I don't know what to do!

[Crissi]

...I have been growing my hair for exactly 5.5 months, from a fade, now i have box plaits thatare near 3 inches long (yay getting my half and inch a month!)Anyway i have had enough already! It isn't long, and its doing fine, retaining length and all the good stuff, nevertheless i forgot how thick and kinky/coily my hair is. To the point that i was braiding it today and the amount of hair that came out was depressing! my hair jus coils into itself to the point that 3 inches looks like less than half an inch. I want to grow my natural hair to 18 inches, however i don't think i have the patience to deal with natural hair, it is as if i have become a slave to my hair! I ave never relaxed, i've always wanted to grow my natural hair long because i think it looks pretty and i want to prove a point, however is it really worth it? Am i better off getting a relaxer? it take forever and a day to deal with my hair now, what will it be like ina yr or 2?

 

[audacity.]

Crissi, Congratulations on your growth!!! I sho do remember your start pics! You have got to be proud of yourself!

Well, I COMPLETELY understand what you are saying. I am relaxed but my last relaxer was in late JAN of this year, and (though I hate to admit it) I am NOT a big fan of my natural hair! I understand your frustration of "dealing with it". It gets real old, real quick. I don't understand why anyone needs to "deal" with it if they don't have to, y'know? What's wrong with loosening up the curl pattern to make it more manageable?

Anyway, I have made the decision to relax again once my 12 mos stretch is over. However, I do not encourage you to do it. I have so much respect for women who wear and "deal with" natural 4a/b hair. I enjoy hearing about your progress (and seeing it too). You are an inspiration to other women here and in RL. I am rooting for you girl!!!

Keep it growing!

 

[ladylibra]

hang in there! we may not have the same coil pattern, but i have SUPER THICK hair and i'm at APL. believe it or not, it's actually a little easier to take care of as it gets longer... especially in protective styles, which is what i'm about to do for the rest of the fall/winter months. and look on the bright side... i feel it's always better to have thick hair that you can get thinned out, than to have thin hair that you spend your days wishing was thicker and fuller!

and shrinkage... well... it's something that comes with the territory. but when you focus on nurturing your hair's health, it's always rewarding to look up one day and pull out a coil and suddenly notice it's grown several inches, or to get your hair straightened and be shocked by how much true length you have.

 

[Crissi]

Thank you ladies for the encouragement! Im going to try and foot it out for atleast a year! lol 6 months to go.I will post pics tomorrow, i need my
bed! I should just be thankful that im retaining legnth even though the shrinkage makes it appear as if its not growing...at all!

Crissi, x