Getting Rid of the Hair Crack
The toughest challenge in going all natural is getting there-
Once you are all natural, the only concerns you’ll have are styling,
maintaining, and retaining growth. But with growing out your relaxer, there are
some challenges.
If you are like me and grew up using relaxers to maintain your hair, that is the only texture you are used to having, the only texture you are comfortable with and the only texture you are used to working with every day for as long as you've been doing your own hair. So OF COURSE you should expect some days where it just feels like your hair is crazy, out of control, UNMANAGEABLE, and just is a mess. It is completely normal! This is part of the mental challenge. As I said earlier, you are used to your hair being and looking a certain type of way so at first it will be a struggle but you must ALWAYS look at the bigger picture and know that through this process, you will receive the beauty of your natural, curly hair-full of body and endless possibilities!
If you are like me and grew up using relaxers to maintain your hair, that is the only texture you are used to having, the only texture you are comfortable with and the only texture you are used to working with every day for as long as you've been doing your own hair. So OF COURSE you should expect some days where it just feels like your hair is crazy, out of control, UNMANAGEABLE, and just is a mess. It is completely normal! This is part of the mental challenge. As I said earlier, you are used to your hair being and looking a certain type of way so at first it will be a struggle but you must ALWAYS look at the bigger picture and know that through this process, you will receive the beauty of your natural, curly hair-full of body and endless possibilities!
There is a clear reason
why people refer to hair relaxers as “Hair Crack” and that is because it is
like a mental drug addiction. You believe that you need it, that your hair can’t
go without it, and you feel LESS without it being in your hair-you don’t feel
as beautiful. So you make sure to spend the $15 to purchase a boxed relaxer kit
from your local hair store or to spend up to $100 at your favorite salon to
have it professionally applied to your hair every 4-6 weeks. So it can
definitely be an addiction in that way and with ANY addiction you must have
willpower and the courage to change.
With that said, the first time you will want to revert to getting a relaxer is at the point when you are due for a touch-up. When you start to notice your edges and new growth is much curlier and may appear frizzier than your relaxed hair. At this point is when you may feel the urge to go get that relaxer from the hair store or call your hair stylist to make that hair relaxer appointment. You must resist the urge- there are things we can do to make it through this!
One thing you can do to make the transition easier is find hair products that really help to maintain frizz like different gels, also explore with edge control products, and other jam and wax textured products. To help maintain new growth throughout your hair, after washing and conditioning, blow dry your hair with a comb attachment. The heat and tension of the comb will help to straighten your curly new growth. Also, when you are styling your hair never make it your goal to make you new growth hair match the relaxed hair. Why? Because it can be an impossible goal! Your relaxed hair will remain straight even after you wash it and it may even begin to look ultra-thin and weak compared to your thick curly new growth coming in.
Take the big chop?
Should you just cut off the relaxed hair to make this process even easier?? Well that is totally up to you! Here are a few things to consider before cutting your hair. If you have less than 6 inches of new growth, you will have less natural hair styling options. Especially with 3 inches or less, you will be able to wear your Afro and do different twist-outs and Bantu knots to change the texture of your Afro. If you have over 6 inches of new growth you can be a little more versatile with styling your natural hair. It has a lot to do with what LOOK you are going for and what you are comfortable with rocking. If you only have 1 inch of new growth and would like to rock a short Afro then go for it! You can also trim as you grow. Hair grows at an average of ½ an inch per month so if you want to grow your relaxer out and maintain your current length, trim an inch of relaxed hair off every 2-3 months. Once you cut your hair, it will be gone for a while so make the best decision for you and what you can maintain while your natural hair continues to grow.
It's JUST a transition...
You may find it challenging to maintain your hair while it is transition. For example if you have 8 inches of hair length and 3 of those inches are natural textured new growth and the remaining hair is relaxed but you don’t want to cut off 5 inches of hair all it once, which is understandable because that is a lot of hair! What do you do? You can trim as you grow, use different products to help you make smooth ponytails and maintain frizz of natural hair, and blow dry your new growth as straight as possible. Also while in transition you can do protective hair styles like braids or twists with synthetic hair or weave installments or wigs with your natural hair braided underneath. You can plan to wear protective styles until your hair reaches the length that you are comfortable with. I do not recommend flat ironing while going through transition as too much heat can also damage the natural texture of your hair and each time you flat iron you will be applying heat to the same new growth over and over which will heighten chances of heat damage. Plus you can use this challenging transition time to get comfortable dealing with your new curly texture and not trying to make it your old straight texture of relaxed hair. And don’t forget styling with hair accessories and scarves to help you through transition as well.
With that said, the first time you will want to revert to getting a relaxer is at the point when you are due for a touch-up. When you start to notice your edges and new growth is much curlier and may appear frizzier than your relaxed hair. At this point is when you may feel the urge to go get that relaxer from the hair store or call your hair stylist to make that hair relaxer appointment. You must resist the urge- there are things we can do to make it through this!
COMBAT FRIZZ!
One thing you can do to make the transition easier is find hair products that really help to maintain frizz like different gels, also explore with edge control products, and other jam and wax textured products. To help maintain new growth throughout your hair, after washing and conditioning, blow dry your hair with a comb attachment. The heat and tension of the comb will help to straighten your curly new growth. Also, when you are styling your hair never make it your goal to make you new growth hair match the relaxed hair. Why? Because it can be an impossible goal! Your relaxed hair will remain straight even after you wash it and it may even begin to look ultra-thin and weak compared to your thick curly new growth coming in.
Take the big chop?
Should you just cut off the relaxed hair to make this process even easier?? Well that is totally up to you! Here are a few things to consider before cutting your hair. If you have less than 6 inches of new growth, you will have less natural hair styling options. Especially with 3 inches or less, you will be able to wear your Afro and do different twist-outs and Bantu knots to change the texture of your Afro. If you have over 6 inches of new growth you can be a little more versatile with styling your natural hair. It has a lot to do with what LOOK you are going for and what you are comfortable with rocking. If you only have 1 inch of new growth and would like to rock a short Afro then go for it! You can also trim as you grow. Hair grows at an average of ½ an inch per month so if you want to grow your relaxer out and maintain your current length, trim an inch of relaxed hair off every 2-3 months. Once you cut your hair, it will be gone for a while so make the best decision for you and what you can maintain while your natural hair continues to grow.
It's JUST a transition...
You may find it challenging to maintain your hair while it is transition. For example if you have 8 inches of hair length and 3 of those inches are natural textured new growth and the remaining hair is relaxed but you don’t want to cut off 5 inches of hair all it once, which is understandable because that is a lot of hair! What do you do? You can trim as you grow, use different products to help you make smooth ponytails and maintain frizz of natural hair, and blow dry your new growth as straight as possible. Also while in transition you can do protective hair styles like braids or twists with synthetic hair or weave installments or wigs with your natural hair braided underneath. You can plan to wear protective styles until your hair reaches the length that you are comfortable with. I do not recommend flat ironing while going through transition as too much heat can also damage the natural texture of your hair and each time you flat iron you will be applying heat to the same new growth over and over which will heighten chances of heat damage. Plus you can use this challenging transition time to get comfortable dealing with your new curly texture and not trying to make it your old straight texture of relaxed hair. And don’t forget styling with hair accessories and scarves to help you through transition as well.
You can do it! No Lye!
I hope this helps you in your journey of going natural and
getting rid of the hair crack. This is the first and most important step to
going Au natural and trust me it is possible! Remember it takes willpower and
at times when you want to give up you must push through and accept your curly
hair texture and find ways to style it while in transition that makes you
happy. Always remember your ultimate goal and know that you are on your way
there. Embrace those kinky curls.
-Telearamaine
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