5 Tips to Transition From Relaxed to Natural Hair [The Science Behind Relaxers]

The Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Blog is dedicated to educating our community about hair care tips, techniques, and history that will help maximize your curly hair's potential. Your curly hair deserves to growth, more definition, and moisture throughout the day. We feel that having healthy hair is important and is vital to the productivity in our communities around the world because when your hair looks good you will be more confident and perform better in everything you do. We want to be apart of your journey. Our aim is to give your hair-care regimen an extra boost because we value you and your curly hair. We hope that this helps!

THE RELAXER

Many people use the terms "perm" and "relaxer" synonymously. The difference is that a perm makes straight hair curly while a relaxer makes curly hair straight. However both of these chemical processes split disulfide bonds within your hair strands to achieve a new hair composition. The pH levels in  chemical relaxers are typically very high ranging between 9 and 14. The higher the pH, the higher the strength of the relaxer. The high pH of relaxers cause the hair cuticle to lift and the hair fibers to swell. The more the hair shaft swells, the more damaged the hair cuticles becomes. 

Depending on the type of relaxers you use, your hair and scalp may experience different affects, some worse than others. However the chemical process of relaxing textured hair should always be taken very seriously because one wrong application can potentially destroy your hair. Before applying a relaxer we advise for you to be aware of your hair's current condition before relaxing your hair. This is important because using a relaxer on top of an existing hair problem will only worsen the condition of your hair by weakening the hair fiber and making it more susceptible to damage.

THE TRANSITION

Do you have relaxed hair and are thinking about going natural? We know that this is not an easy decision, but we are happy to help you on your journey. If you are like many other women with relaxed hair, you probably do it because of the convenience that having relaxed hair brings. However, without the proper maintenance for relaxed hair your hair may be in danger of damage, breakage, and thinning. The truth is, textured hair endures a lot of trauma upon relaxing as the chemicals physically rearranges the disulfide bonds within the hair strands making the hair more fragile and prone to damage. 

Transitioning your relaxed hair to natural can greatly improve your hair's overall health and growth potential. Rocking your natural texture can also be a more fun, and cost effective way to express yourself and your culture. If you are thinking about transitioning your hair from relaxed to natural, we applaud you for your courage! This process is not for the faint of heart, however it is can be extremely liberating.

When transitioning it is imperative to have a healthy hair care regimen that'll encourage natural growth and define your natural curl pattern. Below we have listed 5 tips that you can use for a healthy transition. Let's get into the tips!

TIP #1: USE PRE-POO

Moisturizing your hair before you shampoo or wet your hair prevents breakage and increases your hair strength. Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Pre-Poo is made with Pure Unrefined Haitian Black Castor Oil which is packed with essential nutrients for hair strength and moisture. These essential nutrients include Omega Fatty Acids, and Vitamin E.

 

TIP #2: USE SULFATE-FREE SHAMPOO

Shampoo's with sulfates can be very harsh to your hair strands because they strip your hair from its natural oils and can leave your hair dry and brittle. The use of a sulfate-free shampoo will give your hair a less aggressive clean while still maintaining the integrity of your hair. Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Shampoo is a sulfate-free shampoo that is infused with Peppermint Essential Oil which will stimulate hair growth and will leave your hair shiny and clean.

TIP #3: USE A WELL BALANCED CONDITIONER

As you are transitioning it is imperative to use a well-balanced conditioner that has the essential proteins, moisture, and vitamins that your hair needs to grow healthy and strong. Using a well-balanced conditioner is also important to retain a more defined curl pattern. Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Crème is packed with essential vitamins, proteins, and moisture to give your transitioning curls the boost it needs to grow strong, healthy, and defined.

TIP #4: MINIMIZE HEAT STRAIGHTENING

The use of heat straitening tools should be minimized to prevent damage to your natural hair. Heat straightening tools include the use of flat irons, hot combs, blow dryers, and electric curlers, etc. The use of these tools should be minimized so that your natural hair can retain its original curl pattern, and experience less breakage. 

TIP #5: SET CLEAR GOALS

Setting clear goals is an imperative part of transitioning your hair from relaxed to natural. It is important to write down small, measurable, achievable goals and work towards them one day at a time. An example of a hair goal would be to avoid applying heat or relaxing your hair for 1 year to see what your true curl pattern looks like. To keep yourself motivated feel free to cross off each day from the calendar to track your progress. 

Remember that transitioning from relaxed hair to your natural curl pattern is not an easy process! Some days you will feel unattractive and discouraged, but don't give up! You'll be glad that you stuck with it.

We hope that you found this blog helpful.

Stay sexy and always remember . . . "The deeper the secret, the better the beauty."