Has anybody transitioned by

[cheri_flava74]

pressing only with a flatiron (no pressing comb) or would it be damaging? I have been very indecisive about transitioning. This will be my second time if I make up my mind to do it. The first time I big chopped but this time I want to do a long transition without weaves, braids, or constantly wearing a bun. I was thinking about continuing to rollerset and flatiron weekly during my transition. I want to do braidouts but it takes my have forever to dry even after sitting under the dryer for 30 minutes. The next morning my hair is still damp.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

I don't want this to sound harsh, but if you're going to flat iron weekly then you might as well keep perming your hair. I would worry that even with a maxiglide that applying heat that often would result in permently straightened hair with no trace of your natural texture. So then why not just make it easier on yourself and keep getting the straightness out of a box?

 

[Country gal]

You want to transition to natural hair but you still have a relaxed mind. I understand what Jcoily is saying. I also had your mind set originally too until someone pointed out to me that pressing could cause as much damage as perming. Pressing occasionally shouldn't be too bad.

 

[Healthb4Length]

I don't want this to sound harsh, but if you're going to flat iron weekly then you might as well keep perming your hair. I would worry that even with a maxiglide that applying heat that often would result in permently straightened hair with no trace of your natural texture. So then why not just make it easier on yourself and keep getting the straightness out of a box?

I'm co-signing with JCoily. If you want that straight look either relax it or press it every once in awhile. But not weekly, this will equal a lot of damage. Maybe you could wear a straight full head weave to transition?

 

[Victorian]

pressing only with a flatiron (no pressing comb) or would it be damaging? I have been very indecisive about transitioning. This will be my second time if I make up my mind to do it. The first time I big chopped but this time I want to do a long transition without weaves, braids, or constantly wearing a bun. I was thinking about continuing to rollerset and flatiron weekly during my transition. I want to do braidouts but it takes my have forever to dry even after sitting under the dryer for 30 minutes. The next morning my hair is still damp.

I understand the desire to keep your regimen close to what you're used to to make the transition easier. That's to be expected and I don't consider that to mean you don't really want to be natural or aren't ready or whatever. But when you say that you're indecisive about transitioning are you just talking about being unsure about how to do the transition or do you also mean actually being natural?

At any rate, have you considered doing blowouts, where after the rollerset you would use a blowdryer on the roots instead of a flat iron? I ask because IMO direct heat appliances like flat irons and curling irons are more damaging than blowdryers. I know people have differing opinions on that, but I'm sure it's an individual thing too. It's just that irons are much hotter than dryers and I think they are more likely to cause damage.

I tried the no heat thing during the beginning of my transition and it was fine for a while but when I started having tons of newgrowth it wasn't so good. I didn't want to do braidouts and my wet buns were looking pretty scary. So I went back to my old routine of washing and blowdrying once per week. And it's not that my hair is super coarse or holds up to a ton of heat or anything; It's actually quite fine. I just used medium heat and always used a heat protectant. I also deep conditioned each time I washed. I imagine doing the rollerset first and just blowdrying the roots would be even better than fully blowdrying as I did.

 

[cheri_flava74]

I DONOT have a relaxed mind. I have been natural before. As a matter of fact I was natural most of my life. I am indecisive because before I just big chopped and I don't want to do that this time. I also don't want to wear weaves, braids, or buns(all the time). Once my hair is completely natural I WILL wear natural styles ( and press sometimes if I choose to) but I am just trying to make my transition easy.

Thanks BlackCardinal for being able to relate.

The picture below is me when I bigchopped in 2003. I had just done fingercoils.

 

[onepraying]

I DONOT have a relaxed mind. I have been natural before. As a matter of fact I was natural most of my life. I am indecisive because before I just big chopped and I don't want to do that this time. I also don't want to wear weaves, braids, or buns(all the time). Once my hair is completely natural I WILL wear natural styles ( and press sometimes if I choose to) but I am just trying to make my transition easy.

Thanks BlackCardinal for being able to relate.

The picture below is me when I bigchopped in 2003. I had just done fingercoils.

Hey c_f74

Correct me if I am wrong...but it sounds like you are concerned with dealing with the two textures? The first time, you chopped just to get right to the chase but this time you want to transition slowly since you have been so indecisive.



You know you can create so many other styles other than what you mentioned above. I am really enjoying my transition. Visit my album to see the many styles that God has given me(not trying to sound super spiritual or anything, just giving God the glory). Also, I agree with BC, you can do weekly or bi-weekly blowouts; they worked in JenniferMD's favor. However, you do run the risk of damage.

There are a lot of women that transitioned using the flatiron. Of course, the decision is totally up to you.

Whatever you decide the board is here for support.

ETA: Also, about the braidouts. I have aproblem airdrying too. I do mine on dry hair with a cream leave-in and spritz with a little water. Lastnight, I CO'd and lightly blow dried to moist(not damp!) and then braided. It came out very nice and dry too.

 

[so1913]

I did, but only because I had not planned on "transitioning". I came back from school and had a bad experience with a relaxer and did not trust anyone to do my hair. Because my hair straightened pretty easily, I told myself I'd just flat iron it until I found a stylist I felt I could trust to apply my relaxer. I'd flat iron once to twice a week on a regular basis as if my hair was relaxed. After a year, I figured I'd just go natural.

I would not recommend weekly flat ironing as I believe I ended up with some heat damage in the front parts of my hair. However, I did not take precautions i.e. using heat protectants all the time, lower heat, in an attempt not to disrupt my natural hair texture. If you do decide to try it, be extra with conditioning and protecting your hair, and using lowest heat possible.

 

[cheri_flava74]

Hey c_f74

Correct me if I am wrong...but it sounds like you are concerned with dealing with the two textures? The first time, you chopped just to get right to the chase but this time you want to transition slowly since you have been so indecisive.



You know you can create so many other styles other than what you mentioned above. I am really enjoying my transition. Visit my album to see the many styles that God has given me(not trying to sound super spiritual or anything, just giving God the glory). Also, I agree with BC, you can do weekly or bi-weekly blowouts; they worked in JenniferMD's favor. However, you do run the risk of damage.

There are a lot of women that transitioned using the flatiron. Of course, the decision is totally up to you.

Whatever you decide the board is here for support.

ETA: Also, about the braidouts. I have aproblem airdrying too. I do mine on dry hair with a cream leave-in and spritz with a little water. Lastnight, I CO'd and lightly blow dried to moist(not damp!) and then braided. It came out very nice and dry too.

Thanks for the advice, Onepraying. You are right I just want to find a easier way to deal with the 2 textures.

 

[RainbowCurls]

Erm flat ironing weekly does not equal 'should relax'.
To me, it equals not wanting to look a hideous mess while transitioning with fuzzy pony tails that are wavy on top and make my head look big* with fried scraggly stiff ends.

I tried not using heat for a while, but as I've got new more and more new growth, it just looks bad, and makes me feel ugly.
Blow drying and flat ironing my hair once a week makes me feel better about myself, and also means I don't have to mess around with my hair for ages every day trying to make it look decent, and failing miserably.

cheri_flava74, if your hair isn't that susceptible to heat damage, I'd say go for it, and remember your heat protection products. Some people's hair gets damaged by heat more than other people's.

* I am aware that having curly hair when I've finished transitioning may still make my head look big while wearing pony tails, due to the volume of hair. But, I won't be wearing pony tails, EVER.
It's just the only style I can currently wear while transitioning if I don't flat iron. Ugh.

Oh, when I wash my hair, the new growth is still curly, so if I have heat damage, I don't think it's serious.

 

[hopeg80]

Have you considered getting a straw set? It helps blend your new growth and gives you a no fuss hairstyle.

I understand what you are saying it is hard to deal with two textures, but I don't think that flat ironing your hair is the best bet. It can cause a lot of damage to your hair and result in straightening out you new growth.

I know that this isn't alot of info, but I hope that it helped a little. Good luck in your transition.

 

[Faith]

Um, I don't think she is considering natural but still has a relaxed mentality. It's a valid question/issue that I have as well. It's more about the fact that you want to minimize breakage with the two textures and flatironing it weekly/2x/month may work. Nothing to do with being caught up with relaxed hair BUT really just about trying to find a way for the two textures to co-exist without braids,weaves,etc.

 

[Faith]

I DONOT have a relaxed mind. I have been natural before. As a matter of fact I was natural most of my life. I am indecisive because before I just big chopped and I don't want to do that this time. I also don't want to wear weaves, braids, or buns(all the time). Once my hair is completely natural I WILL wear natural styles ( and press sometimes if I choose to) but I am just trying to make my transition easy.

Thanks BlackCardinal for being able to relate.

The picture below is me when I bigchopped in 2003. I had just done fingercoils.

I hear ya. I'm in the same boat. Been considering going back to natural hair BUT I'm not sure I can transition without a BC. I did the BC before and I do not want to do that again..not with hair this length.

 

[cheri_flava74]

thanks 4 the reply faith but i decided to stay relaxed. it is funny how some people r so quick to judge without examining the issue. not everybody wants to transition with braids, weave, buns, etc. if i ever were to decide to go natural (can not see it in the near future) i will flatiron my newgrowth once a week but i would never use a pressing comb and oven. it is all about how well you take care of your hair (whether relaxed or natural) that alleviate damage. what harm one may help another. Good luck on your transitioning.

 

[Faith]

I haven't decide to transition yet. I'm at week 9 post relaxer and already it's hard...sigh. LOL! I'll keep going and see what happens I guess. Either that or buy the Phyto Index II and see how that works for me.

 

[Enchantmt]

You can change your mind later and go natural anytime. You can always try stretching your relaxers a bit to see how well you can manage the two textures. There are several posts about this recently. I did ok until my eighth month but then I started getting breakage so I just BC'd. Some naturals do press or flat iron all the time because they want the relaxed look but not the relaxer chemicals. Decide on your reasons for transitioning, and how you want to wear your hair the majority of the time because heat damage is no joke and if you do want to wear your natural texture it would be a valid concern. Good luck and whatever you decide we're here for you.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

Cheri_flava,

I wish you well with whatever works for your hair.

My response that perhaps you should continue relaxing was not a judgement, just an observation based on this statement:

I have been very indecisive about transitioning. This will be my second time if I make up my mind to do it.

I have been transitioning for almost 10 months and will probably be doing it for another year before I cut my relaxed ends off. I find transitioning to be a difficult process and I wouldn't advise anyone to go this route unless they are certain it's something they want to do. I'm not making a statement about your mindset, there is already another board full of people who are willing to jump on that bandwagon. What I will say is that not everybody can handle what transitioning and later dealing with natural hair entails. Since you tried it once and something made you go back to perming, I just figured I woud put it out there that maybe there is a valid reason as to why you are indecisive.

Cheers and good luck!

 

[cheri_flava74]

Cheri_flava,

I wish you well with whatever works for your hair.

My response that perhaps you should continue relaxing was not a judgement, just an observation based on this statement:



I have been transitioning for almost 10 months and will probably be doing it for another year before I cut my relaxed ends off. I find transitioning to be a difficult process and I wouldn't advise anyone to go this route unless they are certain it's something they want to do. I'm not making a statement about your mindset, there is already another board full of people who are willing to jump on that bandwagon. What I will say is that not everybody can handle what transitioning and later dealing with natural hair entails. Since you tried it once and something made you go back to perming, I just figured I woud put it out there that maybe there is a valid reason as to why you are indecisive.

Cheers and good luck!

I was natural for a long time before I relaxed. Once I was relaxed, I joined the military and missed my natural hair so I bigchopped and the only reason I relaxed again is because my afro was getting to big for my headgear and i didn't like braids.

Thanks for your response.

 

[onepraying]

I was natural for a long time before I relaxed. Once I was relaxed, I joined the military and missed my natural hair so I bigchopped and the only reason I relaxed again is because my afro was getting to big for my headgear and i didn't like braids.

Thanks for your response.

I can just IMAGINE that....