All this talk about naturals relaxing is tempting…..

[Kinkyhairlady]

I know I have said I would never go back to a relaxer. You could not pay me to because of the chemicals and the careless stylist. I seriously would not want to deal with that again. The thing is that since I’ve been natural I rarely wear my hair out. My hair is usually braided or in a weave. Right now it is braided because I don’t have time to do it due to my schedule. My texture is 4b and though I love my natural hair I just don’t have the patience to deal with it half the time so I hide it. When I was relaxed I never wore weave and rarely wore braids. All the anti relaxer talk I do I know many will give me the side eye if I do relax.

Not sure what I will do but is it is just me or are others feeling the temptation?

 

[SummerSolstice]

Whenever I'm feeling like that I bkt. My hair takes it well.

 

[blackmaven]

I want the creamy crack now. Just holding out on general principle. I cut all my relaxed hair off to do it again. Yes,I am going to relax again.

 

[Kinkyhairlady]

Whenever I'm feeling like that I bkt. My hair takes it well.

I looked into this but it is so expensive in my area. it's more money than a relaxer. My hair was long shiny and beautiful when I was relaxed but one mishap just chewed it up so I cut it off. I'm more afraid the same thing might happen again. also I hated sitting under the dryer for a rollerset. I just really don't like that i have to braid or weave both of which I hate.

 

[Rina88]

I feel the temptation on and off as well. I wouldn't relax but texturize again because I don't really like straight hair and find it boring (no offense to anyone). I'm tempted because I'm transitioning only to find out half of my head looks like an underprocessed relaxer lol. So I know for a fact when I reach my hair goals I'll never be able to do a fro or a wash and go because the front and back have no real curl/kink. I feel a little defeated and since I'm style challenged all I can really do is a bun or puff with the straight-ish pieces hidden or flat iron which I know too much of that will probably only make matters worse.

I feel I've come this far so I can't give up just yet. When I reach my final goal of healthy WL then I can reevaluate and make my decision. TBH I'd probably try heat training before I go back to chemicals and I don't see me ever in life going back to being fully relaxed. I love my hair's softness and strength and the fact I do have many options for the future, that's enough for me right now.

 

[mstokes2008]

I've been thinking the same thing. I love my curls but I now HATE wash days where I use to love them in the early stages. My hair was never unhealthy relaxed but I wanted the versatility of being natural and I wasn't fond of all the chemicals. But I've realized my hair is so much easier to manage when it's straight, I just wish I could still co wash frequently and it stay straight. Not sure about a BKT, was leaning more towards heat training but I don't necessarily want to completely change the texture of my hair, atleast not all over. I'm a healthy hair enthusiast and natural still seems technically healthier than relaxing or heat training/damaging lol

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

lol...I think just like anything, things come in cycles. So, a LOT of people switched to being natural and now a LOT of those people are contemplating going back to relaxers. It's like a general cycle of events.

I say...do what YOU are personally comfortable doing at the moment.

Who knows....maybe in another 10 years there will be even MORE information and more products geared to natural hair, and then those same people will go natural again. IDK....*shrugs* Right now I'm just embaracing my natural hair that I've kept "hidden" for almost 20 years of my life, and I'm so HAPPY to see other fellow blk women embracing their natural hair (for however long they want to) at the moment as well.

I'm just so happy to feel like we now have real OPTIONS w/our hair.

 

[**SaSSy**]

You should relax, not because it seems like everyone is doing it, but because it's your hair and you are the one who has to deal with it. I know this is a hair board, but I never understood why people need some kind of prep talk, or validation on whether to relax or stay natural with their hair. There are worst things in life to worry about.

 

[OndoGirl]

Wow...you ladies are dropping like flies lol! Every time I see a thread like this I think of the song Another One Bites the Dust by Queen

 

[Chaosbutterfly]

I think it's normal around this time of year to start reevaluating decisions and to want to make some drastic changes. I feel tempted to make this stretch a transition period or to just chop my hair to SL. Both are weird, because I know full well that I don't want to deal with my natural hair, nor do

But anyway, just give it another month and see how you feel.

 

[Napp]

hmm it seems like for every 2-3 people who want to relax there are 10 going natural. They just dont make threads about it

 

[Renewed1]

I understand Kinky, I feel the same way at times. But when I do, I just straighten my hair and KIM.

When it comes to my natural hair -- I decided to figure out ways to shorten the time it takes for me to "do" my hair care regime.

 

[Kinkyhairlady]

I understand Kinky, I feel the same way at times. But when I do, I just straighten my hair and KIM.

When it comes to my natural hair -- I decided to figure out ways to shorten the time it takes for me to "do" my hair care regime.

How do you shorten the time? Mine takes a long time cause it's usually so tangled.

 

[candy626]

There's nothing wrong with relaxing. The key is properly applying relaxers and taking care of your hair the same way you do when you are natural. There are many texlaxed and relaxed on this board with healthy heads of hair of long hair.

 

[ajoke]

I wish my hair would retain better. I really like my natural hair, but I am seriously style challenged and very conservative, so i prefer buns and with shrinkage, it is difficult. I am hoping in a year or so, at full APL or longer, it will become easier to do styles that look good to me. So i do understand people's frustrations.

 

[JudithO]

I'm sorry if I started this whole relaxing madness... a lot of the recent "natural to relaxed" posts were started by me cos I'm relaxing really soon. At the end of the day, you just have to do you. The only reason I can go thru with relaxing my hair is to keep reminding myself that it is just hair.. I am open to a possibility that relaxed hair may not work out and I'll have to transition again... If I put a lot of sentiments into it, I cant go thru with it... but hair is really not as serious as we take it on these boards.. especially when you figure out how simple it is to keep it growing naturally.

 

[Embyra]

Im never going back to relaxers i just dont get why anyone would have hair on their scalp and always have it in twist/hidden

if thats not really how you enjoy wearing your hair relaxed or natual hair is here to enjoy so enjoy it!!

 

[GoodMernin]

Every time the thought of texturizing tries to enter my mind, I find another interesting thing that my hair does.

 

[Evolving78]

i did it and have no regrets. do what makes you happy.

 

[Kinkyhairlady]

I'm sorry if I started this whole relaxing madness... a lot of the recent "natural to relaxed" posts were started by me cos I'm relaxing really soon. At the end of the day, you just have to do you. The only reason I can go thru with relaxing my hair is to keep reminding myself that it is just hair.. I am open to a possibility that relaxed hair may not work out and I'll have to transition again... If I put a lot of sentiments into it, I cant go thru with it... but hair is really not as serious as we take it on these boards.. especially when you figure out how simple it is to keep it growing naturally.

Yes judy4all I blame you! lol. j/k

Actually I watch a lot of your videos and I can totally relate to some of your frustrations. I have just started thinking about this because I have gotten so comfortable with wearing braids all the time now out of pure convinence not cause I enjoy it. When I was relaxed I was well put together and my hair was looking good. I don't know what I will do yet because I cannot think of anyone who I trust to put a full relaxer for me. That can end up a hot under or over processed mess and I will be upset. I have some jacked up braids in now that I have to remove this week. I need to figure out what I'm gonna do, either rebraid, press or relax. I can't hot comb my hair for nothing though.

 

[JudithO]

lolol Kinkyhairlady .... Well pressing is a nono for me... I might as well just BC knowing what I went thru the last time I tried it. I can't retain well in braids.. too much breakage for me. Goodluck.. I dont suggest you keep rebraiding.. you'll be doing your hair more harm than good. What about a weave?

 

[HanaKuroi]

I haven't read the whole thread but why can't press and curls work? You can roll your hair and wear the same styles as relaxed hair. Am I missing something? Why hide your hair all of the time?
I have had a relaxer in the past and I still had to use heat and rollers and setting lotion. And then you have to retouch. I thought I would have white people hair after a relaxer. I didn't and I still had to fool with my hair even more than before.

Honestly wondering, does being natural mean no pressing/flat ironing and wearing your hair out? I keep reading about folks wanting to relax to wear their hair out. I wear my hair out and I am natural.

Off ti finish reading.


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[Kinkyhairlady]

lolol Kinkyhairlady .... Well pressing is a nono for me... I might as well just BC knowing what I went thru the last time I tried it. I can't retain well in braids.. too much breakage for me. Goodluck.. I dont suggest you keep rebraiding.. you'll be doing your hair more harm than good. What about a weave?

judy4all
My edges look a hot mess already and I am sure they will be gone when I take these braids out. I hate weaves cause they constantly shed or I have to blend them with my hair and that takes too long. Right now I want conveniance but I also want my hair to be healthy. I have more issues with my natural hair cause I have no idea what to do with it half the time. If it were longer it would be easier but it's not

Good luck with the relaxer. can't wait to see the pics!

 

[Kinkyhairlady]

I haven't read the whole thread but why can't press and curls work? You can roll your hair and wear the same styles as relaxed hair. Am I missing something? Why hide your hair all of the time?
I have had a relaxer in the past and I still had to use heat and rollers and setting lotion. And then you have to retouch. I thought I would have white people hair after a relaxer. I didn't and I still had to fool with my hair even more than before.

Honestly wondering, does being natural mean no pressing/flat ironing and wearing your hair out? I keep reading about folks wanting to relax to wear their hair out. I wear my hair out and I am natural.

Off ti finish reading.


Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

Press n curl is too much heat for my hair cause I would need to do it on a weekly basis. My hair gets dirty quick so by 1 week i start shedding. the press n curl could work but it is pricey for me to be spending 60 bucks every week. I've tried to do it myself but it never looks good.

HanaKuroi
What is your hair texture? I think it is harder for people with coarser hair to wear it out. I cannot wear my hair out loose due to tangles.

 

[lustrous]

like someone else said, it's just hair. If your hair is hidden most of the time anyways- it seems you cant lose. if you relax and hate it, just go back to hiding your hair and grow out the relaxer. the only way you lose is if you have this constant doubt or worry over relaxing. hair is meant to be enjoyed. life is too big and too short to do anything less.

I relaxed afer several years natural. I did it for convenience. 4 hour twist sessions and full day wash days and serious detangling stunk. I loved my hair styles but whenever i gained length, id start straightening it too much and have to cut. now,relaxed, hair is the longest that it's ever been. my longest layers are closing in on bra strap. the only con is that i miss my coily fro and my twists. I figure after i reach my long hair goal, i could always experiment with texlaxing until i get the combo of curl and ease of style that i want. it is just hair. I listed the pros and cons, made a decision and kept it moving lol. overall, im pleased with my hair. doubt is natural but dont live with it. HTH

 

[JudithO]

HanaKuroi My hair strands are too fine for a press and curl. I get horrible heat damage from the pressing comb. Some people with thicker strands can handle it.Constant heat to my hair will do a lot more damage than a relaxer.

Kinkyhairlady When my hair was much shorter, I wore a two strand twist set most of the time. See this video - I retained perfectly with it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge1nVcRN5lM

I also uploaded this video with tips on how to care for our hair... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge1nVcRN5lM I hope it helps.

 

[HanaKuroi]

Kinkyhairlady I have shoulder length fine 4b hair. My daughter has coarse 4b hair. We wear braid outs/curlformers or press/flat iron. I do stretch it after washing no matter if I use heat or not. When I started dc and upping the moisture before pressing our hair lasts for over 2 weeks if I don't wash it.
Eta: I wash in sections and don't detangle. I don't let my hair get packed at the scalp at all.

Eta for clarification I don't detangle with a comb or Denman anymore I finger detangle.
Sent from my iPhone using LCHF app

 

[qchelle]

DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Aggie]

All the best with whatever you decide to do Kinkyhairlady. I know it feels like you're in a catch 22 but decide at the end of the day to be happy with your decision.

I loved my hair in it's natural state except for wash and detangling days which became laborious for me and extremely time consuming - neither of which I care about so I took the plunge and texlaxed it. I could not be happier!

I stretch my relaxer 3-4 months at a time, my hair is much easier to manage and at the same time, it's not limp and lifeless. Life is great, and me and my hair are now quite happy.

 

[Cendra]

I'm natural and not tempted at all. For the very reason you stated about the harmful chemicals. So you want to wear your hair out more often? Just do it. You can still grow and maintain your hair with wash-n-gos, twistouts, etc. Try different things say, 3times a week and hide your hair for 4 days. Don't make any big decisions now because you know that getting rid of the perm later will mean growing it out and cutting the ends all over again.