Transitioning without BC'ing Support Thread

[Eboni801]

also, can you color transitioning hair? I ask because I know relaxed hair is more sensitive to color than natural but if you're transitioning are the rules different?

I colored my transitioning hair, however, I also colored my relaxed hair. Once or twice a year I get my top heavily highlighted/colored.

I tried to insert a pic but am not sure if it worked, anyway, hth!

I'm currently 22 months post on the top and 19 months post in the back.

 

[Eboni801]

The back.

 

[naija24]

I colored my transitioning hair, however, I also colored my relaxed hair. Once or twice a year I get my top heavily highlighted/colored.

I tried to insert a pic but am not sure if it worked, anyway, hth!

I'm currently 22 months post on the top and 19 months post in the back.

View attachment 286653

AHHHHHH so gorgeous!!

Yes when I BC i am so getting a nice honey/auburn color combination!

 

[Eboni801]

AHHHHHH so gorgeous!!

Yes when I BC i am so getting a nice honey/auburn color combination!

. Thanks! Yes, I love color. I don't think I can be without it.

 

[PlainJane]

. Thanks! Yes, I love color. I don't think I can be without it.

Aw man now the color bug has bit me again. One of the reasons I'm transitioning is to be able to color. I will probably do something similar to you and only color the top just in case my hair doesn't agree with it.

 

[jerseygurl]

Hi ladies just wanted to say keep up the good work. I remember when I started my transition too. It was a crazy time for me. Lots of braids with extensions and senegalese twists.

 

[GettingKinky]

Wearing my hair straight makes me question my desire to go natural. My natural hair seems to revert much faster than my texlaxed hair. But I guess I need more than 2.5 inches of natural hair to know for sure.

For you ladies transitioning from texlax, do you notice that your natural hair reverts more easily? Or is it just because my natural hair is so close to my scalp?

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

@EnExitStageLeft that's a good question. I'm thinking it's normal porosity. Not sure. It does dry faster than my relaxed hair. Don't know what that means.

I think you are right about the edges though. They could definitely be 4 a. Heck my side burns does a cute curly tendril thingie when it has gel in it while wet. Because of this, I learned to gel on dry moisturized edges.

Still trying to make it to 3 years before I chop. How bout you pretty lady?

@bebezazueta

April 26, 2015 was my predicted big chop day. (2 years post)

But I keep going back and forth. On one hand I want to grow to WL and maintain and slowly chop from there.

And on the other hand I want to chop at 2 years and rock a bomb behind W&G.

Clearly I'm torn.

 

[NinasLongAmbition]

4 months post relaxer today. At least 20 more months to go.

 

[trclemons]

Next Sunday, I will be 2 years post relaxer and will BC at that time. I am excited about being fully natural, but I am not excited about my new length.

As I tell people about my upcoming BC, they make responses about looking forward to seeing my hair or to send them pictures and I tell them not yet because I will be spending a year in braids and twists.

I always thought I had good self-confidence, but after 46 years on this earth, I am finding that my confidence was tied to my long hair. I feel like such a Shallow Hal, but at this point in my journey, I am unable to wear my natural short hair in public.

As Iyanla would say, "I need to do my work" because there are definitely some internal issues that I need to resolve.

 

[sharifeh]

I'm 16 months post today. I don't think I'll relax because I've made it this far but I have a feeling this whole transition idea was a big mistake.
My stylist told me that she has no problem with my hair and that it straightens easily etc but she sees how I would have a problem with it because it's so dense...that's very discouraging to me.
She did offer to give me a hair lesson though ...

trclemons

I think that's completely acceptable.

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

 

[sharifeh]

@bebezazueta April 26, 2015 was my predicted big chop day. (2 years post) But I keep going back and forth. On one hand I want to grow to WL and maintain and slowly chop from there. And on the other hand I want to chop at 2 years and rock a bomb behind W&G. Clearly I'm torn.

Your hair will be fab either way
Honestly you're more likely to regret not rocking wash and go's summer 2015

That's my guess ...

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

 

[bebezazueta]

@bebezazueta April 26, 2015 was my predicted big chop day. (2 years post) But I keep going back and forth. On one hand I want to grow to WL and maintain and slowly chop from there. And on the other hand I want to chop at 2 years and rock a bomb behind W&G. Clearly I'm torn.

I totally understand!

I haven't used growth aids in years and I ordered green magic and manetabolism vitamins. I don't mind chopping at 2 years post if I have 10-12 inches of natural hair. We gonna see though. I change my mind everyday. SMH!

 

[Coilystep]

I'm 16 months post today. I don't think I'll relax because I've made it this far but I have a feeling this whole transition idea was a big mistake. My stylist told me that she has no problem with my hair and that it straightens easily etc but she sees how I would have a problem with it because it's so dense...that's very discouraging to me. She did offer to give me a hair lesson though ... trclemons I think that's completely acceptable. Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

my hair isn't long by any means but I have a lot of hair. I wash it loose but I have to style it in sections. That helps with the denseness. I don't plan on straightening it myself ever, but since my BC I wear my hair curly 99% of the time anyway. How do you intend to wear your hair? Once I was full into my transition (15 months total) I really had no desire to have straight hair anymore. I got my hair straightened for the first time yesterday since my BC and I already to wash it but I'm going to try to wear it straight until at least Saturday only because I paid to get it done.

 

[Coilystep]

Next Sunday, I will be 2 years post relaxer and will BC at that time. I am excited about being fully natural, but I am not excited about my new length. As I tell people about my upcoming BC, they make responses about looking forward to seeing my hair or to send them pictures and I tell them not yet because I will be spending a year in braids and twists. I always thought I had good self-confidence, but after 46 years on this earth, I am finding that my confidence was tied to my long hair. I feel like such a Shallow Hal, but at this point in my journey, I am unable to wear my natural short hair in public. As Iyanla would say, "I need to do my work" because there are definitely some internal issues that I need to resolve.

I definitely understand after almost forty years on this earth I felt very attached to my long hair. I would have never thought I would have ever been comfortable with the length of hair I have now but I do. Yes I wish it was longer but I've worked it out in my mind that I know my hair is going everyday and I will have long hair again. Also I've gotten to the point in my life where I really don't care to much of what other people think of me. Yes I do like compliments but that confidence definitely has to come from within. I'm sure you and your hair will be beautiful at any length. I only transitioned for 15 months I transitioned with braids and twisted up does. I found I missed my loose hair to much and did an impromptu BC one day when I wasn't even intending to I was at salon to get a braided up do.

 

[Honey Bee]

@Honey Bee

I think your right.

According to the chart, your tight cork screws would be considered 4a maybe, 4b. Girllllll I dunno . Hair typing is hard and I'm sure my guess is wrong. Shoot, I'll probably be the jack*** who transitions for years only to find out that whats I thought was a 4a is actually a 4zxc .

.

EnExitStageLeft, Noooo, now I'm more confused than I started! 4c ain't even on the chart!

But no, for real, the 4b/a pics might be close to my puffy 'rim' at the front of my head ... oh, these pics are *wet*?! That changes things. Hmmm, maybe I'm 80-85% 3c/ 4a then?

The coils I'm talking about were perfect root-to-tip, like a straw set done with coffee stirrers. I noticed them when I stopped combing early in my transition , maybe a year ago, but only in certain places. Since I started (half- @ssing) the MHM, I'm seeing those same coils pop up in formerly fuzzy places, like the 'rim.' Now, prior to finding out about the MHM, I was just doing it old school: (prepoo w moisturizing cond,) shampoo, dc, tension blowdry on cool once every 10 days or so. I wasn't cw'ing regular, so I'm not seeing how those areas ever became properly hydrated in the first place.

That last bit is why I'm unclear as to whether it's 4c. I just wanna bc already, but the shrinkage is scaring me to death, y'all!

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

Honey Bee

Girl you sound like me.

*Shrugs* I'll figure it out when I see it

As for shrinkage......I actually like it. It makes my hair look far more shorter then what it really is. Therefore when I straighten I can slay folks swole with my swang/hang game .

bebezazueta

Honey, yesterday I was watching MyNaturalSista's and swore up and down that I was BC'ing this month .

sharifeh

I hope. My only concern is having a nice length before BC'in. My hair grows superrrrr slow, so I'm scared I'm going to have like 3 inches of hair . Thats idiotic I know, but I'm still scared lol.

 

[ScorpioLove]

Everyones hair looks very beautiful.

Im at a year and 3 months . Honestly I think I might just end this now and go back to relaxing.

I will try a stronger bkt and if I'm still not happy with my hair then yeah I don't think I can do this anymore. I just feel like I just have bad hair.

 

[Cattypus1]

Everyones hair looks very beautiful. Im at a year and 3 months . Honestly I think I might just end this now and go back to relaxing. I will try a stronger bkt and if I'm still not happy with my hair then yeah I don't think I can do this anymore. I just feel like I just have bad hair.

There is no such thing as "bad" hair. It's just not the hair that you are used to. I transitioned for 10 months and BC'd as the result of an aggressive trim, earlier than I planned, of course. I hadn't seen more than a couple of inches of my natural hair in decades. I had no idea what my texture would look like without the relaxed ends attached. I still have days when it doesn't do what I want it to do which is be 3C...LOL...and then there are those days when I know I have to give my 4-something hair a chance to be its beautiful self. I know you didn't ask but relax if you want because that's what works for you but not because you think you have bad hair.

 

[almond eyes]

EnExitStageLeft, Noooo, now I'm more confused than I started! 4c ain't even on the chart!

But no, for real, the 4b/a pics might be close to my puffy 'rim' at the front of my head ... oh, these pics are *wet*?! That changes things. Hmmm, maybe I'm 80-85% 3c/ 4a then?

The coils I'm talking about were perfect root-to-tip, like a straw set done with coffee stirrers. I noticed them when I stopped combing early in my transition , maybe a year ago, but only in certain places. Since I started (half- @ssing) the MHM, I'm seeing those same coils pop up in formerly fuzzy places, like the 'rim.' Now, prior to finding out about the MHM, I was just doing it old school: (prepoo w moisturizing cond,) shampoo, dc, tension blowdry on cool once every 10 days or so. I wasn't cw'ing regular, so I'm not seeing how those areas ever became properly hydrated in the first place.

That last bit is why I'm unclear as to whether it's 4c. I just wanna bc already, but the shrinkage is scaring me to death, y'all!

Interesting chart. I am a bit skeptical that the first picture looks like that when flat ironed could be. Her hair looks like she has done a lot of protective styling with extension braids or had some pressing with the hot comb so I am not sure about the strand composition. It looks like moisture is blocked to the strands which is why when it is wet it doesn't look wet at all. Hair number one is high porosity. Hair number four is low porosity for sure.

In all of this, I think the most important issue regardless of hair texture is keeping the hair integrity which means that if you can grow your hair for years and still be heat damaged, color and extension braid damage and not even know it even if you are able to grow your hair. But it is a matter of how you like your hair to look, some women like my mother she doesn't care if her strands aren't the smoothest (she presses her hair a lot) and she knows nothing about filling in cuticle damage by using protein. Once you have that damage from root to it for many years yes you can still grow your hair but it will be very hard to get that moisture in unless you cut it off and start over again or trim bit by bit.

Best,
Almond Eyes

 

[naija24]

I commend all of you that transition for 2-3 years. More power to you. These relaxed ends are coming OFF come March. I already told the boyfriend what my hair is gonna look like and he didn't say a word hahaha!! I love meeting him in the middle and compromising. Hair is a serious business for women in relationships. I never knew.

March 18 is thus my official big chop date. It's not being delayed haha! I will be 40 weeks post. Getting my hair colored and silk pressed. I'll be a straight haired natural <3

 

[sharifeh]

Everyones hair looks very beautiful. Im at a year and 3 months . Honestly I think I might just end this now and go back to relaxing. I will try a stronger bkt and if I'm still not happy with my hair then yeah I don't think I can do this anymore. I just feel like I just have bad hair.

ScorpioLove

Oh you're like me!!!
PM me if you need support!

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

 

[almond eyes]

ScorpioLove

Oh you're like me!!!
PM me if you need support!

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

ScorpioLove, You do not have bad hair. God does not intend us to feel that way about our hair. Our hair was meant to be seen in it's full glory. whether it is long or short. What ever you decide it will be okay. If you decide to relax then cool and if it doesn't work out you can always transition again or do the BC or like me be a rebel and shave it off. and start over

One of the issues we face are the styling options when transitioning and Chopping and the dryness. I won't lie to you that getting to know and understand your hair is not a one month process for many women it can take from one year to three years. Many of us have never seen our natural hair since we were young and others of us had been living in hair extensions and not really caring for our own hair. I promise you that when you are ready to make a commitment to your hair and to get to understand and cherish her, she will blossom on you. There are no short cuts though. And understand that for women who have transitioned many times I have learned that relaxers are not short cuts either, my best friend who has apl relaxed hair that is thick is always complaining about having to go to the hair salon to get protein treatments weekly and her fear about her damaged ends and over processing and under processing.

If your hair did well with relaxers then by all means go back to it, but if your hair didn't do well with relaxers and you had thinning and breakage issues, you may end up repeating the same cycle that I did for years, with transitioning, big chopping, natural and braid extensions and back to relaxers. To me a very unhealthy process.

But let me ask what is your current regiment?

Good luck with your decision.

Best,
Almond Eyes

 

[havilland]

Everyones hair looks very beautiful. Im at a year and 3 months . Honestly I think I might just end this now and go back to relaxing. I will try a stronger bkt and if I'm still not happy with my hair then yeah I don't think I can do this anymore. I just feel like I just have bad hair.

What's going on with your hair? Is it tangling or dry? Why do you feel it's "bad"? Maybe we can help

 

[bestblackgirl]

37 weeks post today. I can do this. I can do this.

 

[bestblackgirl]

DELETE. Double post

 

[Coilystep]

yes you can. The further you go the easier it becomes once your natural hair starts taking over. The further I got into my transition the relaxed ends were my biggest issue the natural hair behaved better than the relaxed hair.

 

[bestblackgirl]

I'm on my phone. I am not sure why my post is not showing.

But anyways I BC'ed yesterday. I don't regret it. Now i just need to figure out how to style my twa and bring out my curls/coils.

 

[Coilystep]

I'm on my phone. I am not sure why my post is not showing. But anyways I BC'ed yesterday. I don't regret it. Now i just need to figure out how to style my twa and bring out my curls/coils.

congratulations. Can't wait to see pictures.

 

[coolsista-paris]

i had kind of a lot of breakage yesterday and lately.
it was fine until now... im 1 year post. What is going on??

should i do a hard protein treatment? i still have relaxed ends. maymbe the démarcation line is getting fragile??