Photo by Mikelya Fournier on Unsplash
Transitioning back to your natural hair can be an emotional journey. I began my transition to natural in 2009 and I had no idea that I would go through so many different emotions, from frustration to confusion followed by happiness; I have experienced it all. Transitioning can be overwhelming, but you can get through the process. Here are some of the emotional stages you may face when transitioning to natural.1. Fear
Going natural can be a very scary thing. You may be afraid to see your natural texture, because you don’t know what your curl pattern looks like. Fear of the unknown may try to hold you back, but don’t let it. You may also be afraid of what other people think of your hair. You have been built up the confidence to go natural and now you are unsure. Don’t worry, just take it a day at a time and go with the flow. It’s perfectly ok to be scared and unsure, but if it is what you really want then don’t let fear hold you back.
2. Frustration
Once you actually go natural, you may experience frustration, because you are dealing with two different textures or experience an awkward period. Your hair doesn’t act right in certain styles, and the products that you are trying aren’t working how you want them to. Styling your hair can be a very frustrating process during your transition, but stick in there and keep trying different techniques. Before you know it you will be able to perfect the twist-out with your eyes closed.
3. Experimenting
Going natural is an adventure. Try different products and techniques to see what works best for you. It’s good to try various products, so that you know what works for you and what doesn’t. But don’t go overboard. My tip is if something works, stick with it before trying out something new. Trial and error will be your best friend during your transition.
4. Confusion
Constantly researching different blogs, websites, and videos on the web can be overwhelming. Blogs are so helpful and offer a plethora of amazing advice, but too much information may confuse and overwhelm you. Take your time and do your research. Unfortunately, a quick search on the best way do a twist-out for one natural may not work for you. Not all curls are the same. What may work for one naturalista may not work for you, so try to seek out that naturalista’s hair that may be similar to yours.
5. Confidence
When going natural, confidence is your best friend. No matter what anyone may say about your natural, wear it with confidence. My mom used to always tell me that I needed to perm my hair, because it was “unruly.” Just ignore those types of people and keep going. I always say, “This is the way my hair grows out of my scalp and it’s beautiful!”
6. Acceptance
You may have gone into this thinking that your hair would look like a certain YouTuber that you follow online and may be totally disappointed that your hair just isn’t as you envisioned. You should know that everyone’s hair is different and has different textures. If you begin your journey with this in mind, it will help make your transition to natural a little easier, and hopefully help you reach the stage of acceptance. You may have two totally different curl patterns in your hair, so just accept and embrace your hair and keep going.
What were your emotional experiences transitioning to natural?
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