How to Go From Relaxed Hair to Natural Hair

If you are used to relaxing your naturally curly hair, it may be a difficult transition to go back to your normal hair. After months or even years of having straight, shiny hair, you may feel apprehensive about letting your curly hair grow back out. There are a number of styles and suggestions that will help you get back to your true hairstyle, and make the transition from relaxed hair to natural hair easier.

Things You'll Need

• Hair extensions
• Wig

Instructions

1. Grow it out. This step requires a lot of patience, but sometimes it is the only way to transition from relaxed hair back to your natural, curly hair. Hair grows at a length of 1/2 inch per month so it may take between six months to a year to truly grow out your relaxed hair.

2. Cut off as many inches of it as possible. Cutting all (or most) of the relaxed and starting fresh is one of the fastest ways to go from relaxed hair to natural hair.

3. Style your hair in cornrows or braids until the natural hair grows out. Putting your hair in braids will allow you to look stylish while simultaneously transition from relaxed hair to your natural hair.

4. Get extensions. You can use extensions to add length or volume to your hair while you wait for it to grow out. This will help make the transition from relaxed hair to natural hair a little bit easier because you will be able to have a stylish hairdo while your natural hair grows to your desired length.

5. Try wearing a wig. This is another option that will help you go from relaxed hair to natural hair. While you wait for your natural hair to grow out, your hair might look a little strange. The natural part will be curly near the roots, while the rest of your hair (the relaxed hair) will be straight. Thus, wearing a wig will allow you to maintain a uniform look to your hair. Once your hair has grown to its ideal length, you can stop wearing the wig.

Tips & Warnings

• A very bold option is to shave off your entire head of hair, and allow fresh new hair to grow out from the beginning.