Transitioning without BC'ing Support Thread

CandiceC said:

I'm 40 weeks post today.

I had kinky twists installed Saturday and it was a major FAILURE! They were really cute but the synthetic hair had my scalp itching and skin crawling at 4 a.m. Monday. I had to stay home and take them out. This was after washing the twists, dunking my hair/head in a bucket of ACV/water mix, doing a rinse, putting oil on my scalp, taking benadryll pills. I really tried yall. I know I probably wouldn't have had this problem if I had soaked the hair beforehand, but I'll just chalk this up to a lesson learned. I hadn't had this issue before, but maybe my scalp is more sensitive because I've been relaxer free since December and I'm more selective about what I put on my scalp nowadays.

I went out yesterday evening and got two wigs. I've only worn a partial wig before on a vacation. I'm sitting at work and got a couple compliments on it. I told my coworkers (white) what happened. Of course they likely didn't fully understand, but I'm sure they understood words- synthetic hair, allergic reaction, itchy scalp, wig.

I could have just pulled my hair back into a bun, but I was tired of that. I'm also in a wedding Saturday so I wanted to try out wigs to choose for that. I don't want to straighten my hair.

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NJoy said:

Well, I wasn't able to record the actual bc (kids lost my power cord to my camera). But, I did take lots of pics. Did you see my post with pics yet? Please come see!

I love it so much and am so glad that I went ahead and BC'd. I'm also glad that I waited to get some length too. It's so friggen soft. I love it!

So, that's adios for me in this thread. Good luck to all of you. I hope you're as thrilled as I am when you finally decide to do it.

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havilland said:

glad you are feeling better!

how are you gonna wear your hair for the wedding?

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Dayjoy said:

This post almost brought tears to my eyes. Is that weird?

Oh yeah, 41 weeks today.

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Dayjoy said:

This post almost brought tears to my eyes. Is that weird?

Oh yeah, 41 weeks today.

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Leslie_C said:

@Dayjoy omg it just made me kind of sad too that she wont be posting here anymore!


@NJoy, before you throw up the deuces for good, share what your regimen is gonna be! You have a ton of hair at 17 months...I love it! Congrats!

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Linxnme said:

NJoy congrats!! I will be there in about....uh....21 months. Way to go. You give me hope of retaining most of my length before i finally Bc. I am currently between APL and BSL. I should be full BSL by year end.

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Leslie_C said:

@daviine, I know what you mean, my relaxed/texlaxed hair at its prime was pretty nice and I miss it, but the way I see it that hair is gone and even if I relaxed now it wouldnt be the same head of hair anyway bc I had suffered some damage before transitioning, then I did a pretty major chop to get rid of thin ends, and even with optimal haircare there is going to be some demarcation line breakage....so even if I hypothetically did give in and relax or texlax, Im fairly certain I wouldnt be happy with the outcome lol. So I might as well ride it out and on the other side of the rainbow will be a head full of healthy, natural hair. Its the limbo period that is hard.

Im also getting excited that I seem to be getting hair that is starting to clump into those penspring curls in certain areas. Pretty cool.

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NJoy said:

Welp ladies. I think I'm gonna hop off this train and BC tonight.

I was gonna do it earlier today but, hubby was sweating me and making me all nervous. As if I'm not nervous enough already.

So. Here I go. Geronimooooooooo.......!!!!


Oh, and I'm gonna try to video tape it...just in case it may be useful to someone else.

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daviine said:

Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Video! Yaaaaayyyyyy!!!!!! Can't wait!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!

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NJoy said:

Well, I wasn't able to record the actual bc (kids lost my power cord to my camera). But, I did take lots of pics. Did you see my post with pics yet? Please come see!

I love it so much and am so glad that I went ahead and BC'd. I'm also glad that I waited to get some length too. It's so friggen soft. I love it!

So, that's adios for me in this thread. Good luck to all of you. I hope you're as thrilled as I am when you finally decide to do it.

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Sade18 said:

After putting it off for over two months, I finally got around to clarifying my hair. I didn't mean to go that long. I usually clarify about once a month to get rid of build up, but I've been too lazy to get the ACV (I no longer use shampoos). So I kept on co-washing.

Over time I noticed a difference in how my new growth acted. It was more tightly shrunken, less defined and unable to retain moisture as well. I'm pretty sure that ya'll know that less moisture = difficult new growth. So I figured it was time that I stop being lazy.

I will say that clarifying with my ACV mix last night was the best thing I could've done for my new growth. I noticed more defined curls, less shrunken and more manageable new growth. Most importantly, my hair feels super moisturized and I did nothing but rinse with ACV. No conditioner or anything!!

So for those having issues with their new growth, I would say that maybe product build up is causing an issue so your new growth is rebelling as a result.

I hope everyone's transition is going well!!!

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daviine said:

Sade18

Do you mind sharing your ratio of ACV to water? Sorry if I asked this already.

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Leslie_C said:

Quick! Talk me down ladies lol....Ive been thinking about BCing all day and the Mr is telling me to go for it and hyping me up......

daviine....we are here > < Im constantly thinking about what if breakage at the demarcation line travels up the shaft and damages my natural hair.

Im just afraid Ill be unhappy and not be able to do anything with the 4 inches of hair Ill be left with if I cut now. And I have to go to work tomorrow so if I hate it Ill be forced to go to work looking like whatever. But part of me wants to take a chance and hope I fall in love with it. But isnt this kind of the awkward stage at about 8 months in? It wouldnt be quite a TWA but not quite enough to do much with either....right?

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Leslie_C said:

Quick! Talk me down ladies lol....Ive been thinking about BCing all day and the Mr is telling me to go for it and hyping me up......

daviine....we are here > < Im constantly thinking about what if breakage at the demarcation line travels up the shaft and damages my natural hair.

Im just afraid Ill be unhappy and not be able to do anything with the 4 inches of hair Ill be left with if I cut now. And I have to go to work tomorrow so if I hate it Ill be forced to go to work looking like whatever. But part of me wants to take a chance and hope I fall in love with it. But isnt this kind of the awkward stage at about 8 months in? It wouldnt be quite a TWA but not quite enough to do much with either....right?

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Leslie_C said:

Quick! Talk me down ladies lol....Ive been thinking about BCing all day and the Mr is telling me to go for it and hyping me up......

daviine....we are here > < Im constantly thinking about what if breakage at the demarcation line travels up the shaft and damages my natural hair.

Im just afraid Ill be unhappy and not be able to do anything with the 4 inches of hair Ill be left with if I cut now. And I have to go to work tomorrow so if I hate it Ill be forced to go to work looking like whatever. But part of me wants to take a chance and hope I fall in love with it. But isnt this kind of the awkward stage at about 8 months in? It wouldnt be quite a TWA but not quite enough to do much with either....right?

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SqrpioQutie said:

i'm headed to Texas next week... would it be a waste of money to go to the Dominicans for a blowout before i go??... i know nothing of the weather there...

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NJoy said:

How far are you into your transition?

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daviine said:

@Leslie_C
I don't know what the official awkward stage is but it's called awkward for a reason. Today is not the day to BC. You need a plan for this so-called awkward stage (stylewise). Also you should choose a night when you have the following day/days off. You might need time for shaping up, attitude adjustment, admiration or crying.... Don't listen to the hubby-- he's like mine.

Go visit Njoy's BC thread and look at videos of people BCing who long term transitioned. Or look for folks who transitioned at around the same length. Do this instead of BCing tonight. Then we'll do this again in a few days or so.

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Leslie_C said:

SqrpioQutie Texas is HUMID as heck lol. I wouldnt bother bc Im sure it would last for about 2.5 seconds once you hit the air there.

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Leslie_C said:

Thanks daviine, thats exactly what I needed to hear! The voice of reason!!!You are right...this takes planning and Im not that spontaneous of a person anyway! Off to youtube to watch long term transition videos. Thx for the pep talk!

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daviine said:

Do any of you guys just wet/rinse your hair instead of cowashing?

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Leslie_C said:

Quick! Talk me down ladies lol....Ive been thinking about BCing all day and the Mr is telling me to go for it and hyping me up......

daviine....we are here > < Im constantly thinking about what if breakage at the demarcation line travels up the shaft and damages my natural hair.

Im just afraid Ill be unhappy and not be able to do anything with the 4 inches of hair Ill be left with if I cut now. And I have to go to work tomorrow so if I hate it Ill be forced to go to work looking like whatever. But part of me wants to take a chance and hope I fall in love with it. But isnt this kind of the awkward stage at about 8 months in? It wouldnt be quite a TWA but not quite enough to do much with either....right?

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SqrpioQutie said:

i'm headed to Texas next week... would it be a waste of money to go to the Dominicans for a blowout before i go??... i know nothing of the weather there...

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ZebraPrintLover said:

SqrpioQutie as Leslie_C stated its HUMID as HECK out here. Im in Houston. Today was 93 max but I just got into the house and it was cool as far as weather goes with it being 73 at 1045pm. I say dont waste your money or time.....

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Leslie_C said:

@SqrpioQutie Texas is HUMID as heck lol. I wouldnt bother bc Im sure it would last for about 2.5 seconds once you hit the air there.




@NJoy Im only 7.5 months in.... I swear it looks like I have a decent amount of hair to work with, but Im sure the relaxed ends weighing the new growth down are making it seem longer. Im willing to bet with the ends cut off and shrinkage it will bead right up into a twa lol. I really doubt Id like a twa on myself, although it looks great on some people.

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