Old and/or current transitioners please come in

[John'sPrincess]

I have been transitioning for a little over 13 months and might be going to get a relaxer tommorrow. The truth is i really don't want to BUT i look a H.A.M

Xteristics of my hair

• 4a/4b texture

• Lots of SSK
• Shoulder length

• Very dry and coarse
• Dense and thick (i think)

My questions are

1. Ladies with similar hair characteristics how do you style it especially for work?
2. Did you feel this way during your transition? If yes how did u handle it? What did you do?
3. Those who "failed" and relaxed do you regret it?

I will be grateful if you ladies chime in it will help me make my decision.

TIA..xxx

 

[hair4romheaven]

pics please as this is my texture and I'm transitioning.

 

[Dommo]

Im almost 12 months into my transition and I have no urge to relax. I've transitioned once before and bc'd but way too soon. My hair was too short and before I attempted straightening it naturally, I relaxed. I regret it. I can get my hair relaxer straight now with my FHI and its so much thicker and healthier,imo. Im never getting a relaxer again.

I would recommend getting your hair professionally washed, treated and flat-ironed if you can't do it yourself before getting a relaxer.

BTW, I am 4a

 

[melissa-bee]

13 months? how much growth do you have? Why relax after so long? How long did you originally want to transition for?

 

[cinnamin316]

I transitioned for 26 months (4a) and whenever i got frustrated with my hair and wanted to relax i thought about how far i had came and changed my mind. I agree with the previous poster. Maybe a professional flat iron will help. That way both textures are the same and it will be easier to style.

I wish you the best of luck in your transition. It's a hard journey but its very rewarding once you're all natural.

 

[Mook's hair]

I am also 4a/4b I transitioned for 24 months.
I had that same feeling maybe 4 different times during my transition.

One trick to prevent yourself from going through with it (If you know you really want to keep transitioning) Go scratch & massage your scalp and then run it under some water.

Sounds crazy right. But by doing this you'll render yourself unable to relax with out burning because you agitated your scalp.

When you have these moments. comb through fotki albums of other (thick-haired) transitioners this will assure you that you can accomplish your goal. Also you need a buddy to talk you off the ledge otherwise you'll jump. And you clearly don't want to.

Have you blow dried your hair at all? Maybe you should try that before you relax. (with heat protectant (of course)

I have 4a/b Rudy Huxtable hair. Thick and Serious! If I could do this...So can you. But it does require patience. Anyway, I thought I would share some long term transitioners albums for inspiration. You'll have to ask them for their passwords if it is locked. I think it would be in poor taste to provide someone else's password.

http://public.fotki.com/Mooks-hair/ (This one is mine)
http://public.fotki.com/Marie1837/
http://public.fotki.com/Lauren450/
http://public.fotki.com/Thegirltolove/
http://public.fotki.com/Liberate/hair_pic/2005/
http://public.fotki.com/loulou82/ http://public.fotki.com/Cinnamin/ http://public.fotki.com/adf23/
http://www.public.fotki.com/ediese/
http://public.fotki.com/GrenadianLioness/
http://public.fotki.com/monikerr/the-big-chop!/
http://public.fotki.com/brockstar/
http://public.fotki.com/lilsparkle825/
http://public.fotki.com/msdiva18/2008/…

 

[beans4reezy]

I am not transitioning, but I am growing out my bone straight, relaxed hair and going to texturized hair. I can understand what you are going through though as I haven't had a touch -up in ten months myself. Please don't relax because you think you look like a HAM. Think about your ultimate hair goals. You may regret your decision to relax. But to answer your questions:

Ladies with similar hair characteristics how do you style it especially for work?
Braid Outs and Pin Ups. Rollersets and Pin Ups. Wigs. Extensions.
Did you feel this way during your transition? If yes how did u handle it? What did you do? Yes! My cousins tell me daily that they think I look like a crack head, so it tends to get discouraging. But again, my eye is on the prize. Someday, I am going to have a long, thick head of hair and they will still be where they are now...chewed up, thin, raggedy ends- but with fresh perms

Hang on a bit longer I say...it will get easier. I've attached some pics of styles I have been doing to get through my "transition"

 

[John'sPrincess]

Thanks ladies! I know i can always count on u.

I am not sure how many inches i have but it is a lot. I didn't have a specific time in mind just wanted to carry on until i couldn't anymore.

13 months? how much growth do you have? Why relax after so long? How long did you originally want to transition for?

Thanks a bunch mook for the links, I actually stalk your fotki :secret: Your hair looks so soft and looks like it does what you want it to. My hair just acts so unmanageable and unstyleable. The strands clump together, tangled 99% of the time; it just doesn't play nice. I will have a look at those fotkis now and hopefully they help.

I am also 4a/4b I transitioned for 24 months.
I had that same feeling maybe 4 different times during my transition.

One trick to prevent yourself from going through with it (If you know you really want to keep transitioning) Go scratch & massage your scalp and then run it under some water.

Sounds crazy right. But by doing this you'll render yourself unable to relax with out burning because you agitated your scalp.

When you have these moments. comb through fotki albums of other (thick-haired) transitioners this will assure you that you can accomplish your goal. Also you need a buddy to talk you off the ledge otherwise you'll jump. And you clearly don't want to.

Have you blow dried your hair at all? Maybe you should try that before you relax. (with heat protectant (of course)

I have 4a/b Rudy Huxtable hair. Thick and Serious! If I could do this...So can you. But it does require patience. Anyway, I thought I would share some long term transitioners albums for inspiration. You'll have to ask them for their passwords if it is locked. I think it would be in poor taste to provide someone else's password.

http://public.fotki.com/Mooks-hair/ (This one is mine)
http://public.fotki.com/Marie1837/
http://public.fotki.com/Lauren450/
http://public.fotki.com/Thegirltolove/
http://public.fotki.com/Liberate/hair_pic/2005/
http://public.fotki.com/loulou82/ http://public.fotki.com/Cinnamin/ http://public.fotki.com/adf23/
http://www.public.fotki.com/ediese/
http://public.fotki.com/GrenadianLioness/
http://public.fotki.com/monikerr/the-big-chop!/
http://public.fotki.com/brockstar/
http://public.fotki.com/lilsparkle825/
http://public.fotki.com/msdiva18/2008/…

 

[Foxglove]

I am also 4a/4b I transitioned for 24 months.
I had that same feeling maybe 4 different times during my transition.

One trick to prevent yourself from going through with it (If you know you really want to keep transitioning) Go scratch & massage your scalp and then run it under some water.

Sounds crazy right. But by doing this you'll render yourself unable to relax with out burning because you agitated your scalp.

When you have these moments. comb through fotki albums of other (thick-haired) transitioners this will assure you that you can accomplish your goal. Also you need a buddy to talk you off the ledge otherwise you'll jump. And you clearly don't want to.

Have you blow dried your hair at all? Maybe you should try that before you relax. (with heat protectant (of course)

I have 4a/b Rudy Huxtable hair. Thick and Serious! If I could do this...So can you. But it does require patience. Anyway, I thought I would share some long term transitioners albums for inspiration. You'll have to ask them for their passwords if it is locked. I think it would be in poor taste to provide someone else's password.

http://public.fotki.com/Mooks-hair/ (This one is mine)
http://public.fotki.com/Marie1837/
http://public.fotki.com/Lauren450/
http://public.fotki.com/Thegirltolove/
http://public.fotki.com/Liberate/hair_pic/2005/
http://public.fotki.com/loulou82/ http://public.fotki.com/Cinnamin/ http://public.fotki.com/adf23/
http://www.public.fotki.com/ediese/
http://public.fotki.com/GrenadianLioness/
http://public.fotki.com/monikerr/the-big-chop!/
http://public.fotki.com/brockstar/
http://public.fotki.com/lilsparkle825/
http://public.fotki.com/msdiva18/2008/…

I did this in the beginning when I had moments of weakness. I also had a sulfur mix I would use to buy me like 2 weeks. Ditto on looking through 4a/4b long term transitioner fotkis

 

[Je Ne Sais Quoi]

I am currently 48 weeks post and i don't want to turn back. Please think really hard about the time you've invested in this transition. I am sure your hair isn't a hot mess. Maybe you just need to learn some new styles or techniques?

 

[Ltown]

I'm 15 months post and will be ending my transition this month, although I'm not the same texture I found as Mook stated reading others fotki and transitioning support thread to motivate me to continue. You made it this far, and reaching out for support will help you to continue.

 

[Grand Prix]

Please don't relax if you don't want to. If you don't want to, you don't have to.
I'll be 15 months post tomorrow and of yes I've felt the same way you do a couple of times.
But I take it that you, like me, have been at it for so long that you really want to go through with this. The only style besides a flatiron I can wear that looks decent is a bantu knot out ponytail. It drives me crazy at times, every single day that same old ponytail (that didn't even come out right last christmas, I was SO ready to relax (but then christmas was over and so was that urge..)), but I admit that this style does work for me. It looks okay and keeps my hair manageable.

Try looking into styles that do work for you and stick with that. I've tried changing things up by doing braid and twist outs, but what works for other transitioners won't always work for you. Also, when your hair look alright, you won't even feel so bad about the effort it cost you. Check out this thread, get creative and find out what might really work for you: http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=413884.

And how about keeping your hair flat ironed for a couple of weeks. Keep it silky, flowy and straight. It might bore you.