13 Products To Use When Transitioning To Natural Hair
Transitioning from relaxed hair to natural curly hair is not easy. Most of us go for the big chop during the transitioning phase. This is because growing back the natural kinky-coily hair requires tremendous patience and a proper hair care regimen. But you can avoid chopping the processed and treated hair ends and still grow back your natural hair. There are special products for transitioning hair that nourish, strengthen, and support it. These products reduce hair breakage and hair fall, which are very common during this phase, and restore your gorgeous natural mane. Check out this list of transitioning products that you can incorporate into your hair care regimen. Scroll down.
13 Products For Transitioning To Natural Hair
1. Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave-In Conditioner
Kinky-Curly Knot Today is a leave-in conditioner and detangler that helps detangle your hair, smoothen the hair cuticles, and remove knots painlessly. It is great for wavy, curly, and kinky hair, especially after you have removed a hair extension or braids or if your hair is transitioning. You can use it as a regular leave-in conditioner as well.
Pros
- Keeps the hair soft
- Defines curls
- Reduces frizz
- Sweet, floral fragrance
- Moisturizes the hair
- Improves hair texture
- Contains natural ingredients
Cons
- Might make the hair crunchy.
Similar Products:
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave In Conditioner/Detangler - 8 oz | 2,056 Reviews | $22.29 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |  | Kinky-Curly, Knot Today, Natural Leave In / Detangler | $25.90 | Buy on Amazon | |
| 3 |  | Kinky Curly Knot Today Conditioner - 8 oz - 2 pk | $39.96 | Buy on Amazon |
2. Carol’s Daughter Curl Styling Bundle
This is a set of three products that includes Mimosa Hair Honey, Pracaxi Nectar Curl Twisting Custard, and Black Vanilla Edge Control Smoother. Mimosa Hair Honey is a shine pomade that moisturizes your scalp, controls frizz, and conditions the hair. The Pracaxi Nectar Curl Twisting Custard is for enhancing your curls and making them pop without losing any moisture. The Black Vanilla Edge Control Smoother helps smoothen dry and brittle edges and replenishes moisture. These three products are like a complete hair care regimen for your transitioning hair.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Mineral oil-free
- No artificial colors
- Petroleum-free
- Pleasant fragrance
- Works for all types of curls/kinks
Cons
None
Similar Products:
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Moisture & Shine Leave In Conditioner For Dry Hair and Dull Hair,... | 2,547 Reviews | $10.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |  | Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Moisture & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner Set For Dry Hair and Dull... | 1,519 Reviews | $16.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |  | Carol's Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey Shine Pomade For Dry Hair and Textured Hair, with Shea Butter and... | 4,631 Reviews | $11.97 | Buy on Amazon |
3. Best Hair Butter: As I Am Double Butter Cream
This butter is supposed to act like a moisturizing cream for your hair. It is a blend of natural butters, like shea butter and cocoa seed butter, and oils like coconut, sweet almond, and wheat germ oils. It helps control frizz, reduce dryness, and lock in moisture, which is very important for transitioning hair. It contains panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) that reduces split ends and makes your hair strong.
Pros
- Contains natural ingredients
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- No harmful chemicals
- Makes hair soft and manageable
Cons
- Expensive
Similar Products:
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | As I Am Double Butter Rich Daily Moisturizer, 16 Ounce | 698 Reviews | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |  | As I Am Double Butter Cream - 8 Ounce - Rich Daily Moisturizer - Soft and Shiny Curls and Coils -... | 1,483 Reviews | $14.72 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |  | As I Am Double Butter Cream, 16 oz (Pack of 2) | 59 Reviews | $45.14 | Buy on Amazon |
4. Aunt Jackie’s Knot On My Watch Instant Detangling Therapy
This is a leave-in conditioner that works to detangle kinky hair and keep it manageable. You can also use it if you are transitioning from relaxed hair to natural curls. It feels silky and instantly detangles knots and curls and keeps them moisturized. It is easy to apply and spreads easily all over your hair. If you do not wish to use it on your entire hair, you can apply it on the edges to prevent brittle and dry hair.
Pros
- Softens the hair
- Works on all types of curls/kinks
- Doesn’t weigh the hair down
- Doesn’t make hair greasy
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Petroleum-free
Cons
- Might make the hair sticky.
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5. Best Curl Enhancing Cream: Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream
This is a moisturizing curl activator cream. It is a shea butter-based moisturizer for your hair. It helps smoothen your curls and enhances each strand to make your curls appear more pronounced and not just a bunch of hair. It keeps the hair frizz-free and is perfect for all hair types, including transitioning hair.
Pros
- Mineral oil-free
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Phthalate-free
- Gluten-free
- Delivers volume and bounce
Cons
- Thick
Similar Products:
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream, 12 Ounce | 1,495 Reviews | $5.69 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |  | Cantu Shea Butter Shampoo + Hydrating Conditioner + Curl Activator Cream"SET" for Natural Hair | 1,114 Reviews | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 | | Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream, 12 Ounce (Pack of 4) | 116 Reviews | $30.05 | Buy on Amazon |
6. SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Shine Conditioner
This conditioner is for intense moisturization – something that transitioning hair usually craves. It is formulated with natural ingredients like shea butter, mango butter, coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, olive oil, silk protein, aloe, rosemary, and hibiscus extracts. They moisturize your hair, form a protective layer and shield it from external damage caused by pollutants and the environment, prevent frizz, and keep your hair tangle-free and shiny.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Mineral oil-free
- No animal testing
- Petrolatum-free
- Propylene glycol-free
- Pleasant tropical fragrance
Cons
- The pump dispenser doesn’t work properly.
7. JessiCurl Deep Conditioning Treatment
As the name suggests, this product is a thick, rich, and deep conditioning treatment for dry, damaged, and brittle hair. It is meant for providing intense moisturization to curly and kinky hair that is naturally dry. It is ultra-thick and contains hydrating ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil, cocoa butter that pamper and protect kinky and transitioning hair.
Pros
- Defines the curls
- Prevents frizz
- Keeps hair moisturized
- Works on all types of curls/kinks
- Works on fine, thick, and low-porosity hair
- Pleasant fragrance
Cons
- Thick (tough to squeeze out of the bottle).
8. As I Am Hydration Elation Intensive Conditioner
This product is a deeply hydrating and fortifying treatment for curly hair. It has a rich formula that penetrates your hair shaft to keep your hair smooth, strong, nourished, and hydrated. It contains coconut, green tea, sugar cane, apple, shea butter, vitamin E, and lemon extracts that are known to be hair fortifiers. It stimulates the scalp and hair roots and improves manageability, repairs split ends, and enhances hair health.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- No harsh chemicals
- Natural ingredients
- Keeps hair soft and manageable
- Works well in fine hair
Cons
- May not show satisfactory results on thick hair.
9. Best Vegan Hair Mask – Pacifica Banana Love Deep Intensive Moisture Mask
This intensive moisture mask is like a mushy love fest for your hair. It has a rich tropical fragrance of coconut and banana, and it intensely hydrates and moisturizes your hair. This leave-in moisture mask is especially beneficial for dry, brittle, color-treated, and damaged hair. You have to use it on wet hair after a shower.
Pros
- 100% vegan product
- Cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Petrolatum-free
- Reduces frizz
- Non-greasy
Cons
- Less quantity for the price.
10. DevaCurl Deep Sea Repair
This seaweed strengthening mask is a must-have for hair that is chemically treated, heat-styled quite often and damaged, and, of course, transitioning hair. It contains marine algae and other natural extracts. This mask strengthens damaged curls and repairs each brittle strand with utmost care. It is a vegan protein blend for nurturing your hair follicles.
Pros
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Cruelty-free
- 100% vegan
- Nice fragrance
- Keeps hair soft
- Defines your curls
Cons
- May leave a residue.
11. Best Shampoo For Transitioning Hair: VIRTUE Recovery Shampoo
This shampoo claims to rebuild damaged hair with each application. It contains hydrolyzed quinoa that enhances moisture retention and adds shine to your hair. Moisture protection is one of the crucial things in caring for transitioning hair, and this shampoo claims to do that. The baobab tree oil acts as an intense emollient and prevents any moisture loss from dry curls. It also contains grapefruit extracts that revitalize your scalp.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Formaldehyde-free
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Gluten-free
- Recyclable packaging
- Suitable for chemical/color-treated hair
Cons
- Expensive
12. Best For Preventing Hair Breakage: Nutress Hair Moisturizing Protein Pack
This is a protein treatment for dry, damaged, and brittle hair. If you have transitioning hair or heat damaged hair, this product can help reverse the damage. It protects, moisturizes, and strengthens your hair. It is developed with NuFusion Protein Blend that helps to restructure your damaged hair, condition it, and reduce breakage. This is a convenient and easy one-step protein treatment for your hair.
Pros
- Sulfate-free
- Color-safe
- Anti-fade product (for colored hair)
- Makes hair smooth
- Stops hair breakage
Cons
None
13. Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1
This is a leave-in conditioner that claims to benefit your hair in at least 14 ways. You can use it as a moisturizer for your hair. It also helps to add shine, smoothen the curls, reduce breakage, and strengthen the hair. It detangles and provides thermal protection to your hair. It has a non-staining formula infused with amino acids and cold-pressed jojoba oil that condition the hair and make it soft.
Pros
- Non-greasy
- Not tested on animals
- Suitable for all type of curls and kinks
- Can be used on both wet and dry hair
Cons
- Thick consistency
It is crucial to keep your hair moisturized to prevent breakage. When you are transitioning to natural hair, you need to provide proper moisturization and detangle your curls carefully. Moreover, deep conditioning is a must during this phase. Do not think twice – pick a suitable product for your hair from this list and go natural without the big chop!
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I wash my transitioning hair?
It is better if you avoid shampooing your hair regularly. Instead, co-wash your hair 2-3 times a week. Shampoo once or twice in a month with a sulfate-free shampoo.
Does transitioning hair shed a lot?
Hair breakage is normal in transitioning hair. However, if you are losing excess hair, use products that reduce the stress on your hair and nourish and strengthen it.
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