Interview with a Transitioner

Interview With a Transitioner

Meet Alicia, one of our lovely ladies home to the bhp forum.  She discusses elements of her journey to natural in order to give aspiring transitioners some insight.  Enjoy!

What made you decide to go natural?
I’ve always entertained the idea of going natural years before I actually decided to do it. I admired the spirit of the few women I knew who were naturals; their boldness of not being afraid to embrace their hair the way it was created. After 22 years of relaxing my hair, and using excessive heat with no heat protectant, I decided to go natural in January of 2009, due to the immense damage and loss of curl I experienced.

How long have you been transitioning?
48 weeks (Almost 11 months)

What are you doing to manage the two textures?
The best way for me to manage my two textures is to deal with it in sections. When I detangle, I separate my hair into 6 sections before saturating it with a conditioner. I also section my hair most nights into 6 braids. As my transition went along, I had to increase my sections, due to the thickness of my new growth.

What is your regimen?
Wash every 10 days with a non-laurel sulfate shampoo
ACV rinse after every wash
Clarify once a month
DC once a week
Cowash 2-4 times a week (winter) or 4-6 times a week (summer)
Moisturize and seal daily or every other day
Henna treatments once a month
Apply castor oil to edges 2-4 times a week
100% Protective or Low-Manipulation styles
Minimal to no direct heat

What has been your favorite product?
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (for sealing)

What is your “go to” style?
Braidouts or Bantu Knotouts. I love them both equally.

What has been your biggest challenge during your journey to natural?
My biggest challenge has been learning to embrace and manage the thickness of my new growth. As the months go by during my transition, I’ve learned that I constantly have to tweak my methods of blending my two textures because things I did at 6 months post did not look cute at 8 or 9 months post. It was all about trial and error.

Are there any words of encouragement/advice you’d like to offer the new transitioner?
I commend anyone who decides to take the plunge and swim up stream. Transitioning can be really fun. Seeing your curls spring up for the first time and mastering the blending of the two textures are great achievements. However there are times when transitioning can be a challenge. With patience and care you can rise above the challenges and it truly will be worth it in the long run. You can transition for any length of time that you like, from 2 months, to two years. Whatever you are comfortable doing is completely up to you. Take your time, make it fun, and embrace your natural hair that you were intended to have!

5 months post relaxer
Texture Shot, 10.5 months post

• 6 months post relaxer
• 8 months post relaxer
• 5 month post relaxer
• 11 months post relaxer
• 9 month post relaxer
• transitioning hair regimen
• 1
• 1 month post relaxer
• 2 months post relaxer