African Cuts

If a gradual transitioning is not for you, try the "big chop". Simply cut off all your chemically-processed hair and start afresh. While this may seem the easier option, you must be mentally ready to wear a closely cropped do until your hair grows out.

Once you are fully natural, find out what best suits you. You have probably had chemically-treated hair for so long that you have forgotten what your natural hair texture is like. Your hair has a curl pattern, and as all curls are not created equal, there no universal care regimen tat works for every type of curl. The key to healthy, happy curls is to understand your personal hair texture. Remember, you may have multiple textures on one head of hair.

Hair Type 1 is bone straight with no curl pattern(think Caucasian hair or mixed-race individuals). Hair Type 3 has a tighter curl pattern, shaped like an S, while Hair Type 4 has the tightest coils and kinks of them all. Most Afro hair falls into this group.

Regardless of your hair texture and curl pattern, here are a few basic tips to help you take care of your natural hair:

The right products: Don't use products you previo usly used on your chemically-altered hair; they will not gel with the texture of your new hair. Find products specifically designed for natural hair. The Internet is a good place to source such products. Experiment to see what's work best and read the labels.

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise:
Afro hair, especially in its natural state, is naturally drier than any other type of than any other type of hair. Find products that add moisture to your hair so your hair does not get brittle and break.

Co-wash your hair:
Shampoos tend to strip moisture from natural hair, so be careful of overuse. Natural hair may require quite a bit of product to style, so you cannot entirely eliminate shampoos from your regimen. Opt for clarifying shampoos to remove product build-up. Co-washing your hair-using conditioner as opposed to a shampoo- is a moisture-rich alternative.

Detangle your hair