Does a long term transition...

[Aviah]

(more than a year that is)

Make you that much less inclined to (or at least think twice before you) relax when you have the urge?
I know its all about mindset. But for me personally, when I had urges to relax, I thought about how long it would be to transition again and how much I hated it.

Has anyone else felt that way?

 

[HoneyA]

Yes I can relate to that. I always says well, I've come too far to turn back now. I'm looking forward to my BC so there's no way I'm messing it up. Sometimes I beat myself up about relaxing after a 6 month stretch in 2011 because I'd be much farther along in my transition if I hadn't done that.

 

[MissMusic]

Definitely, its like the one year mark is the no turning back point. At this point, I have to stop myself from big chopping before my goal.

 

[havilland]

yeah...hitting one year def made me feel more confident in my ability to transition

 

[NJoy]

Co-signing what already been said.

 

[naturalmanenyc]

Absolutely. I transitioned for 104 weeks (2 years). At the 1 year mark I knew I would not relax again.

 

[Aviah]

Absolutely. I transitioned for 104 weeks (2 years). At the 1 year mark I knew I would not relax again.

naturalmanenyc

two years?!

You have a LOT of patience. I know it must have paid off when you did cut the last of it off though.

 

[Theresamonet]

I think so... I BC'd in 2008 after a roughly 8 month transition; was natural for maybe 9 mos before raising the white flag and attempting to texlax. I didn't know how to handle my hair; It was dry and tangly. I felt bald and ugly. And since it was so early in my hair journey I felt I could switch gears and it would be inconsequential.

Well...My texlax didn't turn out as planned and I decided to transition back to natural. I transitioned for 2 years and just cut the last 3-5 inches this summer. It was so much better for me to learn my hair while having the safety net of some length...And to be able to get comfortable being natural a steady pace.. I definitely feel more protective of this head of hair, and I feel invested in my natural hair journey. Now if me and ssks can come up with a peace treaty, I'm sure I'll be natural for life.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

I transitioned twice and at the one year mark I got antsy to BC, there was no thought of relaxing.

 

[naturalmanenyc]

Aviah

Yes, patience is key! I did not want to have "short" natural hair and always kept my hair at least at shoulder length. I did two mini chops but never a Big Chop.

naturalmanenyc

two years?!

You have a LOT of patience. I know it must have paid off when you did cut the last of it off though.

 

[Napp]

Well this is my 3rd transition and i still Dont feel any more attached to my natural hair than before. Perhaps if i transition longer this time i wont relax again? I dont know. I kind of like transitioning though. Its fun to see the curls grow out.

 

[guyanesesista]

Yup. I even bought a relaxer about 9 months in and STILL couldn't do it. I still have that relaxer and I have absolutely NO urge to relax. I'm too into my hair.

 

[Bubblingbrownshuga]

I think so

 

[JBunnie]

I would think we do. It's a lot of work growing out your hair.

For me I have phases. I stopped relaxing in 2007. Back then there wasn't as much interest in natural hair (that I knew about at least) so I didn't keep track of how long it took me to transition or how long before I was like, "ok I'm never going to relax again!" But I know I had times when I wanted to relax, but as time went on I got to a point where I was like, "there is no way I can go back to that!" (That was definitely sometime after I got my super hot flat iron and that got my hair "relaxer straight" And that was at least 8 months in.)

But the same flat iron, mostly my improper use of it, heat damaged my hair. So now I'm transitioning out of my heat damage and on my HHJ. I've only been on it since May and I still get the urge to just flat iron because it's easier. But in time I'm sure my body will rid itself of that urge. Only difference is I will flat iron my hair from time to time, but relaxing, nah, I never want to go back that route.

 

[MystiqueBabe]

Well for me I thought about stretching my relaxers in order to attempt to get healthier relaxed hair. I thought about going natural before but I was still in the mindset of relaxing my hair. During my stretch 3 months turned into 6 months, then 6 months turned into 8 months. I decided I might as well go natural.

I have no interest in going back to relaxers, once I made the decision to transition I promised myself to never relax my hair again. I have no urges whatsoever and I always hated touch ups and how my hair looked relaxed(just HORRIBLE).. Reminding myself if straight hair was that important I can just invest in a very good flat iron and be done with it. Also the fact that my hair stayed at SL and all the people I know who once had long natural hair who now have a relaxer(and trying to grow it out) hair length has stayed shoulder length for years. Among other reasons.

 

[Aviah]

Yes I can relate to that. I always says well, I've come too far to turn back now. I'm looking forward to my BC so there's no way I'm messing it up. Sometimes I beat myself up about relaxing after a 6 month stretch in 2011 because I'd be much farther along in my transition if I hadn't done that.

This is what I did. When you do bc and get further along those six months won't matter anymore.

I think so... I BC'd in 2008 after a roughly 8 month transition; was natural for maybe 9 mos before raising the white flag and attempting to texlax. I didn't know how to handle my hair; It was dry and tangly. I felt bald and ugly. And since it was so early in my hair journey I felt I could switch gears and it would be inconsequential.

Well...My texlax didn't turn out as planned and I decided to transition back to natural. I transitioned for 2 years and just cut the last 3-5 inches this summer. It was so much better for me to learn my hair while having the safety net of some length...And to be able to get comfortable being natural a steady pace.. I definitely feel more protective of this head of hair, and I feel invested in my natural hair journey. Now if me and ssks can come up with a peace treaty, I'm sure I'll be natural for life.

Do you think it was possible you may have had some scab hair on our first bc? Or did you have to figure out what old help with the dryness?

Well this is my 3rd transition and i still Dont feel any more attached to my natural hair than before. Perhaps if i transition longer this time i wont relax again? I dont know. I kind of like transitioning though. Its fun to see the curls grow out.

You're the only person I know that likes transitioning! But it makes the process so much easier if you're not length checking daily and can't wait to chop!

Well for me I thought about stretching my relaxers in order to attempt to get healthier relaxed hair. I thought about going natural before but I was still in the mindset of relaxing my hair. During my stretch 3 months turned into 6 months, then 6 months turned into 8 months. I decided I might as well go natural.

I have no interest in going back to relaxers, once I made the decision to transition I promised myself to never relax my hair again. I have no urges whatsoever and I always hated touch ups and how my hair looked relaxed(just HORRIBLE).. Reminding myself if straight hair was that important I can just invest in a very good flat iron and be done with it. Also the fact that my hair stayed at SL and all the people I know who once had long natural hair who now have a relaxer(and trying to grow it out) hair length has stayed shoulder length for years. Among other reasons.

I never got over the feeling of wanting straight hair sometimes. And like you, initially I had heat damage. But now I have it figured out I scratch that itch whenever I want to lol. Don't beat yourself up if ou still crave straight hair sometimes.

 

[MystiqueBabe]

^ Yeah I love straight hair but at least for me, there is no reason to use relaxers anymore. My hair can easily be straightened and I have more benefits as a natural. I love straight hair but love my curly hair even more. I plan to wear my hair curly/natural 70% of the time.