yesterday, i was at this ladie's house who was going to braid my hair. she said my hair was supernappy (because I hadn't had a relaxer since april). She used a hotcomb to press my new hair. I have been trying not to relax my hair for a long time because it damages my hair too much. I was wondering wheter it was safe to transition from relaxing to just pressing new growth with a ht comb? if you have done this, do you find the results satisfactory?
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Going from Relaxing to Pressing
- Thread starter Harina
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momi
Well-Known Member
I transitioned by Flat Ironing and Pressing and it was not very good for my hair. I think I would have been okay if I had known how to keep my hair moisturized properly. She was giving me conditioners weekly, but I dont think they were the right type.
My hair ended up breaking really bad and my planned year long transition ended at around five months. It was no problem though - I just rocked a fro for a while. My best friend transitioned this way also for a year and when she finally cut off the relaxer all of her hair was straight - so she still ended up with a twa. Now it has grown back beautifully and she wears comb coils or two-strands.
My hair ended up breaking really bad and my planned year long transition ended at around five months. It was no problem though - I just rocked a fro for a while. My best friend transitioned this way also for a year and when she finally cut off the relaxer all of her hair was straight - so she still ended up with a twa. Now it has grown back beautifully and she wears comb coils or two-strands.
OneInAMillion
New Member
A TWA = teenie weenie afro, what you get if you chop off relaxed hair and only have a little bit of new groth. Two strands are twists. Not too sure about comb coils, but someone can help you out there.
I have not transitioned (considering it) but my mother transitioned by just pressing the new growth every two weeks. Her goal was to wear straight styles all the time, so this worked out. For whatever reason, her hair is extremely resilient and she retains her natural curl pattern even though she presses. Note: as I've read here, this is NOT often the case, as many suffer heat damage after just one press, flatiron. It really depends on how your hair responds to heat. My mom's a 3c.
Hope you get more responses. In my opinion, if you get someone who KNOWS how to press and not burn your hair, this can be accomplished. I would think about the following: How has your hair previously responded to heat? and What are your goals (chemical free only, or natural texture).
I'm sure more of the ladies here can be of better assistance. Good luck!
I have not transitioned (considering it) but my mother transitioned by just pressing the new growth every two weeks. Her goal was to wear straight styles all the time, so this worked out. For whatever reason, her hair is extremely resilient and she retains her natural curl pattern even though she presses. Note: as I've read here, this is NOT often the case, as many suffer heat damage after just one press, flatiron. It really depends on how your hair responds to heat. My mom's a 3c.
Hope you get more responses. In my opinion, if you get someone who KNOWS how to press and not burn your hair, this can be accomplished. I would think about the following: How has your hair previously responded to heat? and What are your goals (chemical free only, or natural texture).
I'm sure more of the ladies here can be of better assistance. Good luck!
This is waht I plan to do. I talked to a lady who says it is alright. I found out about the stylist from a little girl who had long, think, beautiful 4a/b hair all the way down her back. At the time she said that that was her first relaxer, and she had gotten her hair pressed and curled for years.
locabouthair
Well-Known Member
that's what i did. i wore braids for a couple of months and when i took them out i decided to get a press. then i decided to just keep pressing the new growth and cut off the relaxed ends. i kept alternating between the press and braids. the results were good. i didnt have any problems.
so1913
Well-Known Member
If you plan on wearing your hair in it's natural state, I caution against excessive straightning. I "transitioned" flat ironing about once a week (no intentions of going natural) but when I made the decision and cut off the relaxed hair, I had permanently straight hair from heat usage in some sections. It looked great straight, but my natural hair suffered and it made natural styling difficult.
Everyone doesn't experience this...but some do. It's just a chance you'll be taking.
Good luck.
Everyone doesn't experience this...but some do. It's just a chance you'll be taking.
Good luck.
momi
Well-Known Member
so1913 said:
Very true. I have been pressing on a regular basis for about 6 months and I still have my curl - with the exception of the edges that are just about straight. So when I want to wear a natural looking style I cornrow or pull the edges back.
I had to make a decision if the flat iron was worth losing my curl pattern. That is the question you have to answer for yourself. If your intention is to wear an afro or natural style, i would not flat iron. If you will be a straightie (made up word) then that flat iron should not hurt. Just make sure you keep your hair moisturized and the iron is not too hot.
Browndilocks
Browndisha Brownie Sundae
I've done this with great success, but understand that this can potentially be a very long process. I don't know how long your hair is, but mine was about brastrap length when I decided to transition from relaxed to natural. I'm in Cali where the humidity is very low, and a press lasts from one wash to the next, so I didn't do a Big Chop, although I trimmed generously & regularly (and still do). It took me about 5 years to really grow all my relaxed hair out and even now, there are small traces of relaxed hair on my ends (that will eventually be cut).
If you click on my siggy link and go to the Extras page, you see where my hair was in February after flat ironing. It was VERY hard work but still no regrets. I wear my hair in every style imaginable from bone straight to afros to braid extensions. I will say however that with natural hair, I cannot use heat as much, so my flat iron or pressing limit is once a month, although I used a hooded dryer to condition after every wash which is 1-2 times per week.
HTH
If you click on my siggy link and go to the Extras page, you see where my hair was in February after flat ironing. It was VERY hard work but still no regrets. I wear my hair in every style imaginable from bone straight to afros to braid extensions. I will say however that with natural hair, I cannot use heat as much, so my flat iron or pressing limit is once a month, although I used a hooded dryer to condition after every wash which is 1-2 times per week.
HTH
