What would you do? Going Natural question

[BobbieDoll]

OK so for almost 2 months I have been in braids. It's time for me to take them out and I can see the new growth that is coming in and I'm really excited about it. I want to go natural but I know the only way I will be able to go through with it is to do the BC. There are 2 problems with that:

1. I'm not a person that can pull of a TWA, at all.
2. I will be leaving to go on deployment in September.

I was thinking that if I do the BC when I take my braids out then I can get micros and wear them until it is time for me to go on deployment and then get a new set right before we leave. I want to do it this way because that would give me roughly 7 months of being natural and hopefully by then my hair would be long enough to put in a ponytail by then since I have to put it up when I am in uniform anyway. Currently I have about a little over 2 inches of newgrowth. What would you do? Is this a good idea? TIA for replies.

 

[Caramela]

BC'ing isn't your only option. Check out the threads on transitioning. You can go natural without cutting your relaxed ends off right away. Quite a few ladies, myself included, are taking this route

 

[Bigghair]

Wearing braids is a great way to transition as long as they are not done to tight and you moisturize your hair and keep your scalp clean. This is the way I transitioned to natural and had no problems. Good luck and success with your transition.

 

[glamazon386]

I think braids would be a good choice.

 

[PassionFruit]

my cousin did the BC the day before deployment..said being oversees in the dessert was the best place for her to not look her best

came home after like 15 months with a big fluffy healthy NATURAL bush of hair

 

[TrustMeLove]

If you don't suffer ill side effects of braids like thinning edges than I would say keep your hair braided. But, don't get micros.

It seems as if this big next step the BC may be kind of frightening..so I wouldn't rush into it.

I would actually be afraid of being overseas w/ braids. I mean it's not like you can get them done again. From my BC experience I would rather have the TWA than braids..especially being overseas. But, your noot jsut overseas you're being deployed. The TWA was sooo easy to keep up. And you don't have to worry about hair all on your collar.

So BC it would be for me.

But, what are you doing when you go back in september? Office stuff..out in the field? etc...? I am sorry if I sound ignorant, but I am not that familiar w/ the military. Except for JROTC in highschool. lol

 

[BobbieDoll]

I would like to transition with braids but the problem is that I won't be able to get them redone while I am gone for 6 months, and 6 months is a long time to go without getting braidss redone. I will be on the ship and not really interested in walking around with a TWA. I was thinking about doing the BC soon, like within the next month or so and getting invisible braids while it grew out a little.

Wearing braids is a great way to transition as long as they are not done to tight and you moisturize your hair and keep your scalp clean. This is the way I transitioned to natural and had no problems. Good luck and success with your transition.

 

[BobbieDoll]

I would love to transition without cutting off my relaxed ends but I know while I am underway for 6-7 months then eventually I will get frustrated and give in and relax. I figure if I go ahead and do it now then I can just go ahead and get it out of the way and not be subject to give up.

BC'ing isn't your only option. Check out the threads on transitioning. You can go natural without cutting your relaxed ends off right away. Quite a few ladies, myself included, are taking this route

 

[SignatureBeauty]

I don't think you would want to leave those braids in for 6 months out in the dessert, I would just do the BC, only because you can't get your hair rebraided and then you will have to take them out. That could also cause damage to your hair. I mean it is different if you were staying here and could get them redone. But I am sure whatever you decide to do your hair will look fine, I would just BC and then you will have a simple routine in the dessert and stress free hair.

 

[BrownSkin2]

I wouldn't big chop. I'd get the braids done and take those out after two months and rock transitional styles like twist outs/buns/ponys. 7 months is not long enough to have enough hair for a pony, especially if you're a type 4 something because of the shrinkage factor and stress of pulling it back. If you big chop now, you can wear a twa and do daily conwashes. It would probably grow alot. But since a twa is out, I'd big chop once I got back from your deployment, that way you'd have more natural hair to work with. HHG what ever decision you make.

 

[adf23]

I agree about braids. Even if you arent in a position to get your whole head redone, even if you could refresh the front (edges that would show) yourself, that would work.

 

[StarrsNana]

BC'ing would probably be more convenient being on deployment. But I would continue to wear braids as long as they aren't too tight. You could get them done now, and then again right before deploying. If you get individuals, you could always put them in a bun. Well, in 1979 we could do that, I'm not aware of the current hair requirements/restrictions.

And if you wear those for 2/3 months, your hair should be long enough to pony without having to BC. Just don't forget to take along your products to care for your new growth!

 

[LadyKaypnyc]

Sounds good to me...I transitioned w/ micros as well....just take extra care of your edges, because if you leave them in too long, or do them too often (like I did) they will fall out. Took my nearly 3 months to get my edges to START growing They have filled in considerably, but it's still a little thin.

 

[mistifying]

I would love to transition without cutting off my relaxed ends but I know while I am underway for 6-7 months then eventually I will get frustrated and give in and relax. I figure if I go ahead and do it now then I can just go ahead and get it out of the way and not be subject to give up.

When I was underway, there were always females who knew how to braid hair onboard. I'm sure you'll run across someone who can retouch your braids. Then again, I was on a larger ship, with a lot of people. This was before I learned how to braid my own hair. Maybe you could get your hair braided before you get underway, and take down a couple of braids to practice with so you learn yourself?

OT - Pac or Med?

 

[BobbieDoll]

I'm sure that's true. There are a lot of people on my ship and I'm sure there are more than a few ladies that know how to braid. I will be going on a Med but I much rather be going on a Pac, the ports are so much better.

When I was underway, there were always females who knew how to braid hair onboard. I'm sure you'll run across someone who can retouch your braids. Then again, I was on a larger ship, with a lot of people. This was before I learned how to braid my own hair. Maybe you could get your hair braided before you get underway, and take down a couple of braids to practice with so you learn yourself?

OT - Pac or Med?

 

[mistifying]

Well that's good...you could always have someone throw some nice cornrows in if you get tired of micros & change it up a bit. When I went on pac I started out with micros and then had one of my friends put cornrows going back into a bun for a while. Just be sure keep some extra hair in your rack. Most of all enjoy yourself (when you can, if you're not port & starboard...haha) on the med cruise whether you stay on the path to natural or decide to relax.

 

[BobbieDoll]

Bumping for more possible replies. I am planning on taking my braids out within the next 2 weeks and seriously considering chopping of my relaxed ends and just getting more braids until it is time for me to leave.

 

[Traycee]

I say cut it off.......Your going away anyways so who cares....

 

[Lucky's Mom]

I wore braids exclusively for my transition...........

Good luck