Anyone Else Thinking of Transitioning?

[Chichi]

I am seriously thinking of transitioning (and have been for some time now)

. I have thick, type 2C (coarse) hair and I would like to see what my full natural texture looks and feels like.

Why do I want to do this?

1) The wonderful tips on this board has taught me how to properly take care of my hair (thank goodness for those conditioner rinses

)
2) The chemicals (thanks to the ladies on the other relaxer thread for the info, that is, if they have to wear gloves to apply it to your scalp..., etc.)
3) I rarely wear my hair out and straight. When I want to, I could go to a Dominican salon for a good blowout/doobie or flatiron (once a month or less)
4) I miss "my hair" after getting a relaxer. I just received a great retouch but I did miss the fullness of my hair after it was relaxed.
5) OptiMSM and vitamins do wonders for my texture and growth rate

.

This list could go on...

I have tried to transition before and gave up after 10 months or so and relaxed. That was before this board though. I hope that if I do decide to transition that I will hold the course until I am fully natural. I have nothing against relaxers; this is just a personal decision. In fact, my relaxed hair is healthy and thick thanks again partly to the great tips on this board.

Is anyone else relaxed and thinking of transitioning? I would like to hear why? Thanks.

Chichi

 

[jainygirl]

i was thinking about this just yesterday. just playing with my new growth( thinking my kinks and coils look cute

) and looking at how pretty it looks growing in is what has me toying around with the idea of transitioning. hopefully the challenge i'm making to stretch my relaxer from 8 weeks to 12 will give me enough satisfaction of seeing my "real" hair and i can just relax it and get over this new transition idea that's been on my mind. I've tried transitioning before and relaxed when i had 2 inches of new growth:

just chickened out i guess. at any rate, i've had a secret longing for natural hair ever since i first saw Lauren Hill in the "Ready or Not" video in like 1995 i think.

 

[Chichi]

I chickened out too before... Nowadays, I wait 3-4 months before a relaxer and I definitely like how my new growth is looking

. We'll see if I hold the course this time...

Chichi

 

[soslychic]

I think everyone knows that I'm thinking about transitioning with my 5000 recent posts about naturals and how they take care of their hair

I'm gonna give myself about 4 months to decide so that I absoulutely know for sure (1 has already passed) My hair is 4a maybe 4a/4b and I just really want to do it, but the grow out period is gonna drive me crazy I know. But I figure hey I'll go through it once and l have my beauitful long natural hair for the rest of my life and never have to worry about it again

 

[Chichi]

Yes, I know what you mean. I am dreading the growing out period too --- managing the two textures. I really do not want to do a BIG CHOP and I want to hold on to as much hair that I have tried hard to grow (it reaches the top of my shoulderblades now...).

I hoping that good products and styling in a bun will help me get over the hump.

Chichi

 

[Chimma]

It would be cool to start a transitioners club so all those transitioners could provide moral support! I transitioned and have been for almost a year. I found the first 7 months to be the hardest, but it was pretty simple from there on out. Now I am just impatiently waiting to be natural- I want to have long natural hair so badly!

 

[soslychic]

Chimma, do you still have relaxed ends after 7 months? Are your relaxed ends breaking at the demarcation line?

 

[Chimma]

Yeah, the majority of my hair is relaxed. It's been more than 7 months though - I last relaxed in January so 11 months now. It's just that it took me 7 months, before I figured out how to deal with my natural hair quickly and without stress. I have about 6 inches of natural hair, but it shrinks up to look like 3 w/o any straightening and the shrinkage is kind of bothering me.

When pressed, my longest hair is about 1/2 inch to an inch from bra-strap. My shorter hairs are just below shoulder length. I didn't realized the uneveness until I pressed (only straightened like that once in the whole 11 months).

I have a little breakage at the demarcation line. Where I really have breakage though is where my bun line was with the whole shoulder length shorter hairs. My relaxed hair was thick- i am told that whenever i go to the salon, but my natural hair is much thicker and that's basically what i miss and why i'm not relaxing anymore, i miss my childhood hair. also whenever I relax, I lose a lot of hair and get a few burns and that freaks me out because of the hair loss during the process (although its not noticeable its still scary to see that hair washing down the drain) and because of possible long term hair follicle damage w/ the chemical burns.

 

[soslychic]

It's good to know that you don't have a lot of breakage because I was thinking of holding on to my relaxed ends for about a year, but I was wondering if that would just get to be too much for my hair and break. Maybe it is all about moisture and minimal manipulation (which is my hardest problem right there).

 

[serena]

[/ QUOTE ]Is anyone else relaxed and thinking of transitioning? I would like to hear why?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm thinking seriously of it. That's why I'm taking on the 'stretching out relaxer challenge'. As to why: After close to 20 years of relaxing, I find that I'm beginning to miss my natural hair. I find myself stroking my new growth all the time, and imagining having a head full of hair that texture again. I'd love to try applying all l the knowledge that I've gained from this site to my natural hair. I didn't relax my hair until adulthood, so I'm fully used to handling it and know from experience that it's very easy to manage in its natural state.

To the poster who mentioned a 'transitioners' club': There's actually a thread called just that.

 

[Cherrie]

Chichi,

I am new to the board and am going to transition out of my relaxer. I had grown my hair out in the past but moved to a new city and could not find a stylist, etc. At that time the only options to relaxers were press & braids. Now I really like the twists, etc. I also can get my hair flat ironed whenever I want that relaxed look.

My main reason is lifestyle, I exercise and I think I would enjoy my natural hair and all of the options that are available now.

 

[nekee]

I'm thinking of transitioning . I dont think that as a brown female that i should not be able to wear my hair in its natural state while other races can. Im not thinking of transitioning. I am going to transition . I only have 1/2 inch of new growth . I am going on a over 200g protein diet , and biotin, msm, lcystein and somethign else challenge starting from jan 1.

From the protein alone I am hoping for about 1-2 inches a month. I am going to cut off my relaxed ends when i get about 10 inches of natural hair

 

[GinuwinesBoo]

im so glad i stumbled on this post because i seriously think im ready to transition. ive tried it before but gave up when i saw too much breakage but now that ive read al these post and seen all these inspirational pictures i think i can do it so as of now i consider myself transitioning.

 

[inthepink]

Good luck to you all making the decision.

I found after the 3rd/4th month that it became so much easier than I thought it would be. The key is learning how to manage the two textures and minimize tangles.

 

[DatJerseyDyme]

Thinking about it..contemplating it..

 

[LuLu]

I'd love to...but I'm ready to cry when I haven't relaxed for 4 weeks.....

 

[Chichi]

I think that we are all so used to the relaxer. My stylist told me that I would need a retouch at 12 weeks so at 14 weeks I went in for my retouch but I knew that I could have waited. I guess that I was just conditioned to get a relaxer after a certain amount of time.

Oh yes, I also think that the whole demarcation line=breakage deal is kind of hype in a way because when I tried to transiition before, I hardly received breakage (and that was before a hair regimen).

Chichi

 

[Chichi]

Oh yes, I forgot to mention...

Did anyone else notice the difference in skegees hair from relaxed to natural? Even when she styled her hair straight as a natural, her hair looked really thick and healthy

.

Chichi

 

[Vitality]

contemplating

 

[silvergirl]

im doing a "fake" transition. i gave myself a one year time line without relxers,, so far its been almost 7 months an everything is going better than i imagined.. after i pass the year mark, im going for a year an a half then the full 2 year mark before ever attempting to cut off my relaxed ends. so far ive had zero problem with breakage. im still not sure if after the two years if up wether or not ill ever relax my hair again. it will all depend on the next sigh...... year an a half

 

[jetcitygirl]

G'head, g'head!

I may be biased, but I think anyone who misses their natural hair should give transitioning (or chopping for the impatient) a chance. It would be a shame to go through your whole adult life and never get to experience it because of fear of losing length. Just think how fast the last 2 years went by. That's about all it takes to get your hair to shoulder length again. I'm hoping that anyone wishing to be natural will invest in the time to grow it out, it really doesn't take that long at all and it's very rewarding. Good luck to all of you!

 

[Peachtree]

Sorry to interrupt...

This thread is bringing back memories

so I'm gonna share my experience with u ladies...

I remember posting on a thread very similar to this one back in May. Anywho, I was confused... I luv'd seeing my newgrowth, playing with the waves, it was very manageable, etc, but I was too afraid of the "unknown... the unexpected... the what's it gonna be like when breakage sets in", that type of thing.

Why put myself through the confusion, the "what ifs" when it was so very comfortable & convenient to stay relaxed? After all, I just figured out how to "properly" care for my relaxed hair, my regimen was working wonderfully & I have grown my relaxed hair out to a nice length... so why give all of that up for a transition that had more initial fears & unknowns (in my mind...breakage, see through ends, scab hair, etc) than satisfaction?

Ok, lemme end this... I'm getting long winded again

Well, I can't remember who the member was... but she posted something to the effect of: "Peachtree, ur thinking toooo much about it. If the very thought of being natural turns u off (maybe free-unruly hair, shrinkage, coils, constant need of moisture replenishment, etc), then DON'T DO IT!

However, if the very thought of being natural appeals to u (for the same reasons + she must have listed 10 different things), then DO IT! .... don't think about it too much cuz u may "think" urself out of transitioning. Besides, if u absolutely can't deal with the obstacles, then there's still the option of relaxing...but give it a try 1st... u might just enjoy the ride."

I tried to find that thread but I couldn't.

.... hopefully her words will touch one of u too

If I can be of any help to anyone, let me know... Transitioning is not all that bad...in fact, I'm luving the ride

 

[Tracy]

I'm definitely considering it. My stylists don't help either. I am constantly being told that I shouldn't relax. Every single time I go to the salon (once or twice a week) I am reprimanded for having one.

Gotta love hairdressers....

My love for color would certainly be aided by oly having ONE chemical to consider....

 

[Chichi]

Thanks Peachtree! That's exactly what I needed to hear right about now

.

Chichi

 

[Peachtree]

Ur welcome luv

Let me know what u decide

 

[jd_bdfly]

[ QUOTE ]
Chimma said:
Yeah, the majority of my hair is relaxed. It's been more than 7 months though - I last relaxed in January so 11 months now. It's just that it took me 7 months, before I figured out how to deal with my natural hair quickly and without stress. I have about 6 inches of natural hair, but it shrinks up to look like 3 w/o any straightening and the shrinkage is kind of bothering me.

When pressed, my longest hair is about 1/2 inch to an inch from bra-strap. My shorter hairs are just below shoulder length. I didn't realized the uneveness until I pressed (only straightened like that once in the whole 11 months).

I have a little breakage at the demarcation line. Where I really have breakage though is where my bun line was with the whole shoulder length shorter hairs. My relaxed hair was thick- i am told that whenever i go to the salon, but my natural hair is much thicker and that's basically what i miss and why i'm not relaxing anymore, i miss my childhood hair. also whenever I relax, I lose a lot of hair and get a few burns and that freaks me out because of the hair loss during the process (although its not noticeable its still scary to see that hair washing down the drain) and because of possible long term hair follicle damage w/ the chemical burns.

[/ QUOTE ]

Chimma, reading your post is like reading my own thoughts exactly, almost like we may be hair twins. I too have thick relaxed hair, and stylists always comment on it when they do my hair. But of course it's much thicker unrelaxed. And like you, too I've been freaking out about the amount of hair loss during a relaxer. I've also been burned occasionally too, but that is less of an issue for me cause I've learned that if you are vigilant about the precautions your hairdresser takes (i.e. insisting on having your entire head based no matter what, not letting them use super strength, and rinsing it out as soon as you start to feel it burning), you should never have scalp burns.

My hair is also a bunch of different lengths with the shorter hairs around shoulder length and the longer ones approaching bra strap. I've also been seriously thinking about transitioning, but the place I haven't gotten is where I am ready to transition. I'm just not sure how I would manage all that natural hair without resorting to straightening all the time. Plus I think the breakage in the transition phase would be too much, and I don't want to get the "big chop" because I don't want to give up the length. Not to mention the thought of all that shrinkage is maddening... I guess I have a long way to go before I actually would go natural, but it's definitely been on my mind...

 

[serena]

[ QUOTE ]
Peachtree said: After all, I just figured out how to "properly" care for my relaxed hair, my regimen was working wonderfully & I have grown my relaxed hair out to a nice length

[/ QUOTE ]

You must've read my mind...

 

[douglala]

I have made the decision to transition too. It has been 5 months since my last relaxer. I thing starting a new transitioners club thread is a great idea. For us new tranitioners. I think we need it.

 

[GodMadeMePretty]

I'm thinking about transitioning.

Why? I learned a lot about relaxers. I'm a little afraid though because my hair is thick. I thought I had my hair texture down but the more I look at my hair, the more I realize that I don't have very many coils. There are just waves. Strong coarse hair that never was bone-straight.

I don't like the idea that I would have to spend a lot of time getting my hair straight although I can rollerset my daughter's hair and hers is straight, but hers is a lot finer than mine. And I can blow dry it to an acceptable straightness and wrap it and it's a done deal. But I can still feel the waves, it is thick and people think I have weave because it's so thick.

However, I have almost decided to wait until my good friend has her baby at the end of May because I've convinced her that the chemicals are absorbed in her body and her perm may not take anyway so she is trying not to relax until then. That will put me at 46 weeks, 6 shy from the one year mark. I'm at 20 1/2 weeks now and I'm OK.

I think I'll be fine. I've never been one to wear my hair down and now that I've found the braidout style for a dressy style, that's what I wear when I want it down. I love the 2-strand twists and can't wait until I have enough natural hair to do those - cuz this straight mess won't hold twists.

So, I guess I'm in the semi-transitioning stage. I know that I can handle the textures. I've been natural before when I was in college, but I didn't know diddly about taking care of my hair. I think with a good flat-iron, I'll be fine. I just have to make up my mind to fork over the money.

My friends look at my hair and tell me that I don't need to relax and I shoot back, neither do you. But what they see is the finished product, not the hard labor that went into it. Just kidding. I'm really amazed at how easy to handle the new growth is and when I don't feel like washing it and I want it to lay down, I just spritz with water, put on some UBH and some essential oils and it lays right down. Knowing that my hair will do that (something that I didn't know before I had this much newgrowth and finally knew how to take care of it), the idea of transitioning isn't that frightening. I just don't want to sacrifice any length whatsoever. So I will not be doing the big chop. I'll be hanging on to this straight mess.

 

[Cres81]

I think about transitioning all the time. I think that will be one of my New Year's resolutions!(Sounds like a New Year's challenge to me). Currently I experiment with my new growth when it comes in, but I want to be able to master it before I try to transition. I've ordered some Carol's Daughter products which I hear are essential for every transitioner. Hopefully they will aid in the process.