How long did it take you to go from the BC (twa) to Shoulder Length natural?

[Solitude]

I know every one is different, but I was just wondering how long it has taken some people? A year? Two years? Longer? What was your regi? Thanks.

Any pics would be great, as always....

 

[Evolving78]

i am not shoulder length, but i know as long as i don't do anything stupid to my hair to cause a setback, i will be shoulder length by Jul/Aug. it seems like the average on this board is a year to 1 1/2 years.

 

[DMJ's Mom]

It took me less than a year both times. I chopped down less than 4 inches in june and by Feb I was back to SL. Then I got bored and chopped down to about 4 inches at the end of May and by Dec I was back to SL. I'm convinced my hair grows better in warmer and humid weather because so far this year (I moved) with the dry air and cold my hair hasn't grown as fast.

 

[that_1_grrrl]

I had less than an inch of hair, and it took me about a year and a half if that. I am still trying to get to full SL though.

 

[Solitude]

In case you guys are wondering why I asked, I had a relaxer a few days ago and I'm like kind of over the whole relaxing process. Between all the natural heads at the HBCU that I attend and the inspiration on this board, I think I am finally ready to transition after relaxing for years. I'm still struggling with it, though....

 

[Junebug D]

I went from a baldie to SL in 1.5 years; not full all-around though.

 

[discodumpling]

This is my hair April 2007 freshly BC'd through January 2008 when I claimed SL. 9 months to SL. It's taking a bit longer for APL only because I spent the past year trimming off my henna.
Some (most) months my gains are in health; I consider myself a "slow" grower

 

[lilsparkle825]

i transitioned for a year and i was SL stretched when i BC'd ...barely, but i was.

 

[Solitude]

A year or a year and a half doesn't seem so bad...

 

[Soliel185]

If you figure you get the average 6" per year, 1 1/2 years sounds about right. Some people grow faster or slower.

If you're up for it, you could always do a long term transition and trim steadily to keep your hair at SL as it grows out.

 

[AtlantaJJ]

Why don't you transition a long while, there are a lot of ladies that have gone a year or more. I BCed in Christmas of 2007 after a relaxer in October 2007 went really wrong. If I had my choice I would have transitioned for at least a year.

 

[Solitude]

Why don't you transition a long while, there are a lot of ladies that have gone a year or more. I BCed in Christmas of 2007 after a relaxer in October 2007 went really wrong. If I had my choice I would have transitioned for at least a year.

Thanks. My last stretch was 5 months and I don't know... I just went to the salon and got a relaxer, I feel like it was for no reason, just out of habit. I'm worried about "giving in" again.

I was thinking if I BC, then it's over and done! But then again, that may be a shock. Maybe I should just set a specific goal or date.

 

[Soliel185]

Thanks. My last stretch was 5 months and I don't know... I just went to the salon and got a relaxer, I feel like it was for no reason, just out of habit. I'm worried about "giving in" again.

I was thinking if I BC, then it's over and done! But then again, that may be a shock. Maybe I should just set a specific goal or date.

I panicked and relapsed last year mid-transition after 8 months. As soon as I did it I was like So far I've made it 15 months with no issues. I have an idea of what my hair likes/dislikes, and now I know I can go get it braided or try a weave if I'm feeling dangerous instead of washing all my hard work down the drain.

 

[Solitude]

I panicked and relapsed last year mid-transition after 8 months. As soon as I did it I was like So far I've made it 15 months with no issues. I have an idea of what my hair likes/dislikes, and now I know I can go get it braided or try a weave if I'm feeling dangerous instead of washing all my hard work down the drain.

It's good to hear I'm not the only one. It's crazy, too, because I went to the Dominican salon. I could have easily just gotten a rollerset and my hair would have been just as straight. I currently have a lot of friends who are natural. They are always asking me, "Why do you still relax your hair?" I can't even think of a response.

*off to check out your fotki!*

 

[Solitude]

bumping!!!

 

[Jazzmommy]

It took me about a year...

 

[BlondeByDesire]

Well, I'm in transition mode ... I plan on transitioning for as long as it takes - I want to be at to SL when I finally decide to BC. I'm soaking in all the knowledge right here...

 

[TCatt86]

It took me about 15 months. I can't quite remember because I didn't bc until I was at sl.

 

[BrownEyez22]

I'm not there yet, but my longest layer should be there by this summer.

I BC'd in july08

I flatironed it in Jan

I only transistioned about 4 months. HTH

 

[LunadeMiel]

I BC'd on 2/8/2008 I had an average of 2" on hair. My siggy is where I am now.

 

[Nonie]

I guess it would take me about as long as others have said. I didn't BC when I transitioned. I guess you can say I stretched. But really, I just transitioned in braids. I would trim a little each time I redid a braid and do that to all till I'd trimmed about the same length from every braid. (I do them myself hence the reason I did it this way.) And by the time a year was up, I had no more relaxed hair.

I put the braids in when I had about an inch of growth (stretched) and in a year, when I was completely free of relaxed hair, I had this much growth:

 

[Sunrise]

Just over a year.

 

[Solitude]

I'm not there yet, but my longest layer should be there by this summer.
View attachment 31805
I BC'd in july08
View attachment 31807
I flatironed it in Jan

I only transistioned about 4 months. HTH

Very pretty, lots of shine!

I BC'd on 2/8/2008 I had an average of 2" on hair. My siggy is where I am now.

That's a lot of growth! Great progress!


Thanks so much to everyone who chimed in, and especially for the pictures!

 

[bludaydreamr]

I transistioned for 16 1/2 months and BC'd. I was SL then, I have a pic in my siggy of my straight hair from six months after, and I'm past CBL.

 

[Kurly K]

i chopped down to 2 inches a lil less in sum areas but it took me a year for full SL and 8 or 9 months for just making SL

 

[glamazon386]

About a year but I wasn't full SL. Just the back. I had my hair trimmed like 3 times in that year though.

 

[Solitude]

Any more?

 

[Carrie A]

I cut my hair short with the back natural cut close and front relaxed (sort of a Halle) then transitioned for 13 months. When I chopped all of the relaxed hair, I had about 6 inches around. The nape was at shoulder..... almost collar bone. You can check my transitioning folder at fotki. See profile for password.

 

[Eclass215]

I'd say probably about a year or so. I didn't straighten my hair or really do any length checks until a year and a half after I BC'd, so I don't know for sure when I hit SL, but by the time I did straighten it was probably CBL.

I don't have a pic of when I first straightened right now, but here is the BC pic.

 

[Charz]

Thank you! I wanted to start a thread on this!