Hair transition: 6 tips to get through the hardest phase

When I decided to stop straightening my hair, I thought the challenge would be just the roots showing. I quickly found out that the hair transition involves patience, self-esteem and routine, especially when you are in the middle of motherhood with little time to look at yourself in the mirror. In this text I gathered six tips that helped me get through the hardest phase, told from my own experience and from conversations with other women. It is not a rule or a formula, it is a possible path.

Why the hair transition is so hard

The hardest part is not the hair itself, it is the relationship we have with it. For years straight hair was the reference, and suddenly two textures share the same head of hair: the natural roots and the straightened length. That weighs on you when getting ready and in the comments that still come from outside. Understanding that this is a passing phase, and not the final result, was what gave me the breath to keep going.

Hair transition: six tips to get through the hardest phase

1. Choose an objective path

You can transition slowly, keeping the length, or choose the so-called big chop, cutting the straightened part all at once. There is no right or wrong. There is only what fits your routine, your job and how you handle change. I chose the gradual path because I wanted to keep the length, but I understand those who prefer to get it over with at once.

2. Learn to care for your natural roots

The part that grows needs hydration and definition, but you may not yet know your own curl pattern. Try light products, finish with gel or cream and watch how the strand responds. The more you understand your texture, the less frustration you feel when trying to reproduce a result that is not yours.

3. Reduce heat little by little

If you are going to stop straightening, you do not need to throw the flat iron away on the first day. Space out the sessions and lower the temperature, always with heat protection. Less and less heat is progress. This also protects the length that is still straightened, which tends to become more fragile over time.

4. Create a moisturizing routine

Hair in transition tends to get dry and tangled. A weekly deep moisturizing treatment, with a mask or cream, helps keep the strand more pliable and reduces breakage. This is where patience pays off, because healthy hair is less work day to day than mistreated hair.

5. Take care of scalp health

A neglected scalp turns into itching and flaking. Keep the scalp clean, without overdoing the product, and pay attention if irritation appears. If you notice intense shedding during this period, it is worth looking into it carefully, because there may be more than one cause involved. There is an overview of that in postpartum hair loss.

6. Surround yourself with references that look like you

Following people with hair and texture similar to yours changes the way you see your own strands. At first I compared myself with hair that had nothing to do with mine and got frustrated. When I started following real women, with similar transitions, everything got lighter.

Care that helps along the way

• Detangle with wet hair, using cream, and never pull it dry at the roots.
• Avoid a fine-tooth comb on tangled hair, prefer your fingers or a wide-tooth comb.
• Sleep with a satin cap or pillowcase to reduce friction.
• Make a washing schedule that respects your scalp, as I explain in how often to wash your hair.
• Try simple homemade moisturizing treatments, always with a sensitivity test first, like those in homemade recipes for hair loss.

It is also worth being patient with the attempts that did not work out. Not every product that works for a friend will work for you, and that is not a sign that your hair is difficult, it is just a sign that it is yours. Testing calmly, in small amounts, avoids wasting money and unnecessary frustration. It took me a while to accept this and to stop comparing my result with other people’s.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to cut off all the straightened hair at once?

No. The big chop is a choice, not an obligation. You can transition while keeping the length and cutting little by little as your natural hair grows. The pace depends on your routine and your wishes.

How long does the hair transition last?

It varies a lot from person to person and depends on how much straightened hair you have and how much you cut. It can take months or more than a year. There is no fixed deadline, and comparing your time with someone else’s only gets in the way.

Does hair in transition shed more?

It may seem so, because the straightened strand tends to become more fragile and break, and the change of routine also affects the hair. But strong and prolonged shedding deserves a professional’s attention, because it may have other causes besides the transition.

The hair transition asks for patience with the mirror and kindness toward yourself. There is no shortcut, and there does not need to be. Every week with a little more of your natural texture is a victory no one sees from the outside, but you feel it.