I am officially unofficially transitioning.

[leona2025]

I'm scared. I have been stretching and I'm about 4 months post or so. I have about 4 inches of ng. I have trouble combing through my new growth unless it's soaking wet with conditioner. I use the same products I've been using. They still work for me.

For hair styles I've been tying down my edges and airdrying and wearing it wild and out or in braid outs. I don't know what else to do. I decided to transition because I want to see what my natural hair looks like I'm transitioning, but I don't intend to ever cut. I guess I will see how it goes. It's going to be hard learning how to style my hair.

 

[ezina]

Good luck! It's not so hard once you get the hang of it. Also, what do you do to get 4 inches of new growth in 4 months?

 

[leona2025]

I'm not sure. I just do the same stuff as usual. Nothing special.

 

[curlycrown85]

You have beautiful hair! It takes time to get used to dealing with both textures. It's best not to comb through the new growth. Try "finger combing" the new growth and when washing, try best to keep all of your hair in one direction, because if the straight hair gets mixed up with the new growth, there could be MAJOR tangling.

 

[JJamiah]

find a few low maintenance hair styles. Stick to them. Get that magic Star Wide Tooth comb it works wonders. Deep condition, DC, and DC. LOL

what works for me is Low Maintenance and Deep conditioning and my as needed protein for my relaxed hair to stay on my head

 

[havilland]

i agree with @JJamiah.

wide tooth comb. deep condition as much as possible. once or twice a week if you can. deep conditioning will be more important as you get more new growth.

in my opinion , if you don't want to cut your hair, it helps to start with some hair. by that i mean, have enough hair to throw it in a bun when you get frustrated.

the other key, IMO if you don't want to cut, is that you have to have healthy relaxed hair. you can't transition without big chopping if your relaxed hair is hanging on by a thread anyways.... not gonna work!

you have both, so you are good. just be patient. you will hit diff challenges as time goes by. don't mess with your hair if you are not in the mood. when the two textures become bratty, just walk away. put them in time out and come back to them when you feel more calm and patient. just like with little kids.

to me 4 months is still the easy breezy mark.

lastly, mindset is key. i'm at almost 11 months and i don't say i am transitioning. i just stopped relaxing. "transitioning" made me think of cutting, which stressed me out....because i do not want to cut my hair.

once i got past thinking i would have to cut my hair and what others may or may not think, i was on smooth sailing autopilot. i have not told anyone but yall that i stopped relaxing cus i didn't want to hear any lip service about it. i come from a family of 3a/3b heads who don't even understand why i wouldn't relax my "naps". but now my hair is healthier and longer than all of theirs, so i just smile and KIM.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU! holla if you need help

 

[gn1g]

transition in braids. I always transition for about 6 mos once I transitioned for 2 yrs and when it comes time to cut I run as fast as my legs will carry me to a relaxer ::wilted::

 

[naturalmanenyc]

I know you do not want to cut your relaxed hair; however, after having transitioned from relaxed to natural without a big chop for 2 years, I highly recommend you trim your hair at regular intervals. It was not easy at all dealing with, in my case, 3 textures of hair on my head.

I just added a blog post about it today: http://goingnaturaltransitioningtonaturalhair.com/random-posts/trimming-your-hair/

 

[WriterGirl]

Just finished transitioning after 15 months. I must say with APL hair, it was easier because I could just put it in an updo and/or a bun and call it day if I started to get frustrated. After 9 month mark, I got in a groove.

The key for me was finding a stretching tool for both my textures and limit my heat. I did that with Curlformers. Literally through the whole transition. Didn't use direct heat much. I think I wore a straight flat iron style only once during my transition. Low heat and low manipulation. I think that helped me a lot.

Good luck on your journey.

 

[gn1g]

WriterGirl Curlformers sounds interesting, what products did you use?

 

[WriterGirl]

gn1g I set my hair using Garnier Frutcis Sleek and Shine and then sealed with Dax grease.

I never tried setting lotion or gel during my sets but I may play around with them and see what the results are.

I do know that Curlformers are excellent for stretching the hair with low or no heat.

 

[leona2025]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Right now I find that I am cowashing every 2 days or so. Then I air dry and bun, twistout, or braid out. Since its summer and I rarely even attempt to straighten. Everyone I know is very supportive. My mom was like let me get you some money for a relaxer.

I am happy with my hair and I like seeing the texture. We will see how it goes.

 

[Hairroots]

I was thinking about texlaxing my hair. Maybe you might want to consider that. Just a thought! You will still have your texture.