Has anyone gone natural...acheived length...then relaxed?

[PanamasOwn]

I was just wondering... I see that some people have achieved healthier hair while being natural, and sometimes greater length. Did anyone go and relaxer their hair after sometime? And if so, was your hair healthier and longer than before?

 

[Avyn]

tryin to keep this alive. i would like to know this too.

 

[Soliel185]

I did it. That wasn't my plan -- I just wanted something different after 1 1/2 yrs of being natural. I went from LESS than nape length - lol - to between APL & BSL in that time. But I noticed after a year of relaxing that my hair length was a little shorter than when I'd started, meaning I hadn't retained any length. That's when I joined LHCF.

So yes - it was definitely healthier and longer. But I don't think it was a result of just being natural -- I think it was also b/c I had braids w/o extensions the entire time so there was no manipulation.

 

[justsimply]

I was relaxed many years back then I loced for 3+ yrs, chopped, went natural "loose", straightened/flat ironed often. I was just past shoulder length. I thought it would be better to relax than to use heat weekly. I relaxed in Dec06....regret it. I'm now a little past APL. Last relaxer was 31Oct07. I'm transitioning back to natural now.

So yes I did, but I didn't last a full year. It's not that the relaxer damaged it or anything. My hair is pretty healthy thanks to LHCF and a great hair dresser. It's just having dealt with both, I really prefer my natural texture, 4b that it is, over relaxed. I like and miss the versatility of it all.

Wanted to add that gaining and retaining length didn't seem to be affected by wether I was relaxed or natural. My hair grew well in both states.

 

[blue_flower]

I was natural before and when my hair grew out I got a relaxer. When my hair was short and natural, it was easier to take care of. But when it grew longer that's when it became difficult and time consuming. So I relax my hair every four months. My hair is shorter than it was before because I got a hair cut to get rid some layers.

 

[PanamasOwn]

intresting....BUMPING FOR MORE REPLIES

 

[PatTodd]

I haven't relaxed since June 2005, but never big chopped, so technically I am transitioning. At my last relaxer I was probably just below shoulder length stretched, and now I am bsl stretched. I am considering at least texturizing because I would like some additional versatility and the ability to wear my hair straight/styled more often (my natural 3c hair does not flatiron well).

I am truly torn about whether to relax - don't know why though, it's only hair! I think that I am concerned that relaxing and the resulting manipulation to achieve a straight style will weaken my hair to the point that I lose the length, little by little .

 

[sonce]

A long time ago when I first went natural, that was my original plan. I was going to grow it out natural because I noticed I actually retained length when natural, and then relax when I got to my length goal. And then I actually saw my natural hair in all its glory and beauty and knew I would never relax again. I still laugh periodically at my old plan, and how excited I was for the day to come when I could relax my napps to get straight, long hair. Oh, I was so excited at the thought.

 

[BillyJay]

I recently relaxed after being natural for 2 years.

I started at chin length and grew it out natural until I reached APL. After that I relaxed using ORS No-Lye and I'm currently BSL. I dont have any updated relaxed pics. I'll be updating the fotki in June.

My hair is just as healthy as it was natural now that I know how to manage my hair.

The only difference I noticed was that I need more protein.

 

[Zakina]

............................

 

[PanamasOwn]

I recently relaxed after being natural for 2 years.

I started at chin length and grew it out natural until I reached APL. After that I relaxed using ORS No-Lye and I'm currently BSL. I dont have any updated relaxed pics. I'll be updating the fotki in June.

My hair is just as healthy as it was natural now that I know how to manage my hair.

The only difference I noticed was that I need more protein.

you know..if my hair starts becoming way too much to handle in about 2 years. I will relax it as well... I have much better knowledge on how to maintain healthy realxed hair... and it will feel so great to have APL or BSL hair that swings and all....

 

[Traycee]

When I told my stylist about my goals for growing my hair .....She said that it would be easier to reach them if I stopped relaxing.......

I'm not ready mentally to do that just yet ....I'm lazy....It takes a lot of work and you have to be careful when transitioning to avoid breakage......I do plan to start in the near future though...

 

[JerriBlank]

I was natural about 2 years ago. This happened accidentally after i permed a blonde hair colour...My mother had to cut off all my color and i had a twa.
I wore braids for about six months(i really think my natural hair grows faster then when i relax)
I got a texturizer,because i didn't want to relax.Well,my hair came out straight...
I went ahead and relaxed.
I have had healthy relaxed hair before,but i wish i had stayed natural.
Even though i don't know if i would be natural today...

 

[Neala21]

I was two years natural going on 3rd year and one month prior to my 3 year mark I decided to texalax my hair because i wasn't ready to let go of my natural texture and was scared about going fully natural.

I didn't care for texalaxed as it was drying to my hair (found out my hair hated ORS NO-lye due to it being very drying)

So i then changed to Mizani BB lye on the retouch (did a corrective) made myself fully relaxed and love it! I still am able to do twists as if i were natural.

Before i was natural i was relaxed and my hair was stuck at shoulder length. I bc to about 1 inch all around and grew it out to just past my shoulder.

My growth is still going and I getting ready to pass the APL mark. I think its all about health and maintain good practices whether relaxed, natural or texalaxed.

Plus it is hair and its good to experiment and find what works for you. I did it as a way to experiment, to learn more about myself and (also i can't color my hair due to a white birthmark that will never take to color- Plus i love my natural color)

 

[audacity.]

"I told y'all I was gonna like this...."

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