Charla
New Member
So sweet! My boys love my natural hair too! My oldest son told me last week, "I wish I could have a fro like yours!" He's 15! My little one just always says, "It's so pretty, Mama!"
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Anyone thinking of throwing in the "NATURAL" towel for 2012?
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So sweet! My boys love my natural hair too! My oldest son told me last week, "I wish I could have a fro like yours!" He's 15! My little one just always says, "It's so pretty, Mama!"
I'm happy in the natural camp. If you're unhappy with your hair it's coz you're fighting with it too much, or you're paying attention to other people's length. Let that go and you'll be fine. You're not going to be the same height or weight as someone else, so why assume your hair is going to be the same length as someone else's in a year? Just do the basics to care for your hair - it's no different than caring for your skin. Just know your hair type and what it needs. Then stick with the styles that your hair can do.
If I want a different look, I buy the texture I want and make a wig. If making wigs is not your thing - they have plenty realistic and affordable options that come pre-made. When you know a few little tricks about how to wear and style a wig no one will be able to tell. I don't crusade against relaxers, I just don't think they're necessary.
If I want a different look, I buy the texture I want and make a wig. If making wigs is not your thing - they have plenty realistic and affordable options that come pre-made. When you know a few little tricks about how to wear and style a wig no one will be able to tell. I don't crusade against relaxers, I just don't think they're necessary.
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Well-Known Member
Nope, definitely not throwing in the towel. Being natural is too much fun and suits my face and lifestyle better. Straight hair is not for me. If anything I may straighten once or twice a year in 2013 once I'm off my no heat challenge. Op I think you should hang in there and learn to work with what you have. I'm sure that once things are a little smoother you are going to love your kinks and curls.
djkforeal
Member
I could never bring myself to relax...When I was lurking on LHCF in 2005 I saw all kinds of relaxed threads and I was looking at folks hair and I was like man, I want to relax and not deal with the maintenance of natural hair. I went to the BSS and bought a relaxer kit and everything and could not bring myself to do it. I guess that is how strong I feel about that stuff in my hair! Even though my left brain was telling me to do it, my right brain was smarter. Now I just struggle with my own hair faults/mishaps that I do to myself, instead of blaming it on the creamy crack. Protective styling under wigs has really been my saving grace, the less I manipulate my hair the better it thrives. My natural hair gets dry sometimes also, but I just stick with moisturizing and sealing with oils like grapeseed, avacado and coconut oil when it is damp. Anyway, do you girl, I think it would be hard to deal with natural hair after being relaxed for so long, but I am the opposite, I have dealt with natural hair all my life and relaxer for about a year when I wasn't even old enough to care for it, 10 
HTH
HTH
Detroit2Dallas
New Member
Chile I did that this past summer an dI cant say I looked back. My hair thrives no matter if its relaxed or not because I take care of it. But I relaxed and cut and been cutting eer since, been through about 3 different colors (I'm at jet black now) and about 4 different variations of short cuts. Do what works for you.
I was on the fence for a min too (I made a thread about it to get opinions) and then just decided that I wanted a new style for a new phase of life. But I'm known to wear my hair a thousand different ways so i may go natural again. One thing I wont do is wear my hair relaxed when its long, I will only wear a relaxer as long as i want to wear short hair.
I even let my relaxer grow out of my relaxer, cut the ends and wore my hair in a curly fro until i got tired of that and relaxed it again. My hair grows very very fast when its short so I just have fun with it. I'm rocking the style in my siggy.
I was on the fence for a min too (I made a thread about it to get opinions) and then just decided that I wanted a new style for a new phase of life. But I'm known to wear my hair a thousand different ways so i may go natural again. One thing I wont do is wear my hair relaxed when its long, I will only wear a relaxer as long as i want to wear short hair.
I even let my relaxer grow out of my relaxer, cut the ends and wore my hair in a curly fro until i got tired of that and relaxed it again. My hair grows very very fast when its short so I just have fun with it. I'm rocking the style in my siggy.
Detroit2Dallas
New Member
And as for the moisture problems you ladies need to be putting your oils (preferably jojoba) in with your fav deep conditioner, this is going to give you a great moisture foundation. I do this even for my clients.
chebaby
Well-Known Member
I am. I'm not getting a relaxer but I am becoming a straight hair natural. I'm actually still in love with my hair I'm only making this change because I just want something different. Right now I'm in the Dominican salon getting a blow out. COme Saturday I will get my bsl hair cut in to short cut like rhianna and chrisette Michelle had. I just want something new and exciting. I will go back to rocking my naps in the future but right now I'm 24 and have always been the type to stick to the same thing. I don't like change. I'm trying to change that and have fun.
Only reason I didn't get my hair cut today is because I need to find a salon and a blow out was the middle ground in case I chicken out lol.
Only reason I didn't get my hair cut today is because I need to find a salon and a blow out was the middle ground in case I chicken out lol.
Austro-Afrikana
Well-Known Member
I've had a lot of issues; splits, ssks...the usual. A year into my transition I did not know how to airdry. I would end up with shrunken dry hair that hurt to comb but I just tried again the next week. I think I ended up asking southernbella how she air dried and from there I discovered aloe Vera and glycerine.
This year I considered blowdrying my hair due to ssks but I couldn't even bring myself to do that! I am natural for life
.
This year I considered blowdrying my hair due to ssks but I couldn't even bring myself to do that! I am natural for life
.
Geminigirl
Well-Known Member
No way Jose! I love being natural and can't imagine relaxing again. Even when my hair gets an attitude I would never think of putting a relaxer on her ever again.
excuse my typos i hate it as much as you.
excuse my typos i hate it as much as you.
No, not at all, I will braid or weave if I get the urge...I actually can't wait to have long natural hair.
southernbella your hair is lush!
southernbella your hair is lush!
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Well-Known Member
Detroit2Dallas your hair is so cute!! Are you natchal or relaxed?
Detroit2Dallas
New Member
natural_one
Well-Known Member
I am two years in and my SSKs are getting crazy, but I am figuring out ways to deal with it so no throwing in the towel for me.
Me and my newly natural friends were chatting over the weekend and half of us were ready to throw in the towel while the others were willing to hang in there.We got to chatting at how challenging being natural is for one person versus the other. Any of you naturals thinking of signing off and going back to relaxing or texlaxing for 2012?
What "towel" and why are people being forced to "hang in there" over some hair?
If it's not working out for you and you've done all you can to make it work, then do what you feel is necessary for you.
It's just hair. You can always go natural again if you want, no big deal.
I've never experienced "challenges" being natural, so I can't identify. I don't make my hair do things it can't and I love it for what it can.
LongLeggedLife
New Member
No m'am, but I have now had as many years natural as I had relaxed.
I went natural way before youtube or lhcf, or flat irons even & honestly I find that many of the newbies have turned it into grossly overcomplicated rocket science with an encyclopedia sized rule book.
13 or so years ago, all I had was beeswax &things were perfectly fine. My only advice if you do decide to stay natural is to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Alot of the info available now can be helpful, but I find most to be unnecessarily excessive, & even fear-mongering in some cases. You shouldnt be afraid to comb, style, & wash your hair.
Oh and also understand that most kinky hair does not 'shine', it has a matte appearance, looks frizzy, may be undefined, and there is nothing wrong with that. Its not necessarily 'dry' bc it has these characteristics, and ones head should not feel like an oil slick 'shingled' with a tub of gel per day b/c one is seeking 'perfect' wet&wavy baby doll ringlets &we feel like anything else is 'dry' & unmoisturized.
Jmtc
I went natural way before youtube or lhcf, or flat irons even & honestly I find that many of the newbies have turned it into grossly overcomplicated rocket science with an encyclopedia sized rule book.
13 or so years ago, all I had was beeswax &things were perfectly fine. My only advice if you do decide to stay natural is to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Alot of the info available now can be helpful, but I find most to be unnecessarily excessive, & even fear-mongering in some cases. You shouldnt be afraid to comb, style, & wash your hair.
Oh and also understand that most kinky hair does not 'shine', it has a matte appearance, looks frizzy, may be undefined, and there is nothing wrong with that. Its not necessarily 'dry' bc it has these characteristics, and ones head should not feel like an oil slick 'shingled' with a tub of gel per day b/c one is seeking 'perfect' wet&wavy baby doll ringlets &we feel like anything else is 'dry' & unmoisturized.
Jmtc
LuvlyRain3
Well-Known Member
I have thought about being a pressed natural or a blown out natural.
tapioca_pudding
Well-Known Member
I love my hair, just hate my length. I can't imagine going back to being texlaxed or relaxed for SO many reasons... the thing I hate abt being natural is that my hair is short, but that's only temporary. Just my .02.
LadyPBC
Well-Known Member
I too struggle with my natural hair but now its just finding styles that complement me and also keep my hair healthy. My hair can get dry at times too but I know its prob because I had been lazy and didn't moisturize it. I've been natural for 2.5 years and I wanted to get a texturizer or something then I found other alternatives - thank goodness for the www and access to sites like LHCF. My hair doesn't grow as quickly as I would like but I don't do everything I should like maintain a healthy diet, drink lots of water and take my vitamin supplements with some degree of consistency. I still don't have my regimen down to a science - I have graduated from being a product junkie and looking forward to having very long, healthy, natural 4A/B, 3C hair. Having said that @ Austro-Afrikana would you share your regi with me puh-leeeeeez?!!!
OP - I think you should make the decision that is best for you but make sure it suits you. Maybe you should find a natural hair care professional to work with (the same as you would with your relaxed hair). You may learn a few things and which products work best for your hair. I know I found one who set my hair on flexirods and the finished product looked as if she had taken a flat iron to my hair - even my stubborn coils/kinks. I was in awe! Also you may have some hardcore build up on your strands. I don't think that I can ever live without my Terressentials Mud Wash. My hair feels and looks so much different since I started using it.
OP - I think you should make the decision that is best for you but make sure it suits you. Maybe you should find a natural hair care professional to work with (the same as you would with your relaxed hair). You may learn a few things and which products work best for your hair. I know I found one who set my hair on flexirods and the finished product looked as if she had taken a flat iron to my hair - even my stubborn coils/kinks. I was in awe! Also you may have some hardcore build up on your strands. I don't think that I can ever live without my Terressentials Mud Wash. My hair feels and looks so much different since I started using it.
Detroit2Dallas
I LOVE being natural and the longer it grow, the more I LOVE my hair! I will admit, the ONLY time I would contemplate getting a relaxer is if I was gonna cut my hair like yours. Beautiful cut!
pre_medicalrulz
It Always Been About Hair!
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Well-Known Member
Detroit2Dallas
I LOVE being natural and the longer it grow, the more I LOVE my hair! I will admit, the ONLY time I would contemplate getting a relaxer is if I was gonna cut my hair like yours. Beautiful cut!
Her cut is the business! Such a cutie too. It really suits her.
MyAngelEyez~C~U
Well-Known Member
OP, have you tried the CG method? My reggie is mostly CG except I shampoo once every 3-6 weeks, and I wet my hair daily n cowash 2-3 times a week. I'm also a frequent wash n gower, and my hair is doing pretty well. I keep it simple (henna for color every 2 months, and staples are Ecostyler and Tresemme naturals, water with a lil bit of glycerin in my spray bottle). my hair started to really thrive when I started leaving it alone and quit being a product junkie.
Hang in there another year and see if you have a break-through.
Hang in there another year and see if you have a break-through.
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So does yours in your siggy JeNeSaisQuoi. LOVE IT!
NappyNelle
Kinky Coily 4A, Fine Strands, WSL
Nope. I love my hair.
lilyofthenile
New Member
A few months ago I would have said ''I MAY do so if I do not retain any length whatsoever''. The first year of my HHJ I did all the... well what I THOUGHT was the right things. But now I have learned so much in just the past four months or so, my thought of texlaxing by summer 2012 if I don't get three inches retained, have gone.
But I have found what pretty much works with me in the detangling and knots department. I find it unlikely that I'll throw in the towel. Mind you, I've been more natural than I have ever been relaxed. Last time I was relaxed was seven years ago.
It is understandable though why naturals would go back, but I'd say be patient, hang in there and keep looking for what works! The first year is the discovery period for what works for you or not and sometimes it'll take longer to find it out. But do what suits your needs and what you want.
But I have found what pretty much works with me in the detangling and knots department. I find it unlikely that I'll throw in the towel. Mind you, I've been more natural than I have ever been relaxed. Last time I was relaxed was seven years ago.
It is understandable though why naturals would go back, but I'd say be patient, hang in there and keep looking for what works! The first year is the discovery period for what works for you or not and sometimes it'll take longer to find it out. But do what suits your needs and what you want.
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prettypithy
New Member
I transitioned in braids for about 18 months so even though my last relaxer was in 2009, 2011 has been my first year wearing my hair natural and out of braids.
I cut off all my relaxed ends in February and promised I would give myself at least a year natural.
In that year, my regimen has gotten much simpler and my hair a lot longer. I find longer natural hair easier to deal with because of the variety of easy updos. I can now always make it at least presentable with just a little water, gel and a scrunchy. That is actually more than I could say when it was relaxed.
I definitely dreamed of having curly hair when I was a kid...little did I know, I actually had it! So, I can't see myself relaxing even when February rolls around. My hair is thick but fine 4a/3c and it just isn't that difficult to deal with. I love the way it feels as well. And my hair did not thrive with relaxers. So for me, I'm pretty sure it is team natural for life.
I cut off all my relaxed ends in February and promised I would give myself at least a year natural.
In that year, my regimen has gotten much simpler and my hair a lot longer. I find longer natural hair easier to deal with because of the variety of easy updos. I can now always make it at least presentable with just a little water, gel and a scrunchy. That is actually more than I could say when it was relaxed.
I definitely dreamed of having curly hair when I was a kid...little did I know, I actually had it! So, I can't see myself relaxing even when February rolls around. My hair is thick but fine 4a/3c and it just isn't that difficult to deal with. I love the way it feels as well. And my hair did not thrive with relaxers. So for me, I'm pretty sure it is team natural for life.
curlyninjagirl
New Member
I'm natural for life. I've been natural for 8 years and never had the desire to relax again. In the past, if I couldn't deal with my hair I'd just get braids. These days, I don't even feel the need to do that though. Length makes all the difference for me. I loooooooooove my natural hair LONG!!!!
Napp
In hair purgatory
I had planned on staying natural until the end of the year and i decided to jump the gun and relax 2 months ago. natural hair has been pretty much all i knew and Im happy for the change. My natural hair is not difficult to take care of but i found that i just didnt like styles that worked best for my texture. Now my hair is easier to comb and style, styles lasts for much longer and my hair is more predictable,all of which i prefer.
Ive had many years of experience of my natural hair and how it acted when it was a twa is not how it was when it got longer or added heat to my regimen. These things made my natural hair easier to work with.one year is not enough to fully understand the nuances of your own natural hair. I also found that making my own techniques to style my hair was the way to go. It was when i tried to force my hair to act a certain way with someone elses techniques i had issues.
I personally had issues with being a straight haired natural.i loved it because it was easier to maintain but my hair would have a limit on how much the curl would loosen before it would split and break. My natural unadultarated hair is really hard to break and split. with heat i had much more breakage and splits especially when my hair was in a curly state. I still retained length overall but not at the rate or thickness as my heat free hair (relaxed or natural). i never really dealt with ssk so it wasnt an issue. I also didnt like having to deal with my curly hair when it was in between presses. That is where i got most of my breakage. I like straight hair but not all the time and i did not like the long commitment i had to keep a straight style. I cannot blowdry my natural and leave it. Its gets ashy looking,looks thin,feels very rough,the ends tangle and the style doesnt last any longer or look better than if i did it without heat.
my hair would also never get bone straight no matter what i used nor have swang even with the "correct" techniques.
It seems that i am like taz007 my hair seems much thicker relaxed than a heat trained natural.
Ive had many years of experience of my natural hair and how it acted when it was a twa is not how it was when it got longer or added heat to my regimen. These things made my natural hair easier to work with.one year is not enough to fully understand the nuances of your own natural hair. I also found that making my own techniques to style my hair was the way to go. It was when i tried to force my hair to act a certain way with someone elses techniques i had issues.
I personally had issues with being a straight haired natural.i loved it because it was easier to maintain but my hair would have a limit on how much the curl would loosen before it would split and break. My natural unadultarated hair is really hard to break and split. with heat i had much more breakage and splits especially when my hair was in a curly state. I still retained length overall but not at the rate or thickness as my heat free hair (relaxed or natural). i never really dealt with ssk so it wasnt an issue. I also didnt like having to deal with my curly hair when it was in between presses. That is where i got most of my breakage. I like straight hair but not all the time and i did not like the long commitment i had to keep a straight style. I cannot blowdry my natural and leave it. Its gets ashy looking,looks thin,feels very rough,the ends tangle and the style doesnt last any longer or look better than if i did it without heat.
my hair would also never get bone straight no matter what i used nor have swang even with the "correct" techniques.
It seems that i am like taz007 my hair seems much thicker relaxed than a heat trained natural.
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