1. Start a Hair Diary or Journal
Writing a Diary may sound a little “High School” to some but it can really be helpful in your journey. Documenting and maintaining the products you’ve used and the results they delivered will help you keep track of what your hair likes. You can set goals and log results, good and bad. Does your hair like oil based or water based products best? Do certain oils do nothing for your hair? This will aid in your quest for the perfect product combinations.
2. Assess your lifestyle
Do you work out daily? If so, what time of day do you work out? How often do you shampoo? Is your evening hectic? What’s your work schedule? The answers to these questions will help you decide what hairstyles are right for you and when they are appropriate. Wash and go’s might be better if you are short on time but still want to look fly. Twist outs may be the answer for you if your days are full of laundry, burping babies and running errands. The prep time may be a little longer but the results can be rocked for several days at a time.
3. Research
Read the blogs, talk to your hair stylist, and network with others who are natural or who are headed in that direction. There is a wealth of information out on the web regarding what products to use for your hair type and when to use them, where to buy them, etc. Suggestions on hair tools to use, books on healthy hair, seminars to attend, you name it, its out there! Google is definitely your friend!
4. Try new hairstyles
Don’t be afraid to step outside the box and try something new. Maybe you don’t think you look good with hair off of your face. Try it anyway and maybe add an accessory. You may be pleasantly surprised. I always try new stuff on the weekends when I don’t have work and no events to attend. That way if it’s a mess, no biggie! I can wash it and start over. You Tube is great for checking out how-to tutorials.
5. Recognize …
That building a regimen is mostly trial and error. You may end up with a ton of products in your arsenal before both you and your hair are happy! But that’s okay! Your hair may crave different things during different seasons. Everything doesn’t work for everyone but having an effective regimen will get you one step closer to achieving awesome results!
subscribe to her http://www.youtube.com/user/loveylocks?feature=results_main really good tips on going natural she was my roomate and conviced me to go natural after seeing awesome results on her hair
first time going natural? i thought we were all born natural
At first it was a lot of experimenting. Through the experiments I found what products worked for me (however I'm always open to anything that may be better). Through more experimenting on techniques I found what regimens worked for me. And as I said before I continue to play to always find better and better results. This is a very exciting journey. Something that is all mine that I can share with passion.
more tips at thenappylife.com
I'm 19 months into my transition, and I do have a good regimen…. Of course, I realize that it may change again when I chop off my relaxed ends later this year. However, I feel like I know my hair well enough now to make better and quicker decisions about products and techniques.
We will get it indeed!
I think a hair regimen evolves over time. What worked in the past when the hair was ear length might not work when it's to the collar bone. I thought I had my regimen down pack until I noticed my hair was breaking. Since then, I have been experimenting with other techniques, one being finger combing which I actually love now.
Prior to going natural i had a simple regimen of washing, dcing and roller setting my hair weekly then wrapping every night before bed. Now that I'm natural, it's a bit more work involved. I still wash and dc but I learned and prefer to detangle (with conditioner and/or coconut oil) before washing to minimize the extra work in the shower. This really saves me time, because my hair is in twists the whole time. I like to keep my hair in 2-strand mini twists; but where I think I may have messed up is air drying my hair in twists before the mini twists. Too much hair comes out when I prepare the section for twisting. I'm going back to my blow dryer to stretch and minimize ssk. lol
After wasting money on products I narrowed things down by using black soap for shampoo, coconut oil plus organic mango butter mixed myself and using an aloe/glycerin spray purchased from Butters and Bars. I had ordered shea butter from there yrs ago for my skin. I'm glad that I have a simpler regimen now that works for me and much less expensive.
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I recently just changed my regimen to help lock the moisture in longer. I did find that less is best. A good waterbased moisturizer sealed by an oil is key for me. I didn't realize that my hair loved coconut oil so much. It has taken me almost 2 years to find out what my hair "really" likes. Now I know a little bit, but it feels like I've came a longggg way!
I've been keeping a journal and doing trial and error because I'm transitioning. It's been a journey but I wouldn't change a thing!
I'm 6 months transitioning and I'm doing the same thing you are with trial and error. We will get it girl! 🙂
great post!
As a 4c natural, I started getting my best hair days when my regimen began to regress ("regress"; noun: A return to a former or less developed state).
I was twisting, banding and blow-stretching to maximize length and fullness. Several times a year I'd have to chop off an inch or two due to mid-strand splits, split ends and SSKs.
Last May I acknowledged I was ruining my length retention and so I stopped the madness. I started WNG with KCCC/KCKT as my GOC.
I rotate KC Come Clean or Terressentials LCL as needed. I DT with AO GPB and want to try the HSR. I use Light Mountain Henna for my hair color. I pat some argan oil onto my WNG several times a week.
I accepted the shrinkage, kept my hair moisturized and like Jamie Foxx stated in 'Ray', "Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna make it do what it do, baby". I never looked back, and I've been happy ever since!
When I went natural in September 1999, there was Nothing! I relied on limited products and sheer perseverance. When I look back at old photos of myself, I shake my head and smile or shudder (lol). Lots if braid outs, updos and buns – not too much change but now my hair is more "polished". I'm still a PJ, but I keep my regimen simple: moisturize, mininal product application, " listening" to my hair needs, trimming only when necessary and taking care of myself inside out.
Thanks D! I can't tell you how many times I got excited about trying something that worked great for someone else andthen was an epic fail for me. I went through so much trial and error and wasted money but eventually found out what works (products, certain ingredients, etc.) for me and what doesn't. Just wish I had known about certain blogs, done my research, and took the advice when I first went natural nearly 5 years ago.
~~~~ Have a wonderful weekend as well!~~~~~
I had to find what works for me and my hair, but natural hair blogs as well as some youtube videos helped tremendously. Have a great weekend CurvyCurly!
Same here. I may watch an occasional Youtube video to get "how to" tips on certain styles but my regimen was initially influenced years ago by Motowngirl and then progressed to my favs Naturallycurly and CurlyNikki.
Reading natural hair blogs helped me create a regimen. I base my hairstyles on my hectic work schedule, the days I plan to workout during the week, and sometimes even the weather such as on consecutive rainy days (updo, buns for 'sho). It's important to take note of what product cocktail worked well that resulted in a Fabulous Hair Day but also take note regarding products that contributed to a "hot mess" and whether you started with clean hair or hair filled with product already.
Good article.
Going on YouTube and hair blogs (natural or relaxed) helped me learn how to make my own regimen. I looked just about everywhere for help when my hair broke off.
I cannot stress enough how writing what you do to your hair at each co-wash & each wash day is so important. Especially on those days when you get BAD hair days & GREAT hair days. Its definetly helped me eliminate products & oils that dont agree with my hair in an accurate way. And I finally found a regimen that works for me. For my 3c in the back 4b everywhere else complicated hair, lol.
8 months transitioning and I'm still trying to nail that regimen own, maintain moisture an truly know what works! This is so helpful… i have a blog on the CN forums but I think I'll start keeping a personal hair journal as well. I'm use to keeping journals as I write a lot!
Trial an error is what I'm doing now… I will nail it down!
Reading natural hair blogs helped me develop a regimen.