Transitioning without BC'ing Support Thread

[KaramelKutie803]

ME TOO! I transitioned (if you can call it that....I wore my hair straight alllllll the time) for 18 months. I was a straight haired natural for a year and then BC'ed...relaxed bone straight, transitioned to texlaxed and then started to transition to texturized and now I'm transitioning again . I'll try and find some pics of me Fully natural. Do you have any pics? I loved to see them. Also, I have fine strands too so I feel your pain. I discovered early on that my tiny strands eat, sleep and breathe protein, so I do medium strength protein treatments every other week and hendigo once a month. These two keep the breakage at bay.

Hmm I may have to try protein more often. I've been using Aphogee's Curlific natural line so hopefully that'll help some since the products have protein in them. But I do have pictures of my hair. I was natural a little over a year before I relaxed again. First two pics are texture shots on freshly washed hair and the last two were of a twist out.

 

[SuchaLady]

I had a dream I relaxed my hair it was amazing.

 

[SuchaLady]

Honestly, Ive gone so long without a relaxer I'd just piss myself off if I relaxed my hair at this point

 

[shyekiera]

What are you using to moisturize your hair with?

I'm just oiling it every couple of days

 

[sharifeh]

Good Luck sharifeh!!!

Thanks girl!!

sharifeh

Go snag one of those seat resistant hair bands from Walmart. I use one and then place my satin scarf of top. Really helps with the head sweat.

I'll take a look in Walmart, I'll take all the help i can get!

My roots are pretty messy after this race even though I wore a bandana, they reverted of course. This is the not so nice part about transitioning and liking straight hair, i didn't have this stress as a relaxed head...the weave should make things better right? my edges will still be messy though
i swear i've lost a lot of fitness because of transitioning, I'll have to figure this out because i don't want to be out of shape just to be natural...
i have a feeling I'm going to be using a lot of heat on my edges during race season...

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

Hmm I may have to try protein more often. I've been using Aphogee's Curlific natural line so hopefully that'll help some since the products have protein in them. But I do have pictures of my hair. I was natural a little over a year before I relaxed again. First two pics are texture shots on freshly washed hair and the last two were of a twist out.

Your puff is so pretty. I love your texture. May I ask why you re-relaxed? Your hair was gorgeous!

 

[Britt]

I got my hair trimmed and flat ironed this weekend. My hair feels kinda stiffish and dry. I look forward to washing it and giving it the works this weekend. This is why I'm so adamant about using my own products. I just got frustrated and pulled my hair back in a low ponytail. That's how I'll wear it for the week. My goal was just to get my ends trimmed anyway.

Thanks girl!!
I'll take a look in Walmart, I'll take all the help i can get!

My roots are pretty messy after this race even though I wore a bandana, they reverted of course. This is the not so nice part about transitioning and liking straight hair, i didn't have this stress as a relaxed head...the weave should make things better right? my edges will still be messy though
i swear i've lost a lot of fitness because of transitioning, I'll have to figure this out because i don't want to be out of shape just to be natural...
i have a feeling I'm going to be using a lot of heat on my edges during race season...

sharifeh If I were you, I'd start practicing with textured styles. There's no way I could imagine being incredibly active and trying to wear straight hair mostly. Hell, even when I was fully relaxed I couldn't do the straight silky hair thing like that when I was going to the gym. My hair would sweat out and I'd have to ponytail it/pin it up. Imo, a person who exercises a lot and sweats in their head would have a hard time maintaining a sleek straight look. The women that I know who are straight naturals or relaxed and work out heavy have told me that they don't really sweat too much in their head. Even with a weave, if you sweat -- you're edges will revert some.
Side bar, I always wondered how Jennifer Williams and these other reality chicks manage to have their hair laid to the Gods when they work out heavy? I chalk it up to them visiting the stylist frequently and probably have a heat damaged leave out.

 

[Honey Bee]

I finally washed my hair this weekend. I had been delaying it forever. It's just too much work now.

Anywho, I did a protein treatment and the breakage stopped. Yay! I blowdried (warm on the roots, cool on the length), twisted, and then did bantu knots. (Thanks Britt) It came out so cute and fluffy! It looked like when Tracee Ellis Ross does a rollerset, just big, puffy, and curly. I loved it!

It was my first time using... can't remember the name, some Lustrasilk spray meant for straightening natural hair. I bought it from EnExitStageLeft, maybe she remembers the name of it? I'm too lazy to walk to the hair closet now. I don't know if that had anything to do with the success of the style. Maybe I should try it again, this time not using the spray.

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

Honey Bee

Lustrasilk SOmethingerplexed

Its suppose to help with the longevity of straight styles.

 

[Britt]

I finally washed my hair this weekend. I had been delaying it forever. It's just too much work now.

Anywho, I did a protein treatment and the breakage stopped. Yay! I blowdried (warm on the roots, cool on the length), twisted, and then did bantu knots. (Thanks @Britt) It came out so cute and fluffy! It looked like when Tracee Ellis Ross does a rollerset, just big, puffy, and curly. I loved it!

It was my first time using... can't remember the name, some Lustrasilk spray meant for straightening natural hair. I bought it from @EnExitStageLeft, maybe she remembers the name of it? I'm too lazy to walk to the hair closet now. I don't know if that had anything to do with the success of the style. Maybe I should try it again, this time not using the spray.

That sounds really cute !! Glad you had a successful hair style! I picture it to look really soft and fluffy on you.

 

[Honey Bee]

Lustrasilk SOmethingerplexed

Its suppose to help with the longevity of straight styles.

For once, a product that lives up to its promises! It sure did maintain the straightness of my roots. I even partook in some, uh, activity that would normally cause me to sweat them out, but nope!

Ftr, I'm working with about 3-4" of natural hair out of APL-ish length hair.

@Britt, It WAS! I shoulda took some pics, I'll do it next time. I was honestly amazed. If my (fully) natural hair can look half as good, I'll be very happy.

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

For once, a product that lives up to its promises! It sure did maintain the straightness of my roots. I even partook in some, uh, activity that would normally cause me to sweat them out, but nope!

Ftr, I'm working with about 3-4" of APL-ish length hair.

@Britt, It WAS! I shoulda took some pics, I'll do it next time. I was honestly amazed. If my (fully) natural hair can look half as good, I'll be very happy.

YOU'RE A MESS!

 

[KaramelKutie803]

I'm just oiling it every couple of days

That could be the issue. Oil alone isn't going to moisturize the hair. You should get a liquid leave - in or a braid spray to moisturize the hair. I love using Elasta QP leave - in.

 

[KaramelKutie803]

Your puff is so pretty. I love your texture. May I ask why you re-relaxed? Your hair was gorgeous!

Thank you! I didn't know much about taking care of my natural hair and I just got frustrated with it. It was an impulsive decision on my part.

 

[Britt]

I made 13 months post today :woohoo:

 

[tapioca_pudding]

^^CONGRATS!!!!!

There was this girl in the gym locker room this morning who has the most gorgeous natural hair. It made me slightly angry again that I relaxed my hair in the first place but live and learn. Her her was about BSL when wet, 3c/4a texture. She was putting some kind of cream in her hair that made it all curly and boingy.

 

[Mjon912]

Just checking in ... 19 months post, still have about 2 inches of relaxed ends but I went ahead and cut my bangs because they were to long for my face so now they are 100% natural! I'm excited to see what they look like when I wash them!!!




Before the cut, they weren't even "bangs" lol





After the cut! I love it! If this is how my natural hair will be I cat wait until I'm 100% natural, they are so full and bouncy and thick

I'm really looking forward to doing my final cut!!!

 

[beauti]

still here...hair is on vacation in cornrows under my wig. will be washing and conditioning tonight. Keeping wig on until April, then putting marley braids back in for the summer. I'm gonna hide this hair until my big chop...if I'm still gonna chop

 

[freckledface]

Here is a picture of some of my new growth. My hair is like this on both sides of my head right behind my ears. When I saw this mess coming out I was like oh no. What am I gonna do with that. Especially with it right in the front. You can see there is no curl pattern it's just big and frizzy poofy thing. I cut a piece on the other side. And now it has a nice lil curl to it. Absolutely crazy!! I now see the part I thought was gonna be my problem area is actually really pretty. So I'm done trying to guess what it's gonna look it (for now.) This is an amazing journey!

Sorry I don't have pictures of the piece I cut. It's just too short to see on camera. Maybe I can get my SO to take a picture.

 

[KidneyBean86]

I just cut a little section in the back of my head so I could get an idea of what my natural hair would look like and I am so surprised. Who knew I had some pretty little curls in the back.

 

[shyekiera]

That could be the issue. Oil alone isn't going to moisturize the hair. You should get a liquid leave - in or a braid spray to moisturize the hair. I love using Elasta QP leave - in.

thanks!!!!! I like other qp products...I will take a look today...

 

[Honey Bee]

So, I was calling myself '8 months post', but I just counted the weeks and it's actually 9 months! I don't know why that made me so happy.

I always said, I would happily go natural if I didn't have to go through the transition/ grow out phase. I'm so ready for this to be over, BUT I don't want short hair ever again. *sigh*

This is tedious.

 

[Dayjoy]

Honey Bee and EnExitStageLeft

Is this the product?

 

[Honey Bee]

Dayjoy,

 

[beauti]

yayy! My hair is clean again! I used Crecepelo shampoo and that stuff is moisturizing and it left my hair squeaky clean. I dc'ed overnight with silk dreams vanilla silk cream and meh. It was just okay. Right now I have that conditioner and salt mixture that is now part of my staple. My hair will be buttah when I rinse!

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

Dayjoy

Sure is

 

[KidneyBean86]

Ladies, any tips on how to combat dryness? For some reason, my hair feels like a brillo pad. I have been sealing it but my hair still remains dry. Any suggestions?

 

[TamaraShaniece]

Ladies, any tips on how to combat dryness? For some reason, my hair feels like a brillo pad. I have been sealing it but my hair still remains dry. Any suggestions?

Are you using a water based moisturizer? Have you baggied before? Do you know your porosity?

 

[KidneyBean86]

Are you using a water based moisturizer? Have you baggied before? Do you know your porosity?

I have been using water for moisture and olive oil to seal. I have baggied and it replaces the moisture until it air dries. Once it air dries, it becomes drier than the desert. I am not sure what my porosity is. I believe I am low porosity just based on the fact that oil doesn't seem to absorb in my hair.

I am 7 months post. Please help. I am at my wits end here.

 

[FlawedBeauty]

KidneyBean86 have you tried coconut oil? It is one of the few oils that can be abosrbed onto the air for moisture. Also, your protein/moisture balance may be off. What products are you using? Oh, and whats ur hair type? Fine, thick, etc.

I have been using water for moisture and olive oil to seal. I have baggied and it replaces the moisture until it air dries. Once it air dries, it becomes drier than the desert. I am not sure what my porosity is. I believe I am low porosity just based on the fact that oil doesn't seem to absorb in my hair.

I am 7 months post. Please help. I am at my wits end here.