Transition Hair Tip #1
Greasy Hair
Try washing your hair more often. IT’S OKAY TO WASH YOUR HAIR EVERY DAY! You may notice that most people each it it less often, like maybe every 3 – 5 days, but this is probably bc they have CG longer than you. Wash your hair when you need to, on your own schedule, not someone else’s.
You can also try increasing your scrub time, especially if you’re cowashing. Cowashing requires at least 5 full min of scrubbing to properly cleanse the roots and scalp.
Try an ACV(Apple Cider Vinegar)Rinse Rinse or Lemonade Rinse. Click Here to see a tutorial of how I do an ACV Rinse.
Try a brown sugar scrub.
Transition Hair Tip #2
Frizzy Hair?
Try deep conditioning more often. Transition hair needs a lot of moisture. You can choose a one that is store bought. Or you can make own by adding a few drops of a CG safe moisturizing oil. My favorite products to deep condition with are Not Your Mother’s Matcha Green Tea & Wild Apple Blossom Nutrient Rich Butter Masque and Sally’s GVP Conditioning Balm.
Try avoiding protein mimickers (coconut,aloe, seaweed/kelp). For more info about protein mimickers, Click Here:
Try avoiding protein. Your hair might not need it right now. Or your hair may just not like the kinds of protein you’ve been using. Click Here to see a list of proteins
Try reducing products with humectants. The most common one is Glycerin.
Transition Hair Tip #3
Do Not Do A Protein Treatment
IF YOU ARE UNDER 4 MONTHS CG, I HIGHLY ADVISE YOU NOT TO DO A PROTEIN TREATMENT. This is because you might put your hair into protein overload, which can take MONTHS to recover.
Instead, if you think your hair wants protein, try using one product with protein every wash or every other wash. If you think your hair needs even more, try adding in more products with protein, one at a time, until you think your hair is more balanced. Click Here to see my favorite products with protein.
Transition Hair Tip #4
Beware Of Product Fads
Just because a product or a product line works for someone else, doesn’t mean it will also work for you.
As you get to know your hair, and try new products, you will figure out what works and what doesn’t through trial and error. But this will take some time. When you want to try something new, only try one new product at a time so you can keep track of what products your hair likes and doesn’t like.
Transition Hair Tip #5
Don’t Compare Your Hair
Instead of wishing you had someone else’s curl pattern, texture, volume, or length, learn to love YOUR hair. You can’t even compare your beginning with someone else’s middle. If you find yourself doing this, try taking a break from all the hair social media.
The only comparing you should be doing is looking back at your own hair and how it’s changing.
Transition Hair Tip #6
Take Photos And Notes
When you are beginning your CG journey, it really helps to take pictures of your hair and also jot down notes of what you used and how you used them. The more detailed notes, the better. This way you can easily refer back to what worked and what didn’t. It will also help prevent confusion. As you learn more and figure out your hair’s needs, you won’t have to do this as often.
Transition Hair Tip #7
Make Your Routine Enjoyable
If your wash day starts becoming too much, remember….You don’t HAVE to buy all the products. You don’t HAVE to do all the techniques. You don’t HAVE to make wash day SO MUCH MORE than it used to be pre CG. If your wash day isn’t enjoyable, MAKE IT ENJOYABLE!
Transition Hair Tip #8
Learn How To Read Labels
Learning ingredients and how to read labels will take time, but it’s definitely worth it. This will help you figure out if certain ingredients bother your hair so you can avoid them. You don’t have to figure out all of the ingredients at once, but even just knowing a few is a start.
For example, it didn’t take me long to realize my hair can’t tolerate coconut. So I avoid anything that says “coconut” or “cocos nucifera” in the ingredient list.
Transition Hair Tip #9
Start Simple & Cheap
There are so many Curly Girl safe products out there now, and new ones coming out all the time. When you’re new it can be hard to tell if something’s working or not bc transition hair is unpredictable. It’s also a time where your hair will look worse before it starts looking better. So it makes sense to start off with the cheaper products during this time until your hair starts improving or you start understanding your hair and this method better. I also highly reccomend starting off with minimal products so you don’t get overwhelmed. One lo poo or cowash, one leave in and one styler.
Transition Hair Tip #10
Save Your Receipts
If you have your receipt, most stores will take back your used products and refund you if it’s within 60-90 days and if there’s at least 75% left in the bottle. Even if you don’t have your receipt, many stores will still take them back, and give you store credit instead. Target, Walmart, Ulta and Amazon are all very good about returns.
Transition Hair Tip #11
Watch Tutorials
Reading about how to care for your curls does help, but watching what to do can help even more. I don’t mean watch all the tutorials about everything curly hair all over the internet. That can be overwhelming for beginners. But watching tutorials about the just the Curly Girl basics can help a lot. For example; how to cowash, how to STC, how to plop and how to diffuse. @curlsandbeautydiary, @itscurlysusie, @laura_marie_smith, all have really great videos on YouTube. These easy to follow tutorials were the ones that helped me the most when I was new.
Transition Hair Tip #12
Modify & Simplify
As you explore the curly hair internet world, you’ll come across many hair video tutorials. But remember, when you see a routine you like, that you think might work for you, you don’t have to do everything exactly the same. You don’t have to use all the same products, or even the amount of products they used. Try it with products you already use and like, or with a smaller lineup of products. You also don’t have to do all the techniques shown. Don’t be afraid to change things around, or shorten certain parts to make it work for your hair. Think of it like a buffet; choose what you like & leave the rest behind.
Transition Hair Tip #13
If It’s Working Keep Doing It
If you find products or a routine that work well for your hair, stick with it! There’s no need to fix what’s not broken. I’m not saying never try anything new. But it’s easy to fall into the temptation of wanting to try everything out there. When you do try something new, try one thing at a time so you don’t lose track of what worked and what didn’t.
Transition Hair Tip #14
Have Realistic Expectations
Transition takes time. Don’t expect your hair to start looking better immediately. Remember, transition is usually 3-4 months. Also as your hair gets healthier, your curl pattern may change, but don’t expect it to look like your hair goals. I don’t even think having hair goals is that healthy. Instead of wishing for someone else’s hair, learn to love your own.
Transition Hair Tip #15
Progress Isn’t Linear
Whether you’ve been following the Curly Girl Method for weeks or years, there will still be bad hair days. There will be ups and downs along the way and it’s perfectly normal. However, generally speaking, the further along you are the less you’ll have and the easier it’ll be to troubleshoot.
Transition Hair Tip #16
Keep Your Wash Days Balanced
When you’re new, all this Curly Girl information can be very overwhelming. And the protein moisture balance might actually be the most confusing part. So, instead of trying to figure it out all out before you understand your hair well enough, just keep your wash day balanced. Choose one product with protein to use every wash day. This should give your hair just enough protein, so you don’t end up with protein overload or overmoisturized. If you feel like it’s too much or too little protein, either scale back and use the protein product every other wash or try using a 2nd product with protein.
Transition Hair Tip #17
Take Advice With A Grain Of Salt
There’s nothing wrong with asking for advice. There will be a lot of it, especially in the CG FB groups. It’s important to learn to figure out what you think will actually benefit your hair at that specific time. Lots of people are eager to help and have good intentions. But not everyone actually knows what to do. It’s confusing when you have diff people telling you to try all diff things bc it makes it hard to choose what to actually do. I suggest asking how long someone has been CG before jumping into their suggestion. Also, if someone gave you great advice before, try asking them again. And don’t be afraid to learn to trust yourself! As time goes by, you’ll become more and more confident in your own knowledge.
For information on a one on one Curly Consultation with me, Click Here: