If you think your curls will bounce back fast after starting your natural hair journey, I have good news and bad news. The bad news…unfortunately, they won’t snap into place immediately. After heat styling, chemical treatments, and the like, your newly transitioned strands need time, patience, and a whole lot of TLC to get back on track.
However, staying the course leads to the good news: springy ringlets are definitely within reach when you build healthy (and hopefully lifelong!) hair habits. As au naturel styling becomes your everyday reality, incorporate these tips into your routine to build a strong foundation for restored curls.
Decide: Trim or Big Chop
Congratulations, you’ve decided to transition to natural hair! As much as we curly folks appreciate length, part of the journey involves cutting part (or all) of our existing manes in order to remove damage that can derail the decision.
If growing your curly hair from scratch is out of the question, start with a trim. Although it’s not the most ideal option, the “big chop” (which means cutting off all damaged hair) is the best way to reveal your natural texture and start fresh for the healthiest results. This is especially true if you’ve undergone chemical hair straightening, which yields permanently straight hair with curly growth.
However, if you aren’t mentally prepared for the drastic cut (which can be a shock), start small. Transitioning is a marathon, not a sprint, and snipping off dead ends offers a less arduous reset that’ll keep you from burning out on your natural hair journey.
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