New year! New HAIR GOALS!

 I just did a stretch for 16 weeks and will be relaxing/texlaxing this weekend. What I learned about my hair during this long stretch is essential and i feel that I am ready to transition to natural. however, I am going to take the whole year to prep for transitioning. I want to take my time and  revamp my whole routine so that my knowledge about my hair expands and I am prepped with the right products, hairstyles and routines. 

I found some serious problems during this last stretch. Problems that if I don't solve, my hair will lose the health that I've worked so hard for. Honestly, some days turned into weeks of me not even touching my hair because I was overwhelmed by the two different textures. I love my relaxed hair, and I am falling in love with my natural hair! So I want to use 2015 to merge myself into my natural hair, while paying homage to my relaxed strands. Also, it will be easier to learn in sections. This is what i learned about my hair during this last stretch and some areas that I will need to revisit in order to have an even better experience with my stretch in the summer. 

What I learned about my natural hair this stretch: 

1. The hair by the crown of my head grows faster than any other part of my head. 

2. I need to revamp my leave-in, something more watery, and moisturizing. Maybe i'll make it at home

3. My hair does not take any of my favorite styles after 13 weeks  (braidouts and twists are dull looking)

4.  My ends are the hardest to gain curl during transitioning, they stick straight out even with curly styles

5. Flexirods was my most successful hairstyle! maybe because of the stretching that they do at the root.

6. I need to re-learn moisture and protein balance for my kinky curlier hair.

7. I love the curls growing out of my head! They are bouncy and cute. Can't wait to see my whole head natural in one year!

8. Coconut oil is fantastic on my relaxed strands, but doesn't seem to be as effective when transiting..?

9. Plagued by the fear that I can't wear my hair straight as much as i'd like when natural, i'm on a mission to find a straight hair routine that is not damaging so I can enjoy straight hair too when natural. 

10. Ends ends ends! my ends are too straight and fine and i don't know how to treat them during transitioning, they are extremely different than the rest of the strand. How do I make my hairstyles look banging during the transition? 

If you have any product, or routine suggestions, i'd gladly take them as I experiment and find the right methods. I might even consider creating some videos with your suggestions. i'm really happy that I always have this platform to share my hair concerns, fears, and challenges. blessings.