Transitioning without BC'ing Support Thread

[january noir]

I had a deep condition, a blow-dry and trim today. My hairdresser found a bit of breakage (I suspected it in that spot though).

He applied the Cantu on my dried hair versus on damp/wet hair and combed it through and smoothed my edges with my Hicks Edge Transformation. We pulled it back into a pony and I attached my phony pony and you can't tell me nothing. I love my little coils popping up. He says that I am mostly 4a with a bit of 4b.

The plan is to get my deep, deep conditions and let him trim a little as we go.

He says the key to transitioning with out cutting off all my hair is keeping my hair balanced; moisturized and strong. I think he can help me do that.

 

[MystiqueBabe]

Well I have been transitioning for a year now. It went by pretty quickly and wasn't difficult at all. I have learned a lot about my natural hair and I am looking forward to the future. My hair has grown very nicely and is almost at the point where my relaxed hair was( 8 in) but it never got past that length. I will big chop on new Years so I can start the year with healthy SL hair. I am excited but I will be keeping my hair in buns as usual.

 

[havilland]

Lawd, I'm giving heavy thought to texlaxing. Idk, idk... I feel like if my texture were a little more uniform this would be easier. My 4b areas are dry, coarse, very very very wiry, hard to comb, the conditioner doesn't seem to penetrate it just sits there looking white. When my hair was relaxed, this area was always more thin and sparse compared to other parts of my hair. I do think some of this hair is scab hair, but idk how long I can wait to find out.

this is how i feel right now....i'm very tired of my hair and the whole process.

i have had my hair in a bun since the other day when my hair went rogue.

today i am wearing a hat all day. i am trying to keep myself from cutting or texlaxing.

i read some blogs last night of women who cut their hair too soon and regretted it to keep me sane.

 

[Rae81]

this is how i feel right now....i'm very tired of my hair and the whole process.

i have had my hair in a bun since the other day when my hair went rogue.

today i am wearing a hat all day. i am trying to keep myself from cutting or texlaxing.

i read some blogs last night of women who cut their hair too soon and regretted it to keep me sane.

I am also getting tired of my hair and an tempted to cut or grab the perm sitting in my closet. I'm just running out de styling options. I want to try a twist and curl but am afraid my hair will act a fool. So its just been in a bun. I want to straighten it more but am afraid of heat damage. Oh what to do, what to do

Sent from my HTC EVO 3D

 

[MissMusic]

Ladies if you are in a styling rut, check out the styles that fusionofcultures did during her transition, she is on youtube. None of her styles required heat, and only one leaves the hair out.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE514D9DCDD073F74

 

[AJellyCake]

Hey, everyone. It's me, naturalnewb!

I hope your transitions are going well. I FINALLY posted my natural hair journey pics. They're in this thread. I wouldn't have made it as long as I did without you all here in this support thread. So THANK YOU!!!!!

Good luck with the transitioning! It's fun being on this side, and there's a great world waiting for you once you grab the scissors!

 

[JJamiah]

Even thought I cut earlier then planned, I found various styling options to hold me over. My headbands add the flair I need! For my wash and goes. I wear my high puffs, & wigs. Later, I will be able to do more. But that is good for now. havilland if u chop, it won't be as bad as you think.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using LHCF

 

[Rae81]

Just posting some pics of my hair:1.front 2. Back 3. Side 4. Pic of the front showing on straight section. 5 shot of the front. I am I lil discouraged because I am 15 months post and the front of my hair is so short and I feel like I should have more hair. Shrinkage is not cool. If I was to bc I think my hair would look funny with the front looking the way is does



















Anyone know what hair type I might be

Sent from my HTC EVO 3D

 

[havilland]

I am also getting tired of my hair and an tempted to cut or grab the perm sitting in my closet. I'm just running out de styling options. I want to try a twist and curl but am afraid my hair will act a fool. So its just been in a bun. I want to straighten it more but am afraid of heat damage. Oh what to do, what to do

Sent from my HTC EVO 3D

i kept my hair in a bun for like 4 days....i didn't even look in a mirror. i just moisturized and put my hair back up. yesterday i wore a hat all day. erplexed

i refuse to cut my hair right now, so i just kept myself away from my hair. last night i braided it in two pocahontas braids and tied it down. today i woke up to the best braidout ever! i didn't plan to have a braidout. i just knew i needed to take the bun down to give my hair a break from that one style. i had no intention of wearing my hair out today....i just unbraided it this morning to do a deep condition treatment and was surprised with a lovely braidout that i will kindly rock all day!

Even thought I cut earlier then planned, I found various styling options to hold me over. My headbands add the flair I need! For my wash and goes. I wear my high puffs, & wigs. Later, I will be able to do more. But that is good for now. @havilland if u chop, it won't be as bad as you think.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using LHCF

thanks, chica! i appreciate the encouragement from you! i put the scissors away........ for now.....

 

[Sade18]

After three weeks of having my hair straight, I finally was able to wash it this past Sunday. And all I have to say is that it felt darn good! I couldn't take having my hair straight any longer lol Although I did appreciate the "break" I had from having to do my hair all the time, I missed my little curlies and waves. So I decided to get up and wash my hair. And I'm glad I did.

I tried Silk Elements Mega Cholesterol for the first time. I DC'ed with it in my hair for about 30 minutes. I put it on dry hair and after rinsing, it left my hair feeling so soft and nice. My curlies came back with a force!!!!! I missed them so much! Anyways, I will try the product again in another 2 weeks to see how it makes my hair feel again. I believe that it's going to be a staple for me, but I don't want to jinx it lol

My S/O finally installed our filtered shower head, so I used that for the first time this past Sunday too. I immediately noticed a difference in how my hair and skin felt. My hair did not dry as fast as it usually does because of the lack of chlorine in the water. Even after rinsing out all of the products from my hair, it still felt as if I had the products in my hair. That may sound weird, but it means that my hair was still super moisturized even with the product rinse out. I love this filter and I will continue to use.

I decided to take some photos of my NG since will make 26 weeks post!! I think my NG is cute lol

 

[CandiceC]

I'm 45 weeks post today. I'll be closing in on a year soon. I'm so tempted to BC just to see what it would look like on me. I know the excitement would be short lived though. Haha.

I'm considering box braids at some point.

 

[shortt29]

Rae81

Looks like my hair! I think we are hair twins

 

[CandiceC]

Anyone else feel like their relaxed ends are protecting the natural hair?

I feel like if I have some breakage at my ends at this point it's likely the relaxed hair. No biggie.

 

[AXtremeTakeover]

Got some poetic justice braids over the weekend and I plan to keep them in for a while since the woman who does my sew in moved to ATL. Gotta change up my methods now

 

[AXtremeTakeover]

Anyone else feel like their relaxed ends are protecting the natural hair?

I feel like if I have some breakage at my ends at this point it's likely the relaxed hair. No biggie.

Yes!!! Y relaxed ends are helping me out right now... I trim whenever I see so it won't split up my strand. But I don't trip too much and don't mind snipping off that hair

 

[Rae81]

i have to say it again hawaiian silky 14 n 1 and now scurl have saved my hair. its moist and soft . Im glad i gave them another chance

 

[MsDee14]

Anyone else feel like their relaxed ends are protecting the natural hair?

I feel like if I have some breakage at my ends at this point it's likely the relaxed hair. No biggie.

Yes! This is exactly why I won't big chop and just gradually trim.
If I get the urge to BC..I just give my relaxed ends a nice trim and the urge passes.

Successfully transitioning is a sure fire way to retain all of our natural hair, I feel.

 

[Dayjoy]

46 weeks today. Six more weeks until I hit a year. Exciting.

 

[daviine]

i have to say it again hawaiian silky 14 n 1 and now scurl have saved my hair. its moist and soft . Im glad i gave them another chance

How do you use them? I have a brand new bottle of HS14n1 but it doesn't seem to do anything for me-then again nothing seems to work.

 

[Rae81]

How do you use them? I have a brand new bottle of HS14n1 but it doesn't seem to do anything for me-then again nothing seems to work.

I spray it on my new growth at night and in the morning my hair is soft and moist. I just recently started spraying it on my relaxed does

Sent from my HTC EVO 3D

 

[The Princess]

Hawaiian Silky 14n1 is pretty good. I used it when I was relaxed and it helped alot when I stretch my relaxers. I haven't used it now since I'm transitioning. I think it had mineral oil in it.

 

[The Princess]

Between work and Finals exams. My hair has been last on priority list. However I do see why Sheabutter is a plus for naturals.

I cowashed my hair last Saturday and sealed with Sheabutter mixed with olive oil and castor oil. Would you believe my Natural hair is still moisturizer after a week. I haven't put anything on it. I rubbed my hands through my hair and I can feel the Sheabutter on my hands.

I will be using this mixture for the winter.

Now my relaxed hair. That's another story. I had to moisture it on Thursday. It was dry and even now Its dry.

I see now I was doing to much. I will cut down to cowashing once a week..

 

[daviine]

Hawaiian Silky 14n1 is pretty good. I used it when I was relaxed and it helped alot when I stretch my relaxers. I haven't used it now since I'm transitioning. I think it had mineral oil in it.

Mineral oil is like 2nd on the list.

 

[daviine]

50 weeks today.

 

[havilland]

I am so excited! I had a successful cowash yesterday that proved to me that I shouldn't give up. My hair was perfect one week after a disasterous day last week that made me want to cut all my hair off or relax. I am soooooo glad I did not cut my hair.

I am proud to say is has been 481 days since my last relaxer.

 

[Leslie_C]

38 weeks today! Wow that sounds like a pregnancy doesnt it? lol

 

[havilland]

Anyone else feel like their relaxed ends are protecting the natural hair?

I feel like if I have some breakage at my ends at this point it's likely the relaxed hair. No biggie.

i definitely feel this way.....my relaxed ends serve as the royal knights of my round table....their job is to protect the all important queen - QUEEN NATURAL ROOTS

 

[Lanea87]

Its wash day, I am also doing a protein treatment using Nexxus Emergencee. I will be braiding it back up and go into hiding for another 2 weeks!

I am 40 weeks as of Saturday (27th)

 

[shortt29]

I'm so glad my transition is going much smoother now that I have stopped manipulated it to create styles that just didn't look right on me anyways...I lost so much of my edges and ends trying to perfect twist outs this summer

 

[Leslie_C]

I'm so glad my transition is going much smoother now that I have stopped manipulated it to create styles that just didn't look right on me anyways...I lost so much of my edges and ends trying to perfect twist outs this summer

shortt29 what have you been doing for your edges to recover? Mine are noticably thinner -my staple style has been a high puff bun and I think it was too much stress for them bc my hair is finer in the front anyway. I have stopped wearing my hair that way as often and if I do Im gonna flat twist the front or something so I dont pull them. I guess Ill try to start using castor oil on my edges and nape (its fine too)...but not sure how often I need to do it? Would wash day be enough or do I need to do it two or three times a week?


PS Ladies I think it would be fun to start posting "everyday transitioning hair" pics in this thread. If you are feeling your hair on a certain day-post a pic! It will be fun and it can inspire others (fellow transitioners and those considering transitioning). Lemme know what you think!