I Was Healthier Relaxed....

[Netta1]

It just takes a little patience thats all....there are naturals who don't let their hair shrink all the way in order to decrease tangles....

I however was a natural who would let my hair shrink 99% of the time-this made my detangling process longer and more painful...

My hair is 100x thicker and longer as a natural. Natural hair was easier to deal with overall compared to my relaxed hair. ----Levels of "Difficulty" will depend on what it is your trying to do to your natural hair. When you are trying to get your natural hair to do something it does not want to do...thats when your frustration will begin.

 

[xyra]

If you're low maintenence that means that you simply have to research low maintenence styles for naturals....for example I'm a long haired COARSE tightly coily type 4a with high density hair (thick) and I have done nothing but wash/co-wash and go for the last month...why? Because I've had My Mini-Twists in. Another low maintenece style is Pixie Braids or the crochet braids in my siggy that has lasted me a month and a half before. All you have to do is do some searches ask some questions and make it work. Being natural is what you make of it. You can make it fit into any lifestyle....you just have to always be willing to learn new techniques and new styles....thats all

I have tried a lot of styles including braid outs, twist outs, wash and gos, and buns. However, nothing turned out successful. I am trying to stay away from braids right now, because the last person who braided my hair caused some damage to my hair. I used to have an amazing braider about 4 years ago, but she changed her phone number again and I haven't been able to locate her.

I'm at the point now where I need new products to transition with, but the problem is I do not know what works for my hair. I feel the need to keep my hair straightened, because I feel it is more manageable for me. I have already spent hundreds of dollars on hair products (by choice) and I just cannot afford to do anymore experiments. I was thinking about getting the Brazilian Keratin Treatment done, but thats $100+ that I just cannot afford right now. Even if I chose to do it at home I would still need to invest in a flat iron that can get up to the recommended heat level, and something about using 450 degree worth of heat on my hair bothers me anyway.

I'm sure I'll figure something out. If I decide to texlax, I will try using no heat since I will be able to pull my hair into a bun more easily. I suppose I'll see what happens. Thanks for the advice though.

 

[swimfan09]

Facinating post! I am one of those people whose hair seems to be healthier relaxed. As a child, I had my hair hot-combed and much of it was "fried" off. Then I spent several years as a braided natural. I relaxed my hair and it has been relaxed ever since. Once I started not using heat at all, my hair started growing and it is now the longest it has ever been.

I am so glad that many women embrace natural hair and maybe one day, I too will transition back. But for right now, my hair relaxed seems to handle my abuses better - like I don't wear a scarf at night most nights.

 

[chelleypie810]

^^glad to know I'm not the only one not wearing a scarf.

 

[KnitChick]

Thank's for your comments ladies!
I'm getting a BKT this weekend so i'm sure this will help with my scissor happiness and those damn ssk's I will keep you posted and maybe a pic or twoif i'm feeling daring

 

[Anew]

Do you think you were ready to go natural when you did? My first so called transition ended 6 months b/c I was 50/50 with going natural vs staying relaxed. I knew immediately after relaxing I made a mistake. I haven't had the displeasure of the natural whoa's just yet, partly b/c I'm newly natural and also b/c I'm in two strand twists.

I would reccommend doing a DC more often and using conditioners that have more moisture. I'm no hair expert but I know when I was relaxed that helped me out a lot

 

[Poohbear]

My hair thrived with relaxer too. Now that my hair is natural, it's thriving, however, I've never had so many split ends in my life. I never had split ends when I had relaxed hair, whether I used heat or not, and whether I combed my hair alot or not. I'm starting to think that split ends are inevitable for naturally tightly coiled and kinky hair.

 

[bludaydreamr]

I have tried a lot of styles including braid outs, twist outs, wash and gos, and buns. However, nothing turned out successful. I am trying to stay away from braids right now, because the last person who braided my hair caused some damage to my hair. I used to have an amazing braider about 4 years ago, but she changed her phone number again and I haven't been able to locate her.

I'm at the point now where I need new products to transition with, but the problem is I do not know what works for my hair. I feel the need to keep my hair straightened, because I feel it is more manageable for me. I have already spent hundreds of dollars on hair products (by choice) and I just cannot afford to do anymore experiments. I was thinking about getting the Brazilian Keratin Treatment done, but thats $100+ that I just cannot afford right now. Even if I chose to do it at home I would still need to invest in a flat iron that can get up to the recommended heat level, and something about using 450 degree worth of heat on my hair bothers me anyway.

I'm sure I'll figure something out. If I decide to texlax, I will try using no heat since I will be able to pull my hair into a bun more easily. I suppose I'll see what happens. Thanks for the advice though.

The bold is something I can relate too. For the last 3 years my hairs needs have consistently changed, so have my styling options. You also have to be willing to except your natural hair for what it will and will not do. I agree with other posters that said give it more time. Start paying more attention to product ingredients so you can narrow down the things your hair may not respond well too. 'dI look into drugstore products, for conditioners, and moisturizers, and try to finish them before you purchase something else.

HTH!

 

[SweetSpirit86]

and I am a trimmer... I hate split and uneven ends. I have been natural about 8 1/2 and I have about 3 1/2 to 4 inches of hair stretched....that seems like slow growth to me If I was relaxed I would definitely have more length...

This...that's not bad when you consider the fact that you trim often. As much as we'd like to believe it doesn't, it adds up. Depending on how much you've trimmed, it may not be that you have slow growth, just you cut faster than your hair grows. Either way...do what you feel is best. If you like your hair better relaxed and cut short, then do that. If you want to keep trying natural, then do that. I do feel that I had less trouble with splits and knots when I was relaxed...actually, I didn't have knots at all. I'm still amazed when I see a bonelaxed woman on here state that she has SSKs. I can only think "how is that possible?" However, I made a pact with myself to keep pushing, so push I shall.

My biggest problem is that my drive is indeed wearing. I'm tired of the seemingly endless split ends no matter what I do, and the one time I felt brave enough to touch a flatiron again, my split ends increased so now I'm scared again, lol. I really feel like maybe it's just because when I started this, I didn't know enough, and maybe if I relaxed my hair all the way, cut off all the split ends, and started a long-term transition, things would work out better.

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

I have tried a lot of styles including braid outs, twist outs, wash and gos, and buns. However, nothing turned out successful. I am trying to stay away from braids right now, because the last person who braided my hair caused some damage to my hair. I used to have an amazing braider about 4 years ago, but she changed her phone number again and I haven't been able to locate her.

I did both the pixie braids and the mini twists myself....you should give it a try....you can do it little by little....when you're done you have a style that can last you a month or even weeks if you wanted. You should give it a try....the twists are definitely much simpler to take down btw.

I'm at the point now where I need new products to transition with, but the problem is I do not know what works for my hair. I feel the need to keep my hair straightened, because I feel it is more manageable for me.

Totally understand....I spent years doing that in the beginning of my journey as I was getting my styling skills up

I have already spent hundreds of dollars on hair products (by choice) and I just cannot afford to do anymore experiments.

Aww...so sorry to hear that. I think as you begin to find staples for your hair you'll find that all your hair needs is basic cheap everyday products.

I was thinking about getting the Brazilian Keratin Treatment done, but thats $100+ that I just cannot afford right now. Even if I chose to do it at home I would still need to invest in a flat iron that can get up to the recommended heat level, and something about using 450 degree worth of heat on my hair bothers me anyway.

I'm sure I'll figure something out. If I decide to texlax, I will try using no heat since I will be able to pull my hair into a bun more easily. I suppose I'll see what happens. Thanks for the advice though.

My pleasure

 

[kimmy89]

Same here OP I was natural for a year and a half and my hair was in bad shape,at least when I straightened it anyway. It was soooo thin (naturally it was massive, pls see siggy). I think I used too much moisture, I hardly ever used protein, but I did everything else, I DCed until the cows came home, cowashed, dusted my ends, moisturised and protective styled, you name it. (Although, now I think about it I think the constant weaving affected my thickness as well so, no more weaves for me)

The only reason I went natural in the first place is because I used the Phyto relaxer that broke my hair, now I'm texturized with Arosci Texturizer and planning to to do a corrective Texlax tomorrow with either motions (I love this stuff) or ORS Lye. I'll keep my protein up from now on, natural or relaxed my hair loves it!

 

[prospurr4]

I totally understand OP. I've experienced it all...natural, relaxed-straight, and now texlaxed, and I prefer my texlaxed hair. You have to do what's best for YOU!