I have been transitioning from straight to curly hair for about two years now. I’m at the point where my natural curl pattern has returned, but still has some work to do. I asked on my Instagram, what did you all want to see, and many people want to know more about hair! I know a lot of people wish to get back to their natural curl pattern and don’t have the desire to big chop.
You DO NOT have to big chop to regain your curl pattern. This is a huge misconception among the curly hair community and it just is not true. Big chopping essentially shows results faster because it involves letting all the straight hair go. However, transitioning, being consistent, and making sure the hair is healthy will help curls return. The transition process is different for everyone and is typically slower than the big chop, but can be absolutely worth it. My journey involved patience, trying new hairstyles, and getting my ends clipped. Your journey may be completely different, but these hairstyles will work for any hair journey!
- High or Low buns: Buns are the perfect hairstyle for transitioning because they allow for those pesky straight ends to be hidden. This style also does not require a lot of effort or stress to the hair shaft as long as you avoid pulling it too tight or over brushing. While transitioning, I used buns to hide my ends and show off my wave pattern that was on the way.
- Braid or twist outs: These work great for blending or aiding in creating curl patterns. Sometimes I walk out with the braids or twist still in, but it’s more common to take them down for the curly look.
- Any protective braid or twist style with extensions: Box braids, Senegalese twist, faux locs, you get the point! Any protective braid style is great because it puts your hair away and allows it to take a break from damage.
- Flexi-rods: These may take a while to perfect, however, once you get it right these are amazing. Depending on the size of the rod, these give the effect of a full-blown curly head! I love using these because they do not require your hair to be curly at all.
- Bantu knots: Although I have not found a way to perfect these yet, I know they work wonders for other peoples hair. You can also wear these as is or do the traditional takedown process to reveal a head full of curls.
There are many different ways to style your hair while transitioning, but these are just a few hairstyles to give a try. If you are in the transitioning process my biggest piece of advice is to be patient… your curls will come! In the meantime keep moisturizing and protecting your hair with these hairstyles.
Have you tried any of these hairstyles before? How did they work out for you?
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