Transitioning without BC'ing Support Thread

[LivingDoll]

Dec 20th I'll be 7 months post! I wouldn't have made it without wigs and weaves. I started from a short do, so about half my hair is natural now. I'm not planning to BC at all. I'll just continue trimming the relaxed ends off. Thanks for the inspiration ladies!

 

[Hersheygurl]

I'm so proud of all of the ladies that are still going strong. I am almost 15 months post and I can't believe how fast the time has flown by! I was almost ready to cut around 8-9 months, but once I got over that hump, it seems to be easier. I'm sailing along with oil rinses and octopus clips. I did a few mini trims, and have just been maintaining at MBL while I grow. I don't plan to straighten until New Years Eve.

I did notice the last time I straightened my hair, that my natural hair straightens so much silkier with heat than it ever did when I was relaxed? Does anyone else notice this?

 

[Highly Favored8]

Well, on 12-23-2011 I will be 12 months post. I have a wonderful hair stylist. With out the BC. I am doing very well. With monthly deep conditioning and protein treatments. I flat iron my hair once a month. The rest of the month I wear my hair in a bun or in a ponytail. In 2012 I want to wear my hair in a straw set.

 

[WriterGirl]

Hey WriterGirl I'm still hanging in there right with you at 10 months! We are all doing so well. I get so excited watching the new growth getting longer and longer!

Newbie2Beauty, hey girl! We are still hanging in there together. I remember when we first started. Now that I got over my itch to BC during month 9, I'm good to go now.

I did notice the last time I straightened my hair, that my natural hair straightens so much silkier with heat than it ever did when I was relaxed? Does anyone else notice this?

Hersheygurl I've also noticed this with my curlformer sets. My natural hair really is silky straight after setting under the dryer. I haven't used direct heat since March but I think the flat iron may have the same effect on my hair too.

Ladies, I have really been enjoying this journey. I'm glad that I decided to do the long term stretch so I can really get to know my hair during the process.

 

[ojemba]

Hi Ladies,

All this week I’ve been having the Natural Hair crave, thus I've been looking a lots of utube videos and reading up on long term transitions.

I'm not 100% sure yet but I will be making a mental note to really try to hold off from a relaxer long enough to see if I would like to make that plunge. I'll just take it 1 week at a time.

I don't want to just make this change because it's "in" now. So I’m really searching within myself for the answer. I have a 1 year old DD and I love her hair. I’ve promised myself that I will NEVER add any chemicals to it.

I haven't had natural hair since I was in the 6th grade - 26 years ago. I always told myself I wanted to cut my hair for my 40th (which is next year), I don’t think I'll be cutting but going natural is looking allot more promising.

Is there anyone who is only 11 weeks post into their transition that I can buddie with on this journey?

I know I will find lots of info and support here.

Thanks for letting my ramble for a min. HHJ.

 

[YaniraNaturally]

I'm 20 months post today!

I started taking out my braids and now I'm 100% sure that I have heat damage in the front. Sigh. My hair should be a 4a/3c curl. Now w/ the damage it's a 3b/c curl which is still beautiful but I don't love it fully because it's not my curl, if that makes any sense. I guess I shouldn't complain though . .it could be much worse. At least my hair still curls

ojemba yay welcome to the thread! How many months do you want to transition for?

 

[curlcomplexity]

Just wanted to say hello

I've decided to go natural for good. I've been natural twice in life, once by force (when I was 10) and the other by choice...right before I joined this forum about 7 years ago.

I've been back and forth with this decison for about a year now.

I've decided to transition instead of doing the BC. I think I'll cut an inch for every inch of NG I gain. I'm very, very excited about my decision. I'll be subbing to this thread...any help would be appreciated


Thank you

 

[Anonymous1]

I'm 5 months post and still breezing through. YAY

 

[05girl]

Ahhhh..
just took my weave down and undid my braids. Ahhhh! So nice to run fingers through scalp lol
I've been weaved up the last 16 weeks (2 installs). Here's hoping to see some growth when I go to the salon later!!


3 weeks from 12 months post!

 

[Evallusion]

Hi Ladies,

All this week I’ve been having the Natural Hair crave, thus I've been looking a lots of utube videos and reading up on long term transitions.

I'm not 100% sure yet but I will be making a mental note to really try to hold off from a relaxer long enough to see if I would like to make that plunge. I'll just take it 1 week at a time.

I don't want to just make this change because it's "in" now. So I’m really searching within myself for the answer. I have a 1 year old DD and I love her hair. I’ve promised myself that I will NEVER add any chemicals to it.

I haven't had natural hair since I was in the 6th grade - 26 years ago. I always told myself I wanted to cut my hair for my 40th (which is next year), I don’t think I'll be cutting but going natural is looking allot more promising.

Is there anyone who is only 11 weeks post into their transition that I can buddie with on this journey?

I know I will find lots of info and support here.

Thanks for letting my ramble for a min. HHJ.

Hi ojemba ! I am pretty much in the same boat as you. I was natural for a while and permed my hair mid October. I am 6 weeks post relaxer.

At first I was aiming for a long stretch (which I have never done before) but now I think I want to transition. I adored my natural hair...but my problem is that I don't like SHORT hair--I refuse to Big Chop.

I have a 2 year old, and I will never perm her hair. Sometimes, looking at her, I miss my fro. How can I want her to be natural when I'm not even natural myself? Goodness. I'm not trying to get into all that, lol.

But either way, I am stretching/transitioning from my last perm (October 17, 2011) until at least January 1st, 2013. A perm will not touch my hair in 2012.

And thats that.

 

[LisaMar]

26 months post and counting!!! I have managed to go from SL to BSL. I flat-iron twice a year. SSKs are no joke now if I can just this under control.

 

[ojemba]

Evallusion I'll be emailing u for some support lollll. As I said I'll take it slow I'm definitely not BCing.

Hi ojemba ! I am pretty much in the same boat as you. I was natural for a while and permed my hair mid October. I am 6 weeks post relaxer.

At first I was aiming for a long stretch (which I have never done before) but now I think I want to transition. I adored my natural hair...but my problem is that I don't like SHORT hair--I refuse to Big Chop.

I have a 2 year old, and I will never perm her hair. Sometimes, looking at her, I miss my fro. How can I want her to be natural when I'm not even natural myself? Goodness. I'm not trying to get into all that, lol.

But either way, I am stretching/transitioning from my last perm (October 17, 2011) until at least January 1st, 2013. A perm will not touch my hair in 2012.

And thats that.

 

[ojemba]

Ladies, what are the best method to detangle your hair (before wash) to prevent massive breakage?

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

Ladies, what are the best method to detangle your hair (before wash) to prevent massive breakage?

I either detangle in the shower or with leave-in and oil with damp hair (excess water gently squeezed via Turbie Twist. With a wide-toothed comb and my hair in 4-6 sections, I gently comb from ends to root.

 

[ojemba]

YaniraNaturally, Thank you for the welcome. I'm not sure yet how much months I'll go. I'd love to go as long as it takes me to get to at least Shoulder Lenght unstreteched. I'm currenlty BSL with rather healthy/thick hair. I will be in PS (wigs with cornrows under, maybe some singles) about 98%. Maybe when I have more NG I'll attempt a braid out.

20 months wowww that's great!! I wanna be like you!!!.

I'm 20 months post today!

I started taking out my braids and now I'm 100% sure that I have heat damage in the front. Sigh. My hair should be a 4a/3c curl. Now w/ the damage it's a 3b/c curl which is still beautiful but I don't love it fully because it's not my curl, if that makes any sense. I guess I shouldn't complain though . .it could be much worse. At least my hair still curls

@ojemba yay welcome to the thread! How many months do you want to transition for?

 

[justNikki]

So, I've never transitioned before and I don't plan to do this long (just long enough to have enough hair to braid for a sew-in if I want one. How long should I allow it to grow so the cornrows won't be so tight? Thanks.

 

[BreeNique]

hi, ladies!

this is my first time poopping into this thread, i've been transitioning for almost 2 years now, with no bc. every few months I snip an inch or more off of my relaxed head. i can "tell" where it's relaxed based on the color--shortly before a relaxer in June 2010 I got my hair dyed with a permanent color to a lighter brown. that brown is the last inch or so of my hair, so I'm just about done!!! so, about 1.5 years of transitioning!

I'm in love with my natural hair, and I want to cut off the lasts of these ends, but i want to "wait" until March, to chop the rest off and call it quits to 5+ years of relaxed life!

 

[xu93texas]

Hi ladies, I'm officially transitioning as of today. I've tried to once before and lasted 19 weeks. So this time around I will have support from you ladies. My last relaxer was 9/17/11, so I'm 11 weeks post. So far so good. I plan to rollerset, flexi-rod sets, do 2 strand twists, and do bantu knot outs for my protective styles. I will probably get my hair straightened once per month after a heavy protein treatment.

For those that have been transitioning for 6+ months, what products are a must to help with new growth/detangling?? So far the ng isn't a problem, but once I get to 15-16 weeks, it maybe a problem. The only new thing that I purchased is Darcy's Botanicals Coconut and Lemongrass Transitioning Cream. I also have Qhemet's Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee. Is that enough?

 

[A856]

oK I thought I was ready to just say *** it and BC. But I thought about the whole cut process. Chopping off all my relaxed ends and then "shaping up" my natural hair and I'd be left with a TWA. I don't want that. So I've decided to throw it back up in a bun and call it a day.
45wks post as of sunday 12/03

 

[LadyChe]

I'm now at 17 months post relaxer, I'll be at 18 at the end of the month.

I'm grateful for a supportive husband, because I'm not a fan of my texture, and he encourages me.Most styles I attempt don't last for more than a day or so. I don't want to be a heat abuser, I'm really trying to appreciate the beauty of my own hair, but it is a struggle.

 

[Evallusion]

7 weeks post...baby steps, baby steps...I'm shooting for at least January 1, 2013.

 

[WriterGirl]

oK I thought I was ready to just say *** it and BC. But I thought about the whole cut process. Chopping off all my relaxed ends and then "shaping up" my natural hair and I'd be left with a TWA. I don't want that. So I've decided to throw it back up in a bun and call it a day.
45wks post as of sunday 12/03

Ha, I feel you. This is why I wear my hair up now most of the time. It would be all out drama if I had my hair down with all these different textures.

Wearing it up helps. It's boring but hey, I want to be at least shoulder-length stretched when I BC. My head is too big for a TWA.

 

[A856]

WriterGirl so you feel me! LOL!

It's a struggle, didn't know what the heck I was getting myself into. I should've done this a loooong time ago (2yrs ago w/my cousin and or 3yrs ago with some other friends on another board) I'd be where I am now but natural. Grrrr, it's ok tho good thing I'm learning patience. It is SO necessary when it comes to this....*sigh* Besides I see myself sitting and crying in the chair when I do decide to BC. I've never had short hair before, and I know I'd cry even moreso the next day when I can't put it in a ponytail....

Yea no I know I'm not ready for the BC! LOL!

 

[csmith4204]

Ladies, what are the best method to detangle your hair (before wash) to prevent massive breakage?

I just found this method to work wonders for me. Before stepping in the shower, I part my hair in 4 sections and detangle each with Mane and Tail detangler. Love this stuff! I'm 22 weeks post btw.

 

[havilland]

So, I've never transitioned before and I don't plan to do this long (just long enough to have enough hair to braid for a sew-in if I want one. How long should I allow it to grow so the cornrows won't be so tight? Thanks.

My stylist says at least 3 inches. But I would ask whomever you plan to let do yur sew in.


Sent from my iPhone while out living my best life!

 

[Anonymous1]

I'm back to the boring ponytail. My newgrowth is sooo dry. I have to put something on it everyday, twice a day. It's getting a little rough but I'm still happy and doing pretty good.

 

[NikkiQ]

KUTGW ladies!!!!!!

 

[WriterGirl]

I'm back to the boring ponytail. My newgrowth is sooo dry. I have to put something on it everyday, twice a day. It's getting a little rough but I'm still happy and doing pretty good.

Anonymous1 Have you tried getting a water filter for your sink/shower?

I got one at Home Depot and it has literally saved my life. I didn't think I had hard water, but maybe chlorine or minerals are bad in my area.

My hair has seen a big turnaround as far as moisture retention and softness.

 

[Anonymous1]

@Anonymous1 Have you tried getting a water filter for your sink/shower?

I got one at Home Depot and it has literally saved my life. I didn't think I had hard water, but maybe chlorine or minerals are bad in my area.

My hair has seen a big turnaround as far as moisture retention and softness.

I actually have one. I may need to chelate or something. It's driving me insane. I just started steaming so I will see if that will help.

WriterGirl

 

[WriterGirl]

Anonymous1 Hmm....you may need to chelate then. I usually use Redken Cleansing Cream. That's some good stuff.