Have any Naturals/Relaxers forgotten what it's like on the "other side"?

[nysister]

Yes unfortunately I remember well. In May it will be a year since my Big Cut. My hair was thinning in places (I didn't even know, I though it was my natural hairline :/ )
It never really was too straight anyway, and I thought it was normal to have little broken hairs all over the place. I "straightened" my hair the other day and wanted to bawl, I realize that I really am my hair now. It's a part of me, in a way that it never was before.

 

[Bigmommah]

I've been relaxed for over 30 years now to varying degrees. As an adult the year that I didn't perm my hair in an effort to try something new had to be one of the most traumatic I've experienced. My scalp is sensitive so braiding hurt. My hair is very thick so I reached the stage where I looked like I was wearing a poodle with a pomeranian on top very quickly and to top it off having my hair straightened lasted about 2 days. I know that many ladies here do a big chop when transitioning but I had no desire to look like SUPER Mrs. Potato Head so that wasn't an option.

All that being said, I love my texlaxed 'do and other than the fact that it doesn't dry completely after a work out I wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

[ParagonTresses]

I'm glad I don't remember what it was like for me as a relaxed head, I had very unhealthy hair practices then...

 

[LatterGlory]

You two are gorgeous examples of texlaxing they need to put yall on the perm box!

Aww, thanks love.:Blush2:

ETA: However, I would not like my hair to be on a perm box. ;-)

 

[MsLizziA]

Im not going to say if forgot, but lawd knows it would be traumatizing to ever go back!

 

[Nina_deF]

It's only been over a year for me so yes, I remember.

Just the other day I was running my hand through my hair and it hit me that I had no 8 week NG irritating me. No hard, hated mat close to my scalp ruining my swang.
THAT is nice!

 

[anon123]

I think my last relaxer was like 15 years ago or something, so yeah, I've forgotten what it's like to have relaxed hair. I have an idea of what I would do if I were relaxed, but it's all theory. And I know as well as anyone that what's good in theory doesn't always work out in practice.

 

[Eritreladiee]

There isn't really much to forget because I really didn't do much to my hair when it was relaxed. Just washed every other day, spent 20 minutes blow drying, then applied John Freida's flawless finishing creme on my ends. Now it takes much longer when I straighten .

Oh I HATED that feeling I'd get when I'd see new growth, like DAMMIT! it almost made me hate my hair texture.

 

[tada1]

I'm relaxed now. Was natural for 6 or 7 years. Was texturized before and in between that. Was jack-laxed during childhood.

 

[Britt]

I really have absolutely no real recollection of my natural hair. I beggggged my mom for a relaxer and she caved in when I was 10. I do toy w/ the idea of going natural sometimes especially since being on this board and learning about natural hair, however, I still don't think I'd be able to manage it right . I think it's one of those things where I'd definetely figure it out once I have it.

 

[Aviah]

I'm not trying to take any credit away from carib n curly, but generally speaking most people didn't have a choice. I remember the, "How Old Were You When You Had Your First Relaxer," thread and the vast majority were between 6-10.

I honestly think more girls would choose not to relax if their moms didn't make this choice for them out of "convenience".

Very true, I guess I took it for granted that I had the choice. I think more girls would choose to stay natural if they were shown its versatility. I thought it was always thought to comb, and you can never leave it out without it shrinking, firzzing and knotting. My mom hardly ever let me have my hair out. I was told relaxing was the only way for a lot of styles to be achieved.
Not true!

 

[BostonMaria]

My last relaxer was 3 1/2 years ago and there's nothing about it I miss.

Now if someone were stupid enough to pay me $1 million dollars I'd be all over it LOL What I would do different is stretch my relaxer, do my own relaxers, and absolutely no going to the salon. All that blow drying is what killed my hair years ago. My hair was relaxed for over 25 years.

 

[vainღ♥♡jane]

no i haven't forgotten what its like to be relaxed. ♥

 

[Eluv]

I was natural for 3yrs and the only thing I miss is the fullness in my buns/french rolls (I have fine/thin SL hair).

I texlaxed 2 months ago and I love it. IMHO it's just easier to tame. Oh and since I'm a very slow grower, I wouldn't need to relax as often. So far I'm 9 weeks post and I just think stretching is too easy, maybe because I'm already accustom to my natural hair texture and I’m pretty sure I only get 3” of new growth a year. Now if I start to notice any breakage I will recant "stretching is too easy".

Actually it was all the knowledge that I learned from LHCF that made me realize that my hair will grow with a relaxer with healthy hair practices. BTW these are things I never did before when I was relaxed.

• DC at least once a week
• Limit heat use 2-3x a year (In high School - I flat ironed daily) (As an Adult- I wrapped nightly)
• Protein/Moisture Balance
• Moisturize & Seal daily
• Protective Styles
• Relaxer Stretching
• Double Base my scalp before relaxing (I have sensitive scalp)
• Relaxer processing time, 5 minutes tops (My fine hair straightens quickly)

 

[UrbainChic]

Very true, I guess I took it for granted that I had the choice. I think more girls would choose to stay natural if they were shown its versatility. I thought it was always thought to comb, and you can never leave it out without it shrinking, firzzing and knotting. My mom hardly ever let me have my hair out. I was told relaxing was the only way for a lot of styles to be achieved.
Not true!

I have a similar experience. I BEGGED for a relaxer and I very very rarely got to walk around with my hair out. Mostly because my mom was doing my hair, and she did not want to spend all that time detangling it that often, didnt think i could do it and also relaxing was also treated as a right of passage into adulthood!

 

[yamilee21]

... I thought it was always thought to comb, and you can never leave it out without it shrinking, firzzing and knotting. My mom hardly ever let me have my hair out. I was told relaxing was the only way for a lot of styles to be achieved. ...

Mine either. Once when I was about 7 or 8 years old, my parents were doing my hair, it was loose, and my brother came in and said, "It's so beautiful, why can't she wear it like that?" And my parents were horrified at him, "No, her hair can't stay like that; she looks wild and crazy."