For the first 7 or 8 months, I got rollersets at the salon (whenever I wanted it straight) and then I let them flat iron my NG. I really never have had any problems at all with the 2 textures, it's just that it took me transitioning to figure out that I have to be verrrry gentle when detangling your hair. I have an easier time detangling now than I ever had when I was 100% relaxed.
I have never liked blow dryers and flat irons and used them sparingly when I was relaxed (didn't even really own one) so that was my drawback when considering to transition. I kept wondering what I would do to my hair when I wanted it straightened. As I neared the year mark of my transition, this one stylist (who was really good at pulling my NG so tight around the magnetic rollers the first few months that she didn't need to flat iron the NG) told me it was time to start fully blow drying and flat ironing. I was really nervous and scared b/c I was afraid of the breakage. But I didn't wear my hair straight that often anyway. Although if you are letting a professional do it and not getting it done every week, you will probably be fine if you want to transition that way.
After the year's mark whenever I would get my hair blow dried and flat ironed, I stopped letting them blow dry it straight because the difference in the NG and the relaxed parts were just too obvious, so the way I disguised it was to let the stylist curl my hair with the flat iron (after flat ironing it) and then maintaining the curls with a single flexirod. When it was curly like that, (like in my avatar and siggy) you couldn't tell the difference between the relaxed and the NG. Each time I would get it done (probably every 90 days), I would get a few inches cut off. It was very gradual. The "biggest" chop I have had is about 4 inches at one time. Even then, my hair was a couple of inches above my bra strap.
For a while, I tried the flat twists. I like them better than braid outs because all the hair looks uniform and wavy and you really can't tell the difference. Although I have very few relaxed ends, I don't do them often because the natural hair is much thicker and it would literally take almost an entire weekend to dry.
I have been bracing myself for getting rid of the remaining ends and what the maintenance would be on my hair. I can't say that I am looking forward to it b/c I am still at a loss.
I'm sorry for rambling but I hope that helps a bit.
BB