Update! Long-term Transitioner

[Cherry89]

I have been transitioning for almost 22 months! I was about bra-strap length after my BF kept insisting how was I soooo organic ( I love organic and natural stuff, lol) but I keep using a relaxer! Even though I really didn't mind his comment, I thought to myself? " Maybe I can give this natural journey another go. (Hint: I tried multiple times and never made it past 7 months, lol) So now here I am at 21 months transition, and it has been driving me coo-coo! I love my natural textures, but I'm to much of a scare-dy cat to cut it! But dealing with the democration line, tangling, different textures has been a lot of work!

Here are some new pics and the original pics Ms. @honeybee requested, I also cut some hair again to see my curl, pattern(New pics)..and i love it! In my last post I did not know whether to cut it now or wait another year after I graduate nursing school as a present to myself...My BF think I should get it cut professionally so I can get some type of even layer, but I tell him I can do it myself, but he dont trust me! LOL..What do yall think! should I wait or go for the gusto!!!

 

[Lisa]

I'm not good at hair typing but I just want to say you have BEAUTIFUL Hair! I wish I had your patience. I've only been transitioning for 15 months and I can't stop cutting!!! I've gone from shoulder length to chin length!! I don't think I look good with short hair (Card Carrying Member of the Big Head Club) but I'm just dealing with it! I'm resisting the urge to go even shorter. Good Luck!!

 

[Coilystep]

You have beautiful hair. You won't know your type until you cut all the relaxer off. Good luck with your transition. I could only stand transitioning for 17 months. I kept cutting random pieces off and the two textures was killing me. I'm glad I cut when I did. I have been able to learn how to work with my hair without being overwhelmed. If I would have waited and transitioned for another year or two I would not have known how to deal with all the hair I would have had. My one year natural anniversary is August 2nd and my hair has truly flourished in that time and I love being fully natural. I know it's not necessarily true, but I feel that cutting it made it grow faster. I have a big head as well, and I had never had short hair, but I felt so free once I did cut.

 

[Cherry89]

I'm not good at hair typing but I just want to say you have BEAUTIFUL Hair! I wish I had your patience. I've only been transitioning for 15 months and I can't stop cutting!!! I've gone from shoulder length to chin length!! I don't think I look good with short hair (Card Carrying Member of the Big Head Club) but I'm just dealing with it! I'm resisting the urge to go even shorter. Good Luck!!

That was funny!, LoL. But, Thank you! @Lisa , I am the same way I rather just deal with rather then cutting it..(Sign....) I never had hair shorter then shoulder length. I believe I have about 10 inches of new growth and if I cut it, it should be around chin length (MAybe?) Im just tired of the two textures, detangling and knots... Its driving me

You have beautiful hair. You won't know your type until you cut all the relaxer off. Good luck with your transition. I could only stand transitioning for 17 months. I kept cutting random pieces off and the two textures was killing me. I'm glad I cut when I did. I have been able to learn how to work with my hair without being overwhelmed. If I would have waited and transitioned for another year or two I would not have known how to deal with all the hair I would have had. My one year natural anniversary is August 2nd and my hair has truly flourished in that time and I love being fully natural. I know it's not necessarily true, but I feel that cutting it made it grow faster. I have a big head as well, and I had never had short hair, but I felt so free once I did cut.

Thank you! I am glad you love your natural hair! I believe around 16-19 months was the hardest!!! I actually felt like going back to the perm, but I finally accomplished going past 7 months, and not trying to look back. (Ive had a perm since age 6-7 years old). but the detangling, daily co-washes, knots, demecration line is driving me nuts, sometimes I just dont know what to do with I want to cut relaxed ends so bad, so I can learn my hair natural hair, but im so ....LoL

 

[Coilystep]

That was funny!, LoL. But, Thank you! @Lisa , I am the same way I rather just deal with rather then cutting it..(Sign....) I never had hair shorter then shoulder length. I believe I have about 10 inches of new growth and if I cut it, it should be around chin length (MAybe?) Im just tired of the two textures, detangling and knots... Its driving me






Thank you! I am glad you love your natural hair! I believe around 16-19 months was the hardest!!! I actually felt like going back to the perm, but I finally accomplished going past 7 months, and not trying to look back. (Ive had a perm since age 6-7 years old). but the detangling, daily co-washes, knots, demecration line is driving me nuts, sometimes I just dont know what to do with I want to cut relaxed ends so bad, so I can learn my hair natural hair, but im so ....LoL

Definitely don't cut until your ready. I will say this: when I got home after my cut I did have a what did do moment. All in all its been a great experience. I had horrible tangling issues throughout my transition. Now that I'm natural my hair doesn't tangled. I don't get ssk's and I wear wash n goes 100% of the time. When I started out I wash redoing my wash n go everyday. Now I can get it to last all week and I work just about every day. I'm will restyle during the week when I feel like and it doesn't take hours to do.

 

[Cherry89]

Definitely don't cut until your ready. I will say this: when I got home after my cut I did have a what did do moment. All in all its been a great experience. I had horrible tangling issues throughout my transition. Now that I'm natural my hair doesn't tangled. I don't get ssk's and I wear wash n goes 100% of the time. When I started out I wash redoing my wash n go everyday. Now I can get it to last all week and I work just about every day. I'm will restyle during the week when I feel like and it doesn't take hours to do.

EeeeekKKK... Your making me want to grab the scissors right now! ! LOL....I Am ready for the tangling issues to be gone with as well, I'm glad it got easier for you, I hope the same will happen for me when I finally cut. My hair usually take an hours to style now, now I just do simple styles for now...

 

[Coilystep]

Moisture is key. NEVER EVER comb or brush dry natural hair. Fingers are best but if you must use comb or brush use lots of water and conditioner. I really don't use a comb or brush anymore they cause me more frizz. First picture is with me using denman brush. Second is just my fingers.

 

[Cherry89]

Your hair is BEAUTIFUL! So Curly and HEalthy! Are you a 3c hair type! Thats what I think I am (3c/4a).
Yes! I never comb and rarely brush my hair dry. I only comb with a very big shower-detangler comb in the shower when I co-wash. I hate the sound of brushes and combs running through my dry hair! LOL! I think my big deal is Mositure, I moved to a new area and with school, work, 8 yr old twin boys and a 4 year old girl! lol I cant remember my last deep condition or steam treatment or something, (SAD) all I do is c0-wash and go, and if I do that I will look like simba after it dries, so I just twist up into a bun or braid ponytail! I hope my hair turns out to be an easy wash and go like yours! My hair just get soooooo frizzy also, I know it has a curl pattern, but the frizzz is apparent! LOL, but it is also prone to dryness, esp with two textures........

 

[Guinan]

I dont know your hair type but your hair is really pretty. You wont really get an accurate reading on your texture until your fully natural. When I was transitioning, I swore that my nautral hair was a 3b/3c. Once I went fully natural, I realized that my hair was actually 4abc

 

[Coilystep]

Thank you. I'm not sure about my curl type. I think I'm a combo of 3c/4a. I don't think curl type is that important. The key for me was learning what products worked for my hair and water was my friend. Once your hair is moisturized the frizz will be be reduced greatly. Also keep in mind the frizz won't disappear completely.

 

[Cherry89]

I dont know your hair type but your hair is really pretty. You wont really get an accurate reading on your texture until your fully natural. When I was transitioning, I swore that my nautral hair was a 3b/3c. Once I went fully natural, I realized that my hair was actually 4abc

Thank you! yes, the only clues I have gotten was from the two pics where I have a patch of hair (which I cut) to get an idea of my hair type, but like you said, it might be different types think I think, its really curly in the back, kinda wavy in the middle and curlier on the side of my head...Lol, SO I dont know what to think, gosh im so ready to cut now!! Lol! so the suspense can be over, LOL!

 

[Cherry89]

Thank you. I'm not sure about my curl type. I think I'm a combo of 3c/4a. I don't think curl type is that important. The key for me was learning what products worked for my hair and water was my friend. Once your hair is moisturized the frizz will be be reduced greatly. Also keep in mind the frizz won't disappear completely.

YES!, I will have to catch up on my deep condition sessions again, no MORE SLACKING, LOL...

 

[Honey Bee]

@Cherry89, Why did you delete the original post?

 

[Cherry89]

@Cherry89, Why did you delete the original post?

SOrry, @honeybee, I will repost it. Didnt think anyone else would post in the thread! I see you transitioned for 21 months as well!!

 

[Honey Bee]

SOrry, @honeybee, I will repost it. Didnt think anyone else would post in the thread! I see you transitioned for 21 months as well!!

Thank you for reposting but I can't see the pics.

Yeah, I had a long transition too. It went well. I didn't have a whole bunch of breakage and I style my hair, loosely, the same way I always did. I'm not creative in that way. Even natural, I still style my hair the same. I did get tangling, but that stopped once I started doing the MHM.

I'd suggest getting it professionally cut. I did it myself and, let's just say, I have to do a lot of pinning, fluffing, and stretching to get it to lay right.

 

[Cherry89]

Thank you for reposting but I can't see the pics.

Yeah, I had a long transition too. It went well. I didn't have a whole bunch of breakage and I style my hair, loosely, the same way I always did. I'm not creative in that way. Even natural, I still style my hair the same. I did get tangling, but that stopped once I started doing the MHM.

I'd suggest getting it professionally cut. I did it myself and, let's just say, I have to do a lot of pinning, fluffing, and stretching to get it to lay right.

@honeybee, You should be able to see them now,
Im glad you didn't have a lot of breakage while transitioning, my breakage is minimal too, I guess from all the co-washes! lol but that dang democration line is killing me! I stuck to simple styles as well, which is a flat twist ponytail with a braid or bun! and this is my daily style because even when I do braidouts it kinda looks thick at the top portion and my relax ends are thinner, so it looks kinda weird. I have alot of detangling sessions, may I ask what MHM is! I might need that too! I will get it professionally done then, I just have to find a good stylist. I don't ever think I can get my natural hair to lay right!

 

[Honey Bee]

@honeybee, You should be able to see them now,
Im glad you didn't have a lot of breakage while transitioning, my breakage is minimal too, I guess from all the co-washes! lol but that dang democration line is killing me! I stuck to simple styles as well, which is a flat twist ponytail with a braid or bun! and this is my daily style because even when I do braidouts it kinda looks thick at the top portion and my relax ends are thinner, so it looks kinda weird. I have alot of detangling sessions, may I ask what MHM is! I might need that too! I will get it professionally done then, I just have to find a good stylist. I don't ever think I can get my natural hair to lay right!

Ok, I can see the pics. Pretty!

MHM = 'Max Hydration Method'. If you google it, there's an official website layingout the regimen and the thought process behind it. If you decide to do it, there's a long MHM thread here. Fair warning, there are a lot of steps. But people modify the regimen to suit their hair's needs and their own schedule. I follow the regimen loosely and my hair is great, if I may say so. I never have tangles. My natural hair is waaaay easier than either my texlaxed or transitioning hair.

 

[Cherry89]

Ok, I can see the pics. Pretty!

MHM = 'Max Hydration Method'. If you google it, there's an official website layingout the regimen and the thought process behind it. If you decide to do it, there's a long MHM thread here. Fair warning, there are a lot of steps. But people modify the regimen to suit their hair's needs and their own schedule. I follow the regimen loosely and my hair is great, if I may say so. I never have tangles. My natural hair is waaaay easier than either my texlaxed or transitioning hair.

Thank you! and all this time, I thought my natural hair would be harder to maintain then my relaxed hair, but I see its not! I believe holding on to the relax ends is making it harder... but, I will look up the MHM! because I do need some more moisture, thank you!

 

[caliscurls]

Beautiful hair @Cherry89 In terms of when to cut wait until you know you're ready. I transitioned for 18 months and by then I was soooo ready to be fully natural. After the cut I felt free instead of that "what did I just do" feeling. Waiting may save you some grief. So whether you're ready now or a year from now just follow your gut.

 

[Cherry89]

Beautiful hair @Cherry89 In terms of when to cut wait until you know you're ready. I transitioned for 18 months and by then I was soooo ready to be fully natural. After the cut I felt free instead of that "what did I just do" feeling. Waiting may save you some grief. So whether you're ready now or a year from now just follow your gut.

Thanks You! Yes, I have decided to wait another 6-12 months before I big chop. I am so ready to feel free and natural as well! but IT will at least give me some more growth to deal with, I will definitely update yall when I do BC.

 

[Coilystep]

Looking forward to an update. Good luck.