Answering Questions About My Natural Transitioning Hair

So I get these questions a lot from family, friends and colleagues, since I started transitioning to natural hair.

1. How do you handle the two textures?
2. Will all your hair not break off?
3. Why don't you just cut of your relaxed ends?
4. How do you comb your hair?
5. Is it not painful to comb?
6. How do you get it so neat and smooth?
7. Ah there some curls in there, how do you get it to curl?
8. Does it not smell?

Today I am going to answer all these questions.


Ques:How do you handle the two textures?
Ans: With TLC(Tender Loving Care).

I wash, deep condition and moisturise my hair my self, so no stylist yanking my hair. This also helps soften my natural hair making it easier to comb

I also comb my hair from the ends to the roots and not the other way round and so far, it has been beneficial to retaining my hair length.

I trim my ends every three months myself to get rid of split ends and gradually cut the relaxer off. I took the scissors in my BF's clipper set for this purpose :).

Ques:Will all your hair not break off?

Ans: The truth here is some of it will break off.  But with the tips from above, as well as incorporating some protein in your regimen,  you can drastically reduce the amount of breakage.

Ques: Why don't you just cut off your relaxed ends?

Ans: I am not ready to cut it. I am used to having hair touch my back but once my new grow gets to below my armpit, I will consider cutting my relaxed ends off.

Ques: How do you comb your hair?

Ans: Going up, from ends to root and when it is damp or soaked with conditioner. I do not comb my hair when it is dry. The result of that will be breakage, headache and a sore scalp.

Ques: Is it not painful to comb?

Ans: Yes if you comb it when dry, and if you comb from root to ends instead of the other way round. This is why I comb it when it is wet or saturated with conditioner as this gives slip making it easier for the comb to glide through. I do not comb my hair every day of the week.

Ques: How do you get it so neat and smooth?

Ans: My whipped Shea butter, Alovera Gel and Satinor Silk scarf is my friend. I never do without them.

Henna(Lali) also smoothens my hair. See my  DIY LALI TREATMENT for more details on this.

Ques: Ah there some curls in there, how do you get it to curl?

Ans: This question always makes me smile. Our African Naija Hair is naturally curly, coily and kinky See my post on Knowing your Hair Type for more details. The curls show up when we keep our hair moisturised and healthy, it is when we do not do this that our hair looks like brillo pad. LOL!!

Ques: Does it not smell?

Ans: This question got me very worried about our perception of natural hair. I have to make it clear. 

Hair will only smell when it is not cleansed regularly, be it relaxed, texlaxed, texturised or natural.

This is why I advise cleansing and moisturising your hair whether you have braids or weave on. 

For Tips on how to cleanse and moisturise  your hair with braids or weave check these previous posts CLEANSING AND MOISTURISING WEAVE and CLEANSING AND MOISTURIZING BRAIDS

Have any questions about transitioning to natural hair? Hit me in the comment section