Kayla’s Hair Story- ‘I Was a Long Term Transitioner’

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
I long term transitioned for 18 months mainly because I was terrified of having short hair. I’ve always been the black girl with relatively long hair, so I couldn’t imagine starting completely from scratch.

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
I recently Big Chopped on May 23, 2012. My stylist cut my hair into a shape so the back is shorter than the front. When she began cutting the short part of the back I can’t lie, I panicked a little. By the end of the chop I fell in love. I’ve never had short hair so it’s a new experience for me and so far I love it!

CN: How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?
My family and friends have been very supportive of my hair journey. I wore braidouts/twistouts for over 18 months, so wearing a fro wasn’t a shock, but my current fro is definitely much smaller. I was nervous about cutting my hair so I was thrilled when they said they liked my new ‘do.


CN: What was your transition routine?
My transition routine consisted of co-washing with Giovanni’s Deep Moisture Conditioner or Herbal Essences Hello Hydration at least twice a week. I also did DIY deep conditioning treatments consisting of combinations of products such as eggs, honey, avocado, coconut oil, or olive oil.


CN: What was your staple hair style during the transition?
Coconut oil was definitely one of my staple products. I loved it so much I introduced it to my mother (who is also natural) as well as a few of my friends. It kept my hair soft and moisturized and helped to prevent breakage at my new growth line.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
I chose to go natural because although my hair was long it was unhealthy. The ends of my hair were thin and wispy. I thought my hair was invincible but one too many dye jobs proved otherwise. My hair journey was all about improving the health of my hair.