Focus on your destination, the end result, be it a crown of kinky curls or a head of long luscious locks. When you finally get there it will be worth it. But it's true what they say… it’s not the destination that counts it’s how you get there. How you get there will involve a process of getting to know your hair and what it’s actually capable of when it’s cared for and supplied nourishing products. So here’s some tips to help you get there…

THE EXPRESS ROUTE
There is an express route from artificially sexy to naturally sexy and it has now become known as the BIG CHOP! Now if you have rocked an abundant head of relaxed hair then this can be seen as a drastic move and therefore not one that can be made by all. This style is called a TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro) and most definitely requires a trip to the barbers to get that shape right. If you like, add a sexy fade. Many have found this to be an exhilarating experience as very short hair looks extremely sexy when you wear it with style and confidence. Accessorise with big earrings, try light gels to enhance texture, slick it down or experiment with colour. Some women do the big chop to remove the chemical ends and then stick with the short cut because it just suits their face and their life style.

WORKING TWO TEXTURES
For those of you not wanting to take a ride on the natural express there are other ways to get there without having to remove your chemical roots in one go. Before you decide to take this route you must understand that what you will have is thick, spongy, curly roots and thinner straight ends, two completely opposing textures which will require extra care and treatment to manage as it will be more prone to breakage and split ends. To merge the two textures you can try twists/twist-outs, braids/braid-outs, wet sets (roller and straw sets) and corn-rowed styles. With cornrowed styles you should make sure that the hair is not being pulled too tightly as the hairline is susceptible to breakage and you don't want to end up with bald patches. These styles can be achieved with or without extensions and are a good way to work the two textures.

It is not advisable to try the opposite of working the two textures - making the natural hair straight to match the relaxed ends. This method does not give you an opportunity to see and get used to your hairs natural state, and your likely to cause irreparable heat damage that no amount of washing can undo.

EXTENSIONS & WEAVES
Kinky twists, cornrows and single braids are a great way to transition as these styles are low maintenance and can last for weeks, even months. It is recommended that you use 100% human hair to single braid your hair. It's a similar weight to your own hair and is less likely to pull on your hair and weaken the hairline unlike synthetic hair, which can cause itchiness and breakage around the hairline. Kinky twists are very natural looking and do use synthetic hair but since they tend to be bigger and use more of your hair, the use of synthetic hair is less damaging. Whether you use synthetic hair or human hair make sure that it is not done too tightly since bad braiding can lead to permanent hair loss. You also need to consider getting the front redone every 4 weeks or so as this area is very prone to major breakage.

Getting a weave is another option. Unlike braids, weaves are relatively easy to put in and take out and with all the 'natural' look weaves available you can pull off a style quite close to the one you're eventually going to achieve naturally. It's a good way of getting used to seeing yourself with a head of kinky curls before you start wearing your own. With a weave you don't have to worry about your hair getting pulled out and it can be easily washed. As with braid extension hair it is best to use high quality 100% human hair.

Another option is wigs. A few good quality wigs are a quick and easy way to get through those days when you're struggling with styling and you just want to achieve a different look. As with the weave it's best to go for something 'natural' looking.