This post How I went from Severely Unhealthy Chemically Processed Relaxed hair to Healthy Natural Hair, first appeared on igbocurls.com
If you follow me on Instagram, which you should, 🙂 Igbocurls, you would have noticed that on Sunday I put up a collage showing my damaged relaxed hair in 2011 and my currently healthy natural hair.
If you don’t like reading, please watch the two videos below.
How To Grow Your Natural Hair Long Playlist
I put up this picture to inspire and consequently motivate people who are at the point that I was in 2011 and also people who have either decided to go natural or are already on their healthy hair journey.
My full length Hair story can be found here and the Regimen I consistently used can be found here. I have also tried and tested many products and I still am but my staples can be found here.
I made a lot of mistakes during my healthy natural hair journey that’s why I write a lot of Tips & Tricks to help you all avoid them.
When I began my journey I certainly did not know what my hair would look like. I knew I had naturally 1B black hair but I didn’t expect the curls, coils, kinks, volume and beauty. It is with this, that I understand the out pour of negativity and ignorance when people choose to ignore the purpose of the picture and focus on if it’s me in both pictures and bash my good looking robe. **wink** If they read my Instagram caption they would have understood but whatever, I cannot inspire and/or motivate everybody.
Anyway, with my regular use of the right products, regimen and protective styles, my Type 4 kinky, coily, curly natural hair, gradually transformed from being chemically relaxed, damaged and broken to being very healthy and long.
If I can do it, you can certainly do it too. If you don’t know where to begin, have a look at My Regimen first, then go to Basics/Videos. You can go further by reading the Regimens I created for different hair lengths and also pick up some Tips & Tricks while at it.
If you are still a bit unsure and you have specific questions you would like me to give a direct answer to, drop a comment under any of my blog posts or send me an email at igbocurls@gmail.com and I will endeavour to reply as soon as I can.
How has your hair journey been so far? Share with me in the comment section below!
You can follow me on INSTAGRAM @igbocurls and Subscribe to my YouTube Channel below
37 comments
I understood, that is my hair goal. Thanks for the inspiration.
You’re welcome dearie!
My hair journey has been exciting even with its highs and lows. I made a number of mistakes but over time have learnt what my hair loves. My hair is healthy and I now believe that black hair does grow! 🙂
Most certainly dearie! Keep loving your hair! 😀
Wow! After listining to you at the hangout with Nibi of kinky apothecary, I have been wowed at how a full Nigerian can grow such healthy hair. I just got directed to ur blog, I have serious hair issues like my front hairline is falling off, but I am taking Folic acid now. Do u think I need more vitamins? Pls help. I am also natural. Thanks!
Hi, Uju!
I remember you! 🙂
Just went to your blog and read a few posts and I noticed that you’ve been wearing wigs. Have you been wearing a satin scarf underneath it? Wigs are a fantastic protective style but they pull on your edges. 🙁 As long as you’ve had front hair before and you haven’t lost it for a long time then you’ll be fine. You don’t need extra vitamins, just give it 3 months with proper care (no pulling, weaving, wigs without scarfs, proper moisturizing and massaging to enable blood circulation and you should have your edges back in no time.
Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Pliz just help me what products do u use
It depends on your hair texture and hair type. Can you send me an email at info@igbocurls.com ?
THANK YOU ARAZURI! ❤️❤️
It’s amazing reading your story. Mine is quite similar: had the big chop by force because of boarding school. I then dedecided to stay natural after that but had no natural hair care experience, and ended up with sever breakage after a blowout gone wrong. I have now been fully 100% natural for years, but have only recently gone heat free since I noticed a growth plateau. Absolutely LOVE your hair! It’s great to see that us 4c girls can also grow long beautiful crowns 🙂
Thank you Lethu I’m so glad you are inspired!❤️
I admire you hair so much. And I like how you didn’t make it look as if it was an overnight magic trick by showing us a collage of your hair journey from 2011to 2016.
I have a question. Lol,my hair is relaxed. But I haven’t put relaxer on it for 3 months now. I’ve cut my hair just a little. I wouldn’t exactly call it a big shop though.
Is my hair natural. Or am I deceiving myself?
Lol! Thank you sweetie. If you haven’t completely cut off your relaxed ends then I don’t think your hair is completely natural.
Hi,
I have just started on my hair journey, you are my inspiration. i was told to stop using extensions and weaves for a while just to let my scalp relax. Do you recommend leaving your hair out for long periods of time? Also what protective styles can you do with natural hair?
Thanks in advance
Hi, Isoken!
Yes, you should allow your hair breathe. It’s very essential for growing healthy hair.
For me, I have mastered wearing my natural hair only for almost a year without additional extensions for protective styles so I can definitely tell you it’s possible. I have loads of protective styles I do with my hair on YouTube and Instagram but if you still need more help please let me know!
Hi, my natural hair journey has been to an extent syccessful i started transitioning in 2012 and i guess my hair is fully natural but trust me maintaining is really hard my hair is very thick and if left for more than a day gets “terribler” help!!! I realy want to rock my natural hair
Hi, Anne!
It all boils down to how you have been taking care of it. Do you have my Mobile App? I have lots of information on there about Maintenance and Styling.
Hey Chiniwe,
I have just come across your blog.
How do I know what is best for my hair and how do I come up with my own regime?
Hi, Betty!
Welcome to my blog!
It really depends on the porosity and curl pattern of your hair. For instance, would you say your hair absorbs a lot of water or not? Also, if you were asked to describe how your hair curls up, what would you say? Your answers will determine what regimen is best for you.
I remember reading one of your posts where you remarked that you went natural because your hair was brittle and prone to breakage. Comparing the 2011 and 2016 pictures with each other, I see so much improvement it’s phenomenal.
And I think natural hair consultations are uncharted waters if you’re not a trichologist or a salon owner. But I do admire you, for firstly, still replying to every comment on your blog. I find that incredibly admirable. Secondly that mane, that glorious mane. I prefer short hair myself, I cut mine again this year buy your hair is beautiful.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been on here to tell you how awesome i think you are and a long time since you’ve been on my blog as well. But I have recommended this blog to one or two people. And I hope you find a post that brings a smile to your face on my blog.
Have a great week ahead Chinwe Juliet.
HI, Uju!
It’s been a while since I saw your comment on my blog. Thanks for stopping by again.
I started consultations because I am already studying Trichology and most of my clients have poor hair care routines. Trust me, most salon owners plus the negligence of individuals are the causes of hair damage in this country.
Thank you for your constant encouragement and have a wonderful week too!
Hi Chinwe I just started my natural hair journey bt i v a huge challenge it’s really tick and painful to comb……I need to know the hair treatment u use to maintain ur hair. Tnx
Hi Adaeze!
Do you currently do anything to your hair? If you don’t then you need a regimen. A regimen means the constant hair treatments you would need to care and grow your hair. Do you have my App? and do you comb your natural hair the right way?
I have attached a couple of links below that should help you.
https://igbocurls.com/about/my-regimen/
https://igbocurls.com/basics/hair-growth-stages/build-regimen-twa/
Hey! I saw your post on Bella naija and I had to check out your blog. You have really beautiful hair. Please i want to know how I can make my baby’s hair grow long and healthy. I cut her hair when she was a year and 5months before then she had beautiful full hair. I just need kid friendly tips, hair styles and products to use.(conditioner and strangler) I use black soap to wash her hair, use Shea butter to moisturize and also made a mixture of extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil and sweet almond oil as her hair oil. She has 3b or 3c hair, it’s curly but tangles a lot when dry, I cut it thinking it’ll grow back coarse but it’s still curly..
Hi Nene’s Ma!
Thank you for stopping by!
If your daughters hair keeps coming out with loose curls then maybe that is her natural hair texture. I usually advice mothers to lay off formulated products until their babies are at least 2 years old because their scalp and body are still very tender. I really like the fact that you are using all natural products on her so if you can keep up with it, that’ll be good. Otherwise, I know one kiddies hair brand that I have tried and also used on my 6 year old brother. They are called, Curly Kids. You can find them here.
http://shopigbocurls.com/product/Curly-Kids-Mixed-Hair-Haircare-Super-Detangling-Conditioner#sthash.AbVXiB5v.dpbs
http://shopigbocurls.com/product/Curly-Kids-Mixed-HairCare-Super-Detangling-Shampoo
Hi it’s me hannah again ,can you be my hair mentor for a year
Hi, Hannah!
Of course you can. Please send me an email so I can forward you the Terms and Conditions.
Hi chinwe dearie,
Have been so inspired by how great ur hair is tho being natural. I want to go natural nd i would love 4 u to mentor me, so how does it work! I am as confused as anythn .
Love u.
Hi Jennifer!
I apologise for my late reply and it would be my pleasure. Please send me an email to info@igbocurls.com for more details.
I need help?
Hello Brianna, how can I help?
I envy your hair like kilode?. I’m just 19 months old in this natural hair journey but i don’t think my hair is growing. I use ori and coconut oil though my Jamaican Castor black oil is finished. I use dudu osun to wash my hair when it gets dirty. Plz what can i do to grow out my hair. I think i have a rubber hair. I’m not happy with my hair sha
Hi Linda!
Sorry for my late reply.
Ori and Coconut Oil are great but they are not enough.
You need a good leave in conditioner, deep conditioner and hair moisturiser to keep your hair healthy. You can find some of my top picks below.
http://shopigbocurls.com/product/Shea-Coco-Daily-Leave-in-Conditioner-8oz#sthash.XliaJrPZ.dpbs
http://shopigbocurls.com/product/Lottabody-Moisturize-Me-Curl–Style-Milk#sthash.a1TXOmPN.dpbs
http://shopigbocurls.com/product/ApHogee-Balancing-Moisturizer
Hi chinwe
I started my journey of natural hair last year April after I chopped off my hair to the scalp. It’s not been easy maintaining it as I have no clue on how to deal with natural hair plus the growth is minimal. My hair is spongy, bouncey and soft. It retains water. Pls what products should I use and how do I detangle and make my hair grow? I currently use shea butter as my hair cream.
Thanks
Hello, I want to start growing a natural hair although I used to relax my hair, how can I start.
Hi Bolanle,
Please read this post and watch this video to know where you can start. I included all you need to know there.
https://igbocurls.com/how-to-go-natural/