natural hair problems getting through the summer with transitioning hair

Natural Hair Problems: Getting Through the Summer with Transitioning Hair

5 Tips for Surviving Summer While Transitioning to Natural Hair

Summertime is quickly approaching, so you know what that means – time for the summer slay with hot hairstyles and even hotter heat. If you’re transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair, you may be dreading the hot summer months because we all know this season is never easy on our hair. You may also be worried if this is your first time being natural because journeying from relaxed hair can be quite tedious and time-consuming. I know the feeling, so I’m here to provide some helpful suggestions that will hopefully make your transition very smooth.

Keep Your Hair Moisturized

Let’s start off with an essential step that you will need to take while transitioning to being natural this summer. I cannot stress enough how important it is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Just in case you missed that, MOISTURIZE! If your hair is dry, you will experience a lot of damage. Your tresses can’t flourish if they are dry and brittle! There are a few wash day and daily maintenance methods that you can incorporate into your routine to ensure that you’re moisturizing your transitioning hair properly.
  • Try co-washing your hair (shampooing your hair with only conditioner).
  • “Pre-poo” by adding some conditioner or oil to your hair before shampooing and allow it sit for about 15-30 minutes.
  • Try a Keratin treatment. To learn more about the basics of this method, take a look at our blog post on Keratin Treatments with Hair Extensions.
  • Sleep with a satin bonnet or a bonnet that is infused with oils to maintain moisture overnight.
  • Deep condition to regain your natural shine and nutrients.
Hair Tip: Plan out your wash days ahead of time. Prepare to dedicate a few hours for washing and styling. Washing your hair may seem like an easy task, but when you’re transitioning, you have to take the time to treat your hair with extra TLC.

Trim Damaged Ends

When your ends begin to split, and you experience some damage, it's time to get a trim. You may find that it’s beneficial to have your hair trimmed monthly or every other month. Also, trims are necessary if you want to say “bye” to your relaxed hair for good. Many people opt for the big chop, but if you’re not ready to make that step (or don’t desire to), getting trims will help you gradually get rid of the relaxed ends.

Try Different Transitioning Hairstyles and Find What Works for You

Add some fun to your natural hair journey by playing around with different protective styles! Stack up on different types of rollers and rods to try out curly styles from flexi rod sets to spiral curls. Rollers and rods are perfect for transitioning hair because they add curls to your straight ends. No one will ever know that you’re transitioning! For your lazy hair days, keep it cute and use a scarf to try out various wrap styles. Wraps are great when you’re nearing wash day, and your protective style is barely hanging on. You can also use other hair accessories to create simple hairstyles. Want to make a top or low bun? Add some extensions (kinky extensions are great if you’re looking to match the pattern of your unrelaxed hair). Want to make a cute “pineapple” or puff that has perfect curls? Grab a curly drawstring ponytail from your local beauty store (yes, the ones that all the aunties wear) and fluff it out. Don’t forget you can always give your real hair a break with popular protective styles such as box braids, feed-in braids, crochet braids, faux locs, etc. You may be thinking, “I want to try these hair ideas on my own, but I don’t know how to do my hair.” Let me introduce you to my best friend: YouTube. There are hundreds of video tutorials on all of the protective styles that I mentioned as well as others. Just spend some time searching for the hairstyles you’re interested in, and I can guarantee that you’ll be a pro soon!

Switch Up Your Products

Another important key to remember when transitioning is to use the best products for your type of hair. That will most likely take time, research and a lot of trial and error, but your hair will thank you later. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when purchasing new products for your transitioning hair:
  • Consider ordering subscription boxes. That is a cheaper option that will allow you to try out new products on a regular basis.
  • To maintain your moisture, stay away from products that contain sulfate.
  • Try sticking to natural and organic oils and other hair products. The less harsh chemicals the products have, the better.
It’s also important to remember to use the right amount of product because weighing your hair down with too much product isn’t healthy.

Limit the Use of Heat on Transitioning Hair

I know, I know – most of us cannot imagine going a week (or even a few days) without using heat on our hair. However, it can be quite damaging to our hair, so it’s best for those who are transitioning to minimize the use of heat as much as you can. That applies to blow drying your hair as well. Air drying your hair can be annoying, especially overnight, but it is your best bet for the summer. No, you do not have to eliminate it, but when you do use heat, be sure to take extra care of your transitioning hair. Once again, moisturize. Moisturizing your hair before drying, straightening or curling your hair will help fight against heat damage. Also, be sure to use a heat protectant, whether it is in the form of a spray or a serum. Another way to prevent heat damage is to invest in quality hair tools that will allow you to adjust the heat settings. For example, you should find a flat iron and a blow dryer that gives you the option to use a lower heat setting. If you’re worried that your hair will not straighten at a more moderate heat level, I recommend purchasing a flat iron with titanium plates. Hair tip: Find an experienced natural hair stylist that will not only assist you with managing your transitioning hair but will also provide you with customized tips on how to transition correctly.

Go Out & Slay This Summer!

Now that I've given you a few pointers on how to survive with transitioning hair this summer, I need you to remember to do one more thing: SLAY. Transitioning can be a pain, but the important key to remember is to be gentle with your hair. You can do this, natural Queen! Are you currently transitioning or have you done so in the past? Tell us about your journey to becoming natural!
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