HELP! Transitioning...want to relax my edges..what are your experiences.

[Ladylu]

Hey Ladies. I am 8.5 months post. My edges are out of control and I am so tired of slicking them down. Has anyone out there just relaxed your edges and edges in the back? Please let me know your experience with this, regrets, concerns etc?

 

[blessedandlucky]

first, let me say that i'm relaxed and not transitioning, so you may not want my 2 cents. here they are anyway, i think if you're going natural, that your edges are part of the package. if i were transitioning, i wouldn't want to have smooth edges that would contrast with the rest of my hair. i would be able to tell with my texture. i'm sure that others will chime in with more options. good luck!

 

[Determined22]

I've never done that, but I understand the edges frustration. In fact, I BC'ed after transitioning for only 4 months, because I couldn't handle the two textures, including my edges.

To me, relaxing just the edges defeats the purpose of transitioning in the first place. What are you gonna do when you're ready to cut & you have straight relaxed hair at the edges & longer unrelaxed hair in the middle?

If you really want your edges to lay down as much as possible, you should try the scarf method. Brush/smooth your hair back and then tie on a scarf to make it lay flat.

 

[Ladylu]

Thanks Ladies....it's mostly the back of my hair that drives me crazy. I wear my hair up and the back... it just out of control. I can handle the hair in front..it's mainly the back. I'm not sure what texture I have, but my stylist called it very "fine" hair. It's not very kinky or coily..it has more of a wave pattern.. I could probably never wear an afro...if I tried it would look like I stuck my finger in a socket..LOL..

It can't be good to keep putting all this wax jel on my hair/edges every day.

 

[I Am So Blessed]

sade' is going through this same issue lol. so there are two threads like this going on lol.

i say just go ahead and relax those edges, thats what my sister does.

 

[melissa-bee]

I was planning on doing this during my transitioning. But right now i'm around 7 months and i'm doing okay. I understand because i flat iron my hair once every 2 weeks and my edges are the first to revert, so it won't look crazy like what some people are thinking. But i learning to live with it. I threw away my applicator brush and i don't wanna waste money on relaxer and neutraliser. And i'm also worried i might end up relaxing my whole head.

 

[prospurr4]

I'm texlaxed, but if I were transitioning to natural, I would want to be completely natural, edges and all. If gels and/or scarves weren't getting my edges straight enough, I would just use heat, as needed.

 

[brucebettye]

I am texlaxed and I only texlax twice a year. So my edges get out of control at times. I learned that if my edges and nape are damp they will laid down easier with gel. I love eco styler olive oil gel it works wonders and is alcohol free. Also I use hair grease on damp hair to and it works great.

 

[MyAngelEyez~C~U]

Thanks Ladies....it's mostly the back of my hair that drives me crazy. I wear my hair up and the back... it just out of control. I can handle the hair in front..it's mainly the back. I'm not sure what texture I have, but my stylist called it very "fine" hair. It's not very kinky or coily..it has more of a wave pattern.. I could probably never wear an afro...if I tried it would look like I stuck my finger in a socket..LOL..

It can't be good to keep putting all this wax jel on my hair/edges every day.

Sounds like your texture is similar to mine. have you tried the scarf method? sometimes it works for me, sometimes not...I've kinda just given up and let my hair do what it's gonna do in the back.. I just smooth it throughout the day if I'm in a pony. I'm also gonna try flexirod sets...hopefully then my edges won't really matter.

 

[Foxglove]

This time period was challenging for me too in my transition. I suggest switching to non-sleek styles so you won't have to relax your edges (braids, braidouts, twistouts, etc)

 

[glamazon386]

Don't do it. When your hair grows out you'll have straight hair sticking out all around the hairline. It will look odd because it won't blend with the rest. I'd just try toughing it out a little bit longer. When your hair is natural the wayward edges won't be as noticeable because it will blend in with the rest of your hair.

 

[Ms.Christ3n]

Doesn't sound like a good idea but do what you think is best for your hair. I wouldn't relax them bone straight more like texlax them so when you do cut your relxed hair off there won't be a huge difference between your edges and the rest of your hair.

 

[Solitude]

sade' is going through this same issue lol. so there are two threads like this going on lol.

i say just go ahead and relax those edges, thats what my sister does.

For a second, I thought this was the same thread....

 

[WantNatural]

My edges were out of control when I was transitioning. I finally found Ecostyler gel and that worked like a charm on the front of my hair. I also would use a little on the back and a scarf which helped both the front and the back to lay smoothly against my scalp. Also, because my nape was shorter than the rest of my hair, I would twist it up and secure it with a small barette that matched the color of my hair because I wore my hair in a bun 100% of the time. It worked well and kept everything tame.

 

[Leeda.the.Paladin]

I just think it would look weird. I mean, when you go get rid of your relaxed ends, it would mess up your styling. Also, you would not be fully natural.

 

[lala]

I'm almost 8 mos (7.5) post last retouch and I wouldn't recommend relaxing just your edges. If you're gonna relax, then just do your entire head.

IMO, the products that you're using aren't working for your hair, so you'll need to find a heavier product that will smooth/provide hold. My hair is fine around my hairline and doesn't require much to smooth, but I still use heavy products like shea butter, coconut oil or L'occitane shea butter ultra rich mask. After I shampoo, I apply a creamy leave in conditioner (Design Essentials), a little Motions foaming wrap lotion, shea butter and dry my hair under a hair dryer. I wear a scarf at night and that helps as well.

 

[classychic1908]

Can you just pin those hairs up that like to stick out, try a few more products and methods for smoothing, or maybe just let the hairs do what they do and embrace it as part of your unique look as a natural.

 

[Miss AJ]

Umm, I'm not trying to be a smart aleck but what is the point of transitioning to natural if you're going to relax your edges? If you can't accept your hair for what it is then you might as well keep relaxing. If you're really serious about going natural then why not get some braids or osme other protective style?

 

[Ladylu]

Thanks for all your comments ladies... Let me clear up something. I am not trying to relax all of my edges all the way around. I can pretty much tame the front. It's the back...I want to relax about an inch up my hair line. My hair goes down my neck much farther that the average person... I actually used to keep it cut when I used to relax.....since transitioning...I have let it grow out..so it's only about 1.5 inches long.

I can't image that you would be able to tell that much of a difference if I did a twist out or braid out, roller set etc...

My current transition style is to roller set and I wear it up in a clip...and I have to slap on all that wax every day...that can't be good for the hair either... sigh..

 

[mimi0410]

Maybe you should try different products...more on the natural side. Like Hairveda's Whipped Jelly or (my fav) Almond Glaze. You could also maybe try Qhemets Biologics Amla Oil Nourishing Pomade. These products work for me using a bit of water to dampen the hair..then gently brushing and applying a scarf to mold. Im pretty certain Hairveda and QB both carry sample options for the products I mentioned. I havent tried EcoStyler but hear great things about it.
Im currently 8.5months post my last texlax (this is my second attempt last one ended at 11.5months) at transitioning. What I learned the first go round is you will have to alter your regimen and products to be successful. Personally I dont think relaxing or even texlaxing is the key if you are serious about transitioning. Part of the difficulty with transitioning is learning how to care/maintain for your natural texture and relaxing/texlaxing (your nape and edges)is sorta putting you behind the curve ball.