Dilemma! 4b's please help..what would you do?

[4cpleez]

Hi Ladies! I just found out I am going to Afghanistan in 2 weeks...I am trying to grow my hair which has never been longer than 4B neck length...uhm still isnt but one day.. Anyway I am currently 3 months post and was thinking of getting my hair relaxed.. but with the new situation of going to the hot desert for 6 months I am not sure if i should:
a. Relax
b. Braid it up
c. Keep it in my pigtail and cowash and stretch for 6 months
d. Something else?

For those who pick a, c or d can you suggest a reggie??
THANKS IN ADVANCE TO ALL WHO ANSWER!

 

[arosieworld]

I would co wash and pony, with that heat you'll be HL by the time you get back!

 

[lea86111]

i'd say do a good protein treatment ad dc then braid it up and moisturize it with a good spray moisturizer and wash it every so often. =)

 

[wontonfm]

I vote for stretching. I'm 1 year post right now and it isn't that bad. Maybe consider investing in some phony ponys or halfwigs if things get rough.

If you were going to be away for 3-4 months I'd say get braids but after 6 months you'll likely experience matting and breakage which won't help you achieve your goals.

Good luck overseas!

 

[Chan_USMC]

I say braid it up in micros and keep it for 3 months and then braid to the scalp every 2 weeks if you know how. If not you could always bun it on wet hair let it dry and only deal with it weekly.

 

[Nonie]

How long will you be there? 6 months?

If you knew how to do your own braids, I'd say braid it, because you can maintain the braids while you're out there.

If not, I say get some S Curl and do what Arosieworld suggested. Braid-out and twist-outs may also help.

Alternatively, since you've stretched for 3 months, you know how you feel about dealing with type 4B hair. Can you handle 9 months of growth of it? Or do you think you can only do baby steps so that now that you did 3 months, you may want to relax and then try out the 6 month stretch?

 

[4cpleez]

Thanks to all the ladies that answered so far! You all are great!!!

No I never knew how to do my hair at all my whole life! I just started researching how to keep hair on my head when I found LHCF and I am happy for the small victory of the pigtail because my own ignorance always led me to cutting off my "bad hair" but you ladies are so inspiring.

I usually go to the salon every 10 days and have her wash condtion and then put a phony bun on .. thats how sorry i am.. so thats why i need a real simple style and reggie.. I knew you ladies could help.

 

[Evallusion]

I would get a touch up...dc...and braid it up...the braids won't last the whole six months, but when you take them down, at least the new growth will be more manageable. Then you can just pony/bun it up.

 

[lilsparkle825]

I usually go to the salon every 10 days and have her wash condtion and then put a phony bun on .. thats how sorry i am.. so thats why i need a real simple style and reggie.. I knew you ladies could help.

See, this is something you could do yourself. Just because you have never taken care of your hair doesn't mean you can't start now. You are in the perfect place to learn to take care of and grow your hair.

My advice to you would be to braid it up. Do you know how to plait? Do you know how to cornrow? Take a look at your skill set, and try to expand it in the two weeks you have left before you leave. If you do know how to plait, learn how to do your own box braids. They're super easy, and then you can buy a few packs of hair and pack them to take with you. Just redo them every two months, and touch up the edges as needed. What may be even better is learning to cornrow....then you can wear cornrows with a bun in the back. That would be super simple to keep moisturized, and you wouldn't have to worry about getting touchups or dealing with the two textures on your head.

I would not advise you to try to stretch for that length of time without access to your stylist, since it is something you have never really done before. You could potentially come back with a bad setback. I also would not advise micros, since I rarely hear good things about them. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[4cpleez]

hey thx lil sparkle.. i agree i need to learn how to do my own hair.. i will speak for myself when i blame the texture intimidating me! I am not going to lie ...I really could not wait for my relaxer and i only have maybe an inch of new growth after 3 months, so another 6? i was hoping a lot of ppl would say.. yeah u could do it gurl.. but i right now i think braids are winning

 

[Chan_USMC]

What are your future plans with relaxing? Keep relaxing, transition or go natural? Don't worry about being sorry LOL. When I first joined the military I was in the same boat, being in places were black ppl are rare forced me to learn how to do my hair. And I still can't do a lot of styles. I can't braid to the scalp, french braid or even do flat twists. But I'm learning with time and you will too. As far as Micros are concered I know a lot of Marines that wear them in the field and on deployments(I'm cheap so I just stuck to buns before I cut my hair.) w/o any problems as long as they are well mositurized and cared for. Depending on witch branch you are in you could also do twists (very simple yet time consuming) or do plaits all over. I would suggest protective styling because Afgan can be exeremly HOT and FREEZING on the same day. And the sand out there is as fine as baby powder and gets EVERYWHERE.

 

[4cpleez]

Hey thanx Chan for the support.. I got back from Iraq in 2009 for the first 3 months i had micros then cornrows for 6 months, then i said bump it and just slicked down an itty bitty pigtail once i found LHCF. I just got a relaxer after almost 2 yrs of "transitioning" 3 months ago.. I honestly dont even know if my hair is 4b it seems off the chart because the 4bs i c on this forum look like their hair is straight compared to mineerplexed my hair gotta be 4z! I honestly don't know if i should continue to relax it or go natural because my hair looks crazy.. i need to start a thread asking someone to diagnose my hair ailments.. but i am afraid yall will tell me to cut it all off and start over NOOOOOOO!

 

[lilsparkle825]

Hey thanx Chan for the support.. I got back from Iraq in 2009 for the first 3 months i had micros then cornrows for 6 months, then i said bump it and just slicked down an itty bitty pigtail once i found LHCF. I just got a relaxer after almost 2 yrs of "transitioning" 3 months ago.. I honestly dont even know if my hair is 4b it seems off the chart because the 4bs i c on this forum look like their hair is straight compared to mineerplexed my hair gotta be 4z! I honestly don't know if i should continue to relax it or go natural because my hair looks crazy.. i need to start a thread asking someone to diagnose my hair ailments.. but i am afraid yall will tell me to cut it all off and start over NOOOOOOO!

If your hair is dry or damaged, it will be hard to tell your hair type. Why don't you post a pic of your new growth and let us see?

And you might as well use this thread that you already made to let us know your "ailments". I'm sure it's not something as serious as you think.

 

[lynnstar]

I say have it braided up before you leave.

Take some braiding hair with you (enough for 3 more installs) because I'm sure (if you are in the military) there will be someone over there who can do another install for you in a few months.

Also take a few bottles of moisturizing spray.

 

[4cpleez]

ur right sparkle, ok imma hav to figure out how to post pics... if my hair is considered damaged imma be highly upset. No more smileys.

 

[4cpleez]

I say have it braided up before you leave.

Take some braiding hair with you (enough for 3 more installs) because I'm sure (if you are in the military) there will be someone over there who can do another install for you in a few months.

Also take a few bottles of moisturizing spray.

thx lynnstar, thats what i did last year when i was in Iraq onyl problem was the braiders in the military were really undependable.. because they were making all that tax free combat pay.. i hated being in that position but desperate times call for desperate measures..

 

[4cpleez]

If your hair is dry or damaged, it will be hard to tell your hair type. Why don't you post a pic of your new growth and let us see?

And you might as well use this thread that you already made to let us know your "ailments". I'm sure it's not something as serious as you think.

I will bump this thread on Monday after I get one of my coworkers to take and upload pics of my hair so please stay tuned so i can get ur opinion.

 

[Tiye]

I would get a touch up...dc...and braid it up...the braids won't last the whole six months, but when you take them down, at least the new growth will be more manageable. Then you can just pony/bun it up.

They can.

Some people freshen up the perimeter or even the whole head gradually and keep them all year.

I don't know what OP's living conditions or schedule is going to be like in Afghanistan and maybe she doesn't know yet either, but cowashing may not be a fit. To be on the safe side I'd show up in braids.

 

[Chan_USMC]

Hey thanx Chan for the support.. I got back from Iraq in 2009 for the first 3 months i had micros then cornrows for 6 months, then i said bump it and just slicked down an itty bitty pigtail once i found LHCF. I just got a relaxer after almost 2 yrs of "transitioning" 3 months ago.. I honestly dont even know if my hair is 4b it seems off the chart because the 4bs i c on this forum look like their hair is straight compared to mineerplexed my hair gotta be 4z! I honestly don't know if i should continue to relax it or go natural because my hair looks crazy.. i need to start a thread asking someone to diagnose my hair ailments.. but i am afraid yall will tell me to cut it all off and start over NOOOOOOO!

Sorry about the late reply. I'm. Sure your hair isn't has bad as it seems and it surly isn't unfixable. I thought my ends were gonners a month ago but thanks to the ladies here I tried protien the very thing I was running away from. And you know what? My hair has NEVERFELT BETTER. That and a lot of protective styling, I realized that my hair doesn't like to be worn out too often and once I stopped doing that it got better. Whatever you do just get your hair healtyand it will be a lot easier to take care of either way. Honestly tho I'm not a very big fan of hair typing I'm not even sure I typed mine right. Typing really doesn't tell me squat about my hair cause what works for a lot of 4s doesn't work for my hair, I use it. For styling purposes only to see what styles I might be able to achevie. Shrugs. Lol anyway post pics I'm sure these lovly ladies could help so you don't get frustrated and pull a brit.

 

[akgirl]

I would braid it honestly. I always get my best growth that way. And they are easy to maintain when you're having to focus on work and our country I had micros with a loose curly texture on most of the length, I let the braider do them the first time. Then I just kept redo-ing the ones she had previously done for 2 or 3 years. My hair got really long this way.

 

[locabouthair]

If you braid it, dont braid it too tightly and take a break bwtn braids to prevent any damage to the hairline.

 

[Nonie]

4cpleez, I love braids, but I'm the first one to tell you that if you don't know how to do your own braids, don't do it.

Will you be able to get them redone after 2 months? Also what will you do when the hairline gets loose? If you don't redo that pronto, your hair will break off. Also you will need to have control of how much hair is used per section.

My suggestion would be to touch up and then get S Curl and start using it on your new growth, and be sure to comb your new growth so that it stays soft and detangled, and maybe baggy nightly. Then maybe do braid-outs when your hair grows a bit so you keep your new growth stretched at night when in braids and not manipulate it much when wearing your hair out.

4B hair has to be plaited at night, and S Curl keeps it soft if you plait and baggy. You don't need to apply every day if you baggy.

Braids are great if you get them done properly and if you have someone to redo them for you as needed. Otherwise they can be detrimental to your hair journey. Fine 4s is one of the hair veterans but even she recently had a bad experience with braids. So if this isn't something you do regularly and are comfortable with, I say now's not the time to take a gamble. Better the devil you know than the one you don't.

 

[Gigi-07]

I would do braids. Our type is not the easiest type when it comes to stretching relaxers. The 2 textures are just too different. Do the individual type of braids that aren't too small so they don't pull out your edges. I don't know if while you're in the desert, you will have access to someone who can keep the braids on your hairline fresh (or if you can do them yourself), but that would be the best choice for you IMO. Relaxing would be second best.

 

[4cpleez]

4cpleez, I love braids, but I'm the first one to tell you that if you don't know how to do your own braids, don't do it.

Will you be able to get them redone after 2 months? Also what will you do when the hairline gets loose? If you don't redo that pronto, your hair will break off. Also you will need to have control of how much hair is used per section.

My suggestion would be to touch up and then get S Curl and start using it on your new growth, and be sure to comb your new growth so that it stays soft and detangled, and maybe baggy nightly. Then maybe do braid-outs when your hair grows a bit so you keep your new growth stretched at night when in braids and not manipulate it much when wearing your hair out.

4B hair has to be plaited at night, and S Curl keeps it soft if you plait and baggy. You don't need to apply every day if you baggy.

Braids are great if you get them done properly and if you have someone to redo them for you as needed. Otherwise they can be detrimental to your hair journey. Fine 4s is one of the hair veterans but even she recently had a bad experience with braids. So if this isn't something you do regularly and are comfortable with, I say now's not the time to take a gamble. Better the devil you know than the one you don't.

Nonie, THANK YOU!!! I feel like you can feel my pain... I put braids in the poll but i really didnt expect so many to think it was the way to go ESPECIALLY when I have to depend on someone else for the service in a somewhat remote area.erplexed

I wonder why people are against the touch up with a protein dc/moisture dc every week???

 

[PistolWhip]

(B) braids for $200 Alex(Jeopardy)

 

[lilsparkle825]

Honestly tho I'm not a very big fan of hair typing I'm not even sure I typed mine right. Typing really doesn't tell me squat about my hair cause what works for a lot of 4s doesn't work for my hair, I use it. For styling purposes only to see what styles I might be able to achevie. Shrugs.

I actually kinda feel you on that one. What helped me the MOST was learning what other ladies with fine strands do, since I feel like my hair is so prone to breakage doing simple things others with not-so-fine strands do (ie detangling under the shower head). I wanted to discover my hair type so I could see other regimens and ESPECIALLY other hair styles.

Nonie, THANK YOU!!! I feel like you can feel my pain... I put braids in the poll but i really didnt expect so many to think it was the way to go ESPECIALLY when I have to depend on someone else for the service in a somewhat remote area.erplexed

I wonder why people are against the touch up with a protein dc/moisture dc every week???

*scratches head* if that's what you wanted, then why did you make the poll? it seems like you just wanted a whole bunch of people to tell you to get the touchup, which is what you were already leaning towards...so the other choices shouldn't have been in there...silly me, i came in here actually thinking you wanted DIFFERENT opinions. erplexed

alright then, i change my answer. buy a liter of DC and roll with that. good luck!

 

[Chan_USMC]

I'm not against the touch up it's just that eventually (6weeks) you're going to have to deal with the 2 textures anyway and you already know how to care for it being that you transistioned for so long already AND you are unsure of weather or not you're even going to keep relaxing. If it gets to be too much maybe you could get someone to send you relaxer in a care package, and have someone do it for you. Sorry I couldn't be more help as I didn't have to deal with it because I went natural in garrision. I CAN tell you that Kakelon(or however you spell it is super cheap and you can take tons of it with you wraped around your stuff in your seabag.

 

[SweetSpirit86]

Braid it up. My friend was over there recently and she calls the water "poison water." It left her hair feeling like straw and some of it had started to fall out. The less you have to do with it, the better.

 

[4cpleez]

Nope. I honestly wanted advice and what other 4bs would/did do in the situation to keep their hair on their head. I was just saying i did come in thinking folks would tell me to continue to dc and moisturize.. i didnt think braids would run away with the consensus.

The only obstacle I have to face with the braids is a. I can't do them and b. I have to depend on someone else and c. Those braiders in the middle east are UNDEPENDABLE.. and thats what i was thanking Nonie for.. the realization that I would possibly have to beg and plead for my braid touch ups and that it was an uncertain if I could do them myself or have someone else do it. Braids still are an option.. I was practicing earlier today

Additionally I was asking for a simple reggie for 4b relaxed whether in braids or not as I cannot get it right ..torn between the s/curl and the freeking olive oil...I thought i put the disclaimer out that my hair is a mess and its my fault.. I was just tryna be honest

 

[4cpleez]

I'm not against the touch up it's just that eventually (6weeks) you're going to have to deal with the 2 textures anyway and you already know how to care for it being that you transistioned for so long already AND you are unsure of weather or not you're even going to keep relaxing. If it gets to be too much maybe you could get someone to send you relaxer in a care package, and have someone do it for you. Sorry I couldn't be more help as I didn't have to deal with it because I went natural in garrision. I CAN tell you that Kakelon(or however you spell it is super cheap and you can take tons of it with you wraped around your stuff in your seabag.

You all are a great help because some of your reasonings for your answers are things that i didnt consider or forgot about as to how the situation is over there..no time, sometimes no water, sandy, hot, sweaty.. etc.. so believe me I want to give you all a BIG THANKS.. and as a matter of fact I just got done trimming an inch off my entire head...inspired by the do it your self posts..oh this is a big deal for me