The Curl Journey: From Chemically Straight To Naturally Curly
Published: 8/14/23 | Edited: 09/23/24
Terms to know:
Transitioning / Transition - growing out your natural hair texture while the ends of your hair are still chemically relaxed and straight
Line of Demarcation - the line where your natural new growth and relaxed hair meet
Touch up - relaxing the new growth only
Curl Journey - a personal journey a learning, appreciating and enhancing your natural curl pattern through regular care + pampering
Big Chop - chopping off the relaxed ends of your hair
Transitioning from chemically relaxed to naturally curly hair can be an emotional journey as you learn to care for your natural hair and appreciate its beauty.
Throughout this transition, patience and acceptance are key. It will take some time for your hair to grow out the chemically treated ends, so make sure that all of your hair receives the love and care it requires.
You could go the "big chop" route, which can be emotionally jarring depending on how much your hair has already grown out and how comfortable you are with a short hairstyle. The other option is to complete the Curl Journey. This journey can be emotional, but it may be more rewarding and uplifting in the end.
The Curl Journey
Going through the Curl Journey means that instead of cutting off all of your hair at the line of demarcation, you work with both new growth and relaxed ends, giving each part the attention it requires to remain as healthy as possible. When you first start, it can be very tempting to give up and do the "big chop" or get a touch up.
If you decide to stick with it, keep this in mind:
Keep it simple and be consistent!
Don’t overwhelm yourself with too much of anything. Create a routine and stick to it. It can be as simple as shampooing, conditioning, moisturizing, and styling; with the occasional deep condition or steam treatment and end trim.
2. Don’t expect too much too soon (keep realistic expectations).
The journey to your natural curls is long and emotional. Your natural curl pattern will not appear immediately, especially on the relaxed ends. And that's fine! Don't rush your hair and don't become frustrated. Be patient, consistent, and nourish your hair (as well as yourself), and you will achieve your desired results!
Don't compare your journey to others; your hair grows at its own pace, and products and methods that work for others may not work for you. Even if your natural curl pattern shows, it may take some time for your curls to look their best and POP!
The journey continues…
3. Keep up with regular trims.
Get your hair trimmed on a regular basis to prevent split ends and breakage. Consider getting a Curly Cut to give your natural curls a defined shape, but don't worry, this isn't the "big chop". A Curly Cut, also known as a "DevaCut," will improve the definition and health of your curls. It will only get better as time passes and you continue on your Curl Journey.
We recommend getting a Curly Cut every three months, and an end trim in between if needed.
4. Deep condition and get treatments
Your hair will be fragile during the transition, particularly at the line of demarcation. To ensure that your hair receives the care it requires to grow healthy, deep condition it on a regular basis and get a treatment once a month. Staying consistent will help to keep your hair moisturized and reduce the likelihood of breakage due to dryness. This is something you can enjoy long after your hair has grown into beautiful, luscious curls.
5. Limit the amount if heat
While on this rewarding journey, try to limit the amount of heat you apply to your hair. We know it will be difficult at times, and you might want to break down and straighten it, but doing so will jeopardize your curl journey. Heavy heat from a thermal silkening (silk press) will loosen your natural curl pattern and may cause additional heat damage to your already fragile hair follicles. Furthermore, the increased heat may cause more breakage at the line of demarcation and ends that are still chemically processed.
6. Protective Styles are your friendsss!
If you're not sure what to do with your hair while it's transitioning to natural due to the different textures, protective styles are a good option. Twist outs/twist sets, braids, and flexi rods all require little to no heat, help with breakage, and are simple to manage on a regular basis.
Check out our new Curl Journey Package if you're just getting started with natural hair or want to get your curls back to healthy and popping. Our new package aims to help you embrace your natural hair and maintain its health and beauty.