Transitioning Tips 101

Hello Readers, I apologize for not updating in such a long time. I have been doing a lot of research and product knowledge classes.


A lot of my clients are continuously asking me the same questions. "How can I go natural without cutting my hair?", "What are the best products to use, while transitioning?".
So, that is the topic for my post. ''The Big Transition"




If you want to keep your length while transitioning, it is possible but difficult. There are many ways to go bout this but one thing that is very important is that you You must understand that when you straighten your hair you stretch out your curl. Therefore setting back your natural goal. What I always recommend my clients is to start treating your hair as if it is already curly. Which means start doing the natural styles. Like I said it will be a difficult path but you can achieve your goal. Here are my tips on achieving your goal.


Natural Styles
1.  When doing natural styles use rods at the ends of your hair. Because the relaxed hair is still straight you need to use the rods to make it curly. Try the smallest rods so that they may be tight and last longer.


2. Make sure to clip your ends exactly every 6 weeks. When you are going through the transition your natural hair will get tangled with your relaxed hair. To prevent that clip at least 1 cm of hair every 6 weeks.


3. Hair should be conditioned under the dryer/ under cap with hot towel for 10 mins. every two weeks. Your hair will be very dry during this time. So this is a very important rule.


4. One of the easiest ways of styling while transitioning is doing rod sets. Why? Because its a curly style and when you sweat it will not be that noticeable when your hair starts to revert.Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut oil. Just a quarter size every two to three days. It will keep your hair soft and easier to manage. Stay away from greasy products, they coat the hair and does not allow moisture to penetrate.


5. Drink lots and lots of water. There will be a point where your hair will feel very dry, that is okay and normal. Just stay hydrated.


6. The steamer will become your best friend. I usually give my clients a steamer every 8 weeks. This is basically a facial for your hair. It helps the conditioner penetrate into the scalp and cuticle.leaving hair soft and more manageable. Ask your stylist to add this to your regimen.


7. Always, Always use a silk scarf and or silk pillow case. Cotton pillowcases and scarfs are too harsh and will lift your cuticle and remove the natural oils from your hair. Silk is softer and will not rough up your hair. In addition will give you a longer lasting style.


8. Use all natural products that do not contain Mineral Oil or  a high content of Alcohol.


I hope that these tips help you with your transition. Always remember that this will be  a long journey but very rewarding!
Any questions just ask!

Time For Product Knowledge

Shopping for that perfect product to treat your hair, can be very tough. All products promise to give you the BEST benefits e.g: Shine, Moisture, Repair Split ends, Max. Hair Growth etc. But lets really be honest, those products are just false advertising. When it really boils down to finding the right products, you have to read the ingredients on the back label. But who really understands what those long scientific words really mean? Most can hardly pronounce any of them. And I don't believe that is fair to the consumer.


So, that's where this post will help you next time your in the store, trying to search for products. I am going to build a product key for you, that you may study or take with you to the store.

First, I want to let you know about reading product labels, is that the first ingredient listed is what the product consist most of and the last is the least. And that is something very important to remember. What do you want your product to consist most of?

Product Key

Proteins- are needed when hair is weak, used as a strengthener, repair split ends, keep hair smooth

• Hydrolyzed Soy Protien
• Hydrolyzed Wheat Protien
• Hydrolyzed Keratin Protien
• Cocoyl hydrolyzed collagen
• Hydrolyzed silk protein
• Potassium cocoyl hydrolyzed collagen
• TEA-cocoyl hydrolyzed collagen
• TEA-cocoyl hydrolyzed soy protein
• Hydrolyzed oat flour
• Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed rice protein

Amino Acids- are fatty acids, used for moisture, promotes hair growth, helps promote blood circulation

• Lysine
• Methionine
• Glycine
• Arginine
• Glutaminc Acid
• Coconut Fatty Acid
• Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl silk amino acids
• Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed hair keratin
• Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed casein

Oil- are used to seal the cuticle, help reduce damage cause by the sun, provides shine, rich in Vitamin E

• Line Seed
• Wheat Germ Oil
• Sunflower Extract
• PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-60
• PEG-10 castor oil
• PEG-10 coconut oil esters
• PEG-10 glyceryl oleate
• PEG-10 olive glycerides
• Jojoba Oil
• Safflower Oil
• Sweet almond oil
• Coconut Oil
• Olive Oil
• Palm Oil
• Sesame seed Oil
• Mineral oil
• Petrolatum

Vitamins- used to promote hair growth, natural antioxidants, promotes new cells, promote blood circulation

• Vitamin E (Tocopherol acetate)
• Vitamin B
• Vitamin A (Retinol, Retinyl palmitate)
• Vitamin F
• Vitamin H
• Vitamin H1

Moisture- helps hair maintain mouisture rentention, soothes scalp, repairs dry hair, give hair natural shine, needed for color processes

• Water- soluable Shea Butter
• PEG-75 Lanolin
• Dimethiconol Meadowfoamate
• Aloe Vera
• PEG-100 hydrogenated castor oil
• PEG-10 cocamine
• PEG-10 hydrogenated lanolin
• PEG-10 soyamine
• Cetearyl stearate
• Dimethyl Lauramine Isostearate
• Glyceryl Stearate
• Glyceryl cocoate

Also, Laurel Sulfate, Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Sulfate, are made in most shampoo's and some conditioner's they are the same ingredients found in car wash detergent. It is put in there to create bubbles (since we love bubbles) but it makes our scalps itch and gives us allergic reactions. Do Not Purchase a prodcut contaning these ingredients.

The list above of ingredients are for what to look for if you do not find these, then put the product down!
If you found anymore that you are unsure about please ask and I will let you know.

KinkyHairGirl Introduction

                                           KinkyHairGirl

I am yours truly, KinkyHairGirl I decided to create this blog for the women that do not have a clue on what to do with their hair. I am a licensed Cosmetologist in a salon in Downtown Chicago. I am trained in multi-texture hair, including natural hairstyles.

                                       Jennifer Hudson

Lately it seems to me that more women are moving out of the relaxer phase and going back to natural styles. A lot of these women are also Mothers or Full-time business women that do not have the money or time to spend on going to a salon. So, ladies just breathe a little more because I am here to help.

                                           Raven Symone
                                

I believe it is a wonderful thing that we (women) are trying to have healthy beautiful hair. But I also understand that due to our busy lives it makes it harder to achieve those results. Most of you go straight to the wigs and weaves thinking that, that will save you from having to take care of your hair. Well, my motto is and always has been, "If you have hair, you have to take care of it, regardless if its hidden, it is on your head." Even if you were bald you would still have to take care of your scalp. I know, I know you don't have the time well think about this. If you actually take the time out to take care of your hair (i.e. conditions, less heat, wrapping hair etc.) then when your hair becomes happy (healthy) you wont need so much time to do it.

                                     Kim Coles goes natural

The problem is you don't want to take the time out to get to the point where your hair is happy. Women nowadays are so stuck on things with the least effort as possible and are satisfied with the look of their hair not the actual being of hair. You want to hide it if it does not look up to your par instead of going to a salon to get it taken care of.

                                     Keisha Knight Pulliam

For example one of my biggest challenges with my clients is letting me cut their ends, everyone has had that one experience where a stylist chopped all their hair off. And because of that they refuse to let me clip their ends. And I totally understand, but at the same time you have to understand that by doing so, you are setting your hair up for DOOM. If you do not get your ends clipped then you are letting your split ends travel up to your root which will lead to a damaged hair bulb and that means your hair will not be able to produce. Also, when it comes to your look and style of your hair the result will look terrible because you CANNOT hide split ends. After explaining that to my clients if they still wont budge, i will consider letting them watch me clip their hair. Sorry ladies but it must be done.

So that was a little introduction into what this Blog will be about. I will also give you tips for at home or when you are at your next visit to the salon, if you have any question please post and i will answer those as well.

Love, KinkyHairGirl xoxoxo