Natural Season: Heat is not the Enemy

I just uploaded the 3rd and--for now--final Natural Season video. In this video I will discuss when using heat on transitioning hair may actually be the best idea. Hey, *shrugs* it happens. If you all have any more ideas for this series, let me know. I can answer questions or explore topics.



                               




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Why Transitioning & Hair Typing Don't Mix

Continuing the Natural Season Series, I bring you a video on hair typing. Love it or hate it, hair typing crosses all of our minds at some point. I attempt to take some of the "pressure"off in this video.


                               




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Natural Season: How Do I Go Natural/Transition?

If you are subscribed to my YouTube channel, then you have already seen this video. I do not, however, like to make assumptions, so some of you may not have caught this one. In this video I tackle the commonly asked question "How do I go natural?"

My life philosophy is a very laid back one and it is no different when it comes to my feelings about natural hair. Going natural isn't as complicated as we have made it out to be. The only thing that you have to do is stop relaxing. Everything else from there on is up to you. You can chop it off, you can grow it out before cutting the straight hair off, whatever!

If you are choosing to grow your hair out, I touch on and simplify that as well. If you are already natural, you can help me spread my message and share this video!

                               




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Natural Season Video Series

Spring is on it's way! Now that it is beginning to warm up--though my southern sensibilities won't ever see 50 degrees as warm--more people are getting the itch to either BC or end their transition. In response to this, I have been filming some "Natural Season" videos in which I discuss different issues related to transitioning. But Kayla, why are you doing a transitioning series when natural hair is NOT new and so many people are already natural?

If you type in transitioning on YouTube, you will get plenty of videos but not very many of them are new. I have either seen the video once upon a time or I recognize the person in the video and I KNOW their hair is longer than that now or they just look older now. The natural movement has kept on a'rolling, but new transitioners and new naturals are left in the dust trying to play catch up.

I am starting off with 3 videos with set topics, but as I get a few comments or as questions are posed to me (or on the forums I frequent), I may record more videos for this series. I also have an older transitioning q&a video that I may re-title and group together with the new videos.

Updated to add the video links:
#1. How Do I Go Natural? (Natural Season Series) 
#2. Why Transitioning & Hair Typing Don't Mix (Natural Season Series)
#3. Heat is not the Enemy (Natural Season Series)


                               




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The 5 Stages of Natural Hair Acceptance

The twist out works for me but I don't work for it

Returning to natural hair is a change and like any other change, there are stages we may go through before getting it right. Some of us may skip stages while others stay in one stage for a very long time.

EXCITEMENT
At the beginning of our transition or right before the BC, we tend to be excited. I know I was. Each day I knew that I was growing closer and closer to having a full head of natural hair. I nearly drooled thinking of all of the styles I would wear with my new hair.

SHOCK
Then, reality sets in. This can be positive or negative. Some are shocked that their hair has a pattern as they did not expect one. Others are shocked because they have a tighter curl pattern than what they expected or that their hair doesn't look like someone else's. I was shocked at how un-cookie cutter my hair texture was. I had prepared for all types--expecting to have just one, but what I got was a mixed bag of nuts that continues to change with time.

DENIAL
In this stage, a person may be in denial about their hair's appearance. They may think "It just needs time to grow in and change" or "I'm just not using the right products to get it to look like so and so's hair". In this stage we want our hair to do things that it may not even be meant to do and we keep trying!

OBSESSION
I remember obsession all too well. In this stage we do find out what our hair will do and what it loves and then we seek to perfect it. I found that my hair loved twist outs and I kept trying all sorts of things to perfect my twists and twist outs. I have seen the same thing in people who do wash and gos, braid outs, etc.

ACCEPTANCE
At this stage it is what it is. We no longer seek to top our last twist out, we know that our hair is unique to us, we have a set routine and rarely splurge on trying products. Our natural is our norm.


                               




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Transition: A Video

The filmmaker Zina Saro-Wiwa presents an Op-Doc on black women’s decision to embrace their naturally kinky hair, rather than use chemical straighteners. (NY Times)

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I felt that Saro-Wiwa is extremely candid and honest in this clip. I also love how she brings in other naturals. If I was contemplating going natural, this video would have sold me. Share this video with your friends who are considering going natural or who are going through their transition. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

My Transition in Pictures

Month In Review: September

September was my last month of transitioning. I wrapped it up by PROMPTLY chopping off the rest of the relaxed ends the 2nd day of the following month. I've added the video to this post in case you missed it. Now, as for September...

This Month I Wore...

• Braid Out [FAIL]
• Bantu Knot Out [FAIL]
• Puff Bun

This Month I Learned That...

• We may set goals for our transition, but the breakage and shedding will let YOU know when it's time to end the transition. 

This Month I Thought...

• *Sings in boy-band voice* "Baby bye-bye-bye!" <--BC'd October 2nd 2011 

HOTD: Bunning it Out

 I have come to a place in my transition where almost NOTHING works on my hair.

I tried a braid out...poofy mess. I tried a bantu knot out...half curly poofy mess. It was so ridiculous I said "forget it," hopped in the shower, and squeezed the last of Herbal Essences Hydralicous over my tresses. I smoothed and detangled, then braided each section as I finished. I slept in the braids and woke up the next morning. I moisturized and sealead then slapped my hair into a
 "puff bun".

I am nearly done with the transition and I have decided to just "bun it out". That's right! No more braid outs, bantu knot outs, HairZing/EZ Comb updos. I'm not even breaking out the signature rolls. It's going to be "all bun all the time" from here on out. I am too through!

Did you come to a place in your transition where nothing works anymore?

Is your Transition Confusing People?

As I get deeper into my transition I find that I am confusing people left and right.
  
I now have people thinking that it takes forever to go natural. You can go natural like *snaps fingers*. I am only transitioning because I don't want short natural hair. If I just wanted natural hair period I could have chopped my hair off long ago.

Some people think that I've been natural all along. I will admit that I am busted frequently. Transitioning isn't always the cutest thing! lol. I hate to think that I've been misrepresenting natural hair out here in these streets. I can't blame anyone who thinks this though. Not everyone knows what natural hair looks like. As a cultural group, we've been relaxed, fried, dyed, and laid to the side for years.

These are only two of the confusions that I can think of at the moment, but it goes to show you that not everyone "gets" transitioning.

 

5 Reasons Why People Give Up II: Transitioning Edition

 Nearly a year ago I wrote a blog post about why people give up on their healthy hair journeys. Check that post out by clicking here. Recently I decided that I would make a second part to that post exploring why people give up on their transition.

1. NOT HAVING PATIENCE
If you are transitioning, patience is key. Your hair will go through stages as you transition. In the beginning your hair may still be affected by the chemicals in the relaxer and can seem rough and tough. Also, some products that you previously used may not work so well on the natural hair also making it appear and seem rough. With a little patience, your natural hair will become more manageable.

2. EXPECTING A CERTAIN HAIRTYPE
Lately, hair typing has gotten way out of hand. Don't expect one type of hair, begin a transition, then pout because your hair isn't that type in the end. Learn to love your own hair type and appreciate what it can do. There are plenty of blogs and youtube channels available for the type of hair you have and you can look at all of the wonderful things your hair can do.

3. TRANSITIONING FOR THE WRONG REASONS
Now, there is no universal reason for wanting to transition, but I think someone who is transitioning should at least want natural hair. In real life I have encountered women who want to transition because they think that having natural hair is the only way they will get long hair. People who transition for this reason may become frustrated and relax again.

4. COMPARING YOUR HAIR TO OTHERS
Sure, her curls, kinks, or waves may be the same shape and size as yours, but that does not mean that your strands are identical and will need and do the same things. Her hair may be porous, fine stranded, with regular density while your hair is non-porous, you have thick strands, and hair that isn't very dense. It's difficult to find someone who's hair is exactly the same to your own in every way. Even family members have different hair types.

5. BELIEVING THAT YOU MUST USE CERTAIN PRODUCTS
I see it all the time, people who complain that natural hair is expensive. This complaint usually comes from those that feel they need to buy all of the natural/organic lotions and potions to manage natural hair. You can use inexpensive products on natural hair. I've seen people using aussie, vo5, suave, and all sorts of drugstore things on natural hair. Buy the products that work for you.

Please, don't give up on your natural hair journey. The transition is only the beginning.

Traveling With Transitioning Hair

As anyone else with transitioning hair will tell you, traveling with transitioning hair ain't easy! You've got to pack whatever you use to set your hair, your products, any backup hair accessories in case your hair poops out on you, and then you've probably jumped on the spray bottle bandwagon and it needs to go too. My bag always has products/tools/accessories popping out of every pocket especially when I go to places with weather that isn't "set friendly".

Here's what I do to minimize the trouble of traveling with transitioning hair

• Don't choose vacation time to expirement with a new style or technique (guilty!)
• Pick a style that will last the entire trip without resetting
• Buy travel sizes of your favorite products
• If you can't find these, they sell travel containers just about everywhere
• Don't forget your shower cap! It will keep your set frizz-free and slow it from falling.
• Have at least one backup style in mind and bring whatever you need to quickly achieve that style
• If I had straight hair I'll do a french braid, bun with track hair, or southern tease bun
• If I had wavy/curly style I'll push the front back with a headband and bring lots of pins to make a quick updo

 ♥ KAYLA

What's the Point of Going Natural?

Going and being natural is nothing new if you are a member of a hair forum or community, however; natural hair is gaining popularity in the mainstream outside of the hair world. With this mainstream popularity comes beliefs and opinions. I've noticed, especially on twitter, an increase of natural tweets and retweets amongst my friends and I have to say that none of it has been positive so far.

A few months ago a friend retweeted something about "not getting the natural trend" and "had anyone heard of a comb and a brush." Okay...Then, recently another friend tweeted something about not getting the point of going natural because her hair looks better with chemicals. Now, I adore these people and I don't believe in all this relaxed/natural warfare mess, but it's kind of upsetting to see these tweets.

In good spirits I decided to answer that second tweet on my blog. So, what is the point of going natural?

1. No more caustic chemicals that can eat through an aluminum can coming in contact with my scalp
2. $240 a year saved that would have gone toward relaxers
3. Versatility; I can rock it naturally fierce or straighten it for a sleek look
4. $840 a year saved on salon washing and flat ironing

So, Let me know what you think is the point of going natural?

{image source}

♥ KAYLA

The Quickest Way to Transition to Natural Hair

"What is the quickest way to transition to natural?"

I cannot tell you how much this question burns my toast. The quickest way to go natural is to just chop off all of the relaxed hair and roll with your new natural hair.

However, if you're hoping to transition--meaning grow your natural hair out to a length you're comfortable with before cutting the relaxed ends off--you're in for a wait.

If you're wanting to transition without any setbacks, stop by my post called "Transitioning for Dummies". This post has helpful tips to get you started on your way to natural hair.

You also may want to consider taking a multivitamin for overall health and biotin supplements for extra nutrients toward your hair, but remember transitioning takes time. You won't grow a head full of natural hair overnight.

*Goes to get a new piece of toast*....
 

♥ KAYLA

Transitioning for Dummies

 I feel as if transitioning has been complicated far beyond what it truly is. Not a day passes that someone is asking for transitioning tips or lamenting over not knowing what to do. I'm here to tell you that it's really not that difficult. You don't even have to change your relaxed regimen much and neither do you need to run out and buy all natural products.

Hey, they've got everything else for dummies!

1. Keep your hair clean!
I know its easy to get frustrated with your new growth and not want to even mess with it, but washing at least once a week is super necessary. Healthy Scalp = Healthy Hair. You may want to try washing your hair in chunky plaits if you're further on in your transition to prevent tangling.

2. Deep condition!
Your hair needs the extra moisture boost while it's transitioning. Once a month, throw in a protein deep conditioner before you do your regular moisturizing DC to keep up the protein balance. Where the relaxed and natural hair meet is a weak spot and it needs the strength from the protein.

3. Detangle WET hair.
Transitioning hair gets tangled, that's just a reality. Detangling is a breeze when done under running water, full of conditioner, and from tip to root. Be sure to use a wide tooth comb. For an even better detangling, you can follow the comb with a finger detangling. I don't know why I ever detangled any other way!

4. Drop the direct heat (flat iron and blowdryer)
Heat could cause the hair to break where the two textures meet or it could cause damage to your natural texture. Protective and low manipulation styles will help you make it without heat. To get a smooth protective style look,  airdry your hair using a silk/satin scarf to flatten your edges. For straight hair do a ponytail/cheat rollerset and silkwrap afterward.

5. Sleep cute.
If you're wearing a protective style, take it down and retie your edges with a scarf. You can clip up the length of your hair with a huge sectioning clip. Wear a silk/satin bonnet to protect the rest of your hair.

6. Keep it moist!
Be sure to moisturize your hair and seal that moisture in with a natural oil at least once a day.

7. Fingercomb
Lastly, try to limit the combing and brushing to only when it's absolutely necessary. Fingercomb your hair into place and then lightly brush or comb to smooth. This will reduce breakage and keep your new growth from getting all bushy.

 ♥ KAYLA

3 Months Post {Photos!!}

Just as I do my length shots once every three months, I'll be doing new growth shots every three months as well. The months are off by a bit so the NG shot will come a month before the length shot. Without further ado, here it is!

Can anyone say "Waves on swim so they hate on him" - Nicki Minaj's Your Love

I'm lovin it like McDonalds!

 ♥ KAYLA

The Moment I Decided to Go Natural

As I was sitting under the dryer listening to "Marco Polo" by Bow Wow ft. Soulja Boy, I made a huge decision.

I decided not to get that last relaxer on the 28th. I had originally held onto the appointment because I wanted to be relaxed shoulder length before going natural. As I put the song on repeat, I thought "what's the point?"

So, at 5 weeks post, I've decided to just keep racking up weeks until I'm all natural! After this salon style is totaled it's on to braidouts, buns, and bantu knot outs.

I'm super juiced for this transition!

 ♥ KAYLA