natural products. So I did the “Big Chop” and I am very happy with my hair and am very excited about this journey and have loved every bit of it. I think that I am going to be starting with using the Hairveda products (for cleansing and the hair gelly for an easy “wear and go” and I see the importance of the oil rinses) first to start the growth of my hair and easy styling due to the length of my hair. Unless you have anymore tips? One thing I can’t wait for is to find out my natural hair type. How long general does it take before you know? I really want you to know that with the help of your blog I am learning about different hair products, and have the feeling that I am not on this journey alone and that I have a support system out there. But wrapping this up, you’re sincerely appreciated so PLEASE keep doing what your doing.
Destiny
Destiny, you’re very sweet and I appreciate the compliments. I like the Hairveda line, and if it works for you, that’s great. If it doesn’t, keep it moving, girl! Something will work for you. Also, remember that there are so many good lines available locally nowadays at places like Target. I know those shipping fees can be killer!
As for hair typing, you can read my opinions on that here. Congrats on your being newly natural and have fun experimenting. Please remember not to stress out though!
Sadia
Hi there,
My name is Sadia. I’m 26 and I am embarking on my natural hair journey, I had gone natural 2 years ago but one day took some misguided advice from my mother to use castor oil and that left my hair straw dry and difficult to handle. In haste to look professional for work I took the quick fix and slapped on a perm…
I have been perm free for about 8 weeks now and wasn’t really feeling the transition technique so I’ve done the BC. I’ve never been one phased by chopping my hair so I was all good but my son was a little more shocked so I had to discuss with him the beauty of our skin and hair.
I’m also growing his hair a little as too much hair cutting has led to thinning hair. So it’s our pact to do our weekly wash and TLC regime.
I’ve have a few other friends who’ve taken the all natural path so I’ve got great company but I’ve found you blog. Fantastic!!!! It’s informative, educational and makes this sometime daunting time FUN.
I visited my local natural health store and bought products to make the caramel DC and Homemade Spritz, as I have used some of these products before I know the benefits, but as it’s very cold here in London I’ll probably be wearing a lot of hats and a wig on occasion and my TWA is still quit short. Are there any other tips I could take onboard..?
Once again thanks all the way from London..
Sadia, thanks so much for reading! I have a ton of advice on my blog, but the first thing that comes to mind, which you probably already know, is to keep that lovely TWA moisturized in the cold weather. Hats (preferably satin/silk lined or with a scarf/bonnet next to your hair) or wigs (be careful of wig caps and your edges!) sound like a good plan if done properly.
Another beautiful lady shares her story of discovering the joys of being natural! Thanks for sharing, Dinesha! My story starts my junior year in October I big chopped. My initial reason to go natural was to simply allow my hair a window to substantially grow. So I big chopped first in August, then the big [...]
See more of this beautiful lady on her blog. Congrats on 3 months natural and may you have many more in store!! How long have you been natural? How long did you transition? I have been natural for almost 3 months and I transitioned for 14 months. What have been your biggest obstacles to overcome? [...]
Shawntay, I so, so, so love that TWA much more than that weave on you! You really look beautiful! Congrats and welcome to the natural side! How long did you transition? Almost 4 months What styles did you transition with? I wore a quick weave all the time! What are your favorite [...]
Thanks to this fierce newly natural for letting us into her head! Brittany, you are fab, my dear! Check out more of Brittany at her blog BeetheMisfit. How long did you transition? I stopped getting relaxers in December (2010) and transitioned for approximately six months. What styles did you transition with? I kept my hair [...]
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful hair–is all I have to say… Did I say your hair is beautiful?! Congrats, Darcy! How long did you transition? I transitioned for 11 and a half months. I did not have a set time when I started transitioning but thought that it would be about a year long process, and [...]
Ciera, loved your story! Check out Ciera’s blog and YouTube channel to see more of this stylish, sophisticated lady! How long did you transition? My last relaxer was in August of 2010 when I decided to transition to natural. I transitioned for about 11 months before I big chopped on July 20, 2011. I [...]
Congrats Nicole! I’m glad you’re enjoying those gorgeous curls! Thanks for sharing with us! My Natural Hair Journey Why: The Reason I decided to go natural is because I wanted to see my hair texture. Was it curly, wavy, or straight? So my reason for exploring my natural hair was out of curiosity. My Story: I had a [...]
Porsche! Congrats on being newly natural! I can tell from your pictures that you are rocking that ‘fro with all the confidence in the beautiful gift that God gave you to wear on your head! Thanks for sharing and happy hair growing! How long did you transition? I transitioned for 6 1/2 months. My [...]
I am beyond proud of this gorgeous young lady who embarked on her natural hair journey during the 4th grade! Kudos also to mom for guiding her daughter on this journey. KT, Willow Smith better watch her back cuz your are beautiful! Congrats girl! How long did you transition? I transitioned for 7 months. Basically [...]
Thanks for reading! Remember that our hair is a gift and that it can blossom and grow if we take good care of it. If you have questions, want to share your story, or just want to say hi, please email me at kcurly@newlynatural.com
How long general does it take before you know? I really want you to know that with the help of your blog I am learning about different hair products, and have the feeling that I am not on this journey alone and that I have a support system out there. But wrapping this up, you’re sincerely appreciated so PLEASE keep doing what your doing. 
