I have decided to transition...

[dontspeakdefeat]

...My daughter's hair. I remember her natural hair being very soft fine and wavy curly. I don't want to relax her hair anymore because I think the relaxer is doing more harm than good. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated. Her pics are in my hair album if you want to look.

 

[DahomeyAmazon]

Since your daughter is young it may be best to keep her hair in braided styles while transitioning. I know someone who transitioned for three years with braids, she did not experience the breakage often associated with transitioning. I also suggest finding a product that will keep her hair moisturized, like braid spray or curl activator.

Also, it may be good to talk to her about natural hair. I would explain that it doesn't matter what other's may say about her hair. Just let her know natural hair is beautiful too and whatever her hair ends up looking like (wavy or tightly coiled) it's perfect, because it's her's. I wish you both good luck.

 

[kitchen_tician]

Her hair is beautiful also. I don't have any tips, but best wishes on the transitioning.

How does she feel about it?

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

[ QUOTE ]
DahomeyAmazon said:
Since your daughter is young it may be best to keep her hair in braided styles while transitioning. I know someone who transitioned for three years with braids, she did not experience the breakage often associated with transitioning. I also suggest finding a product that will keep her hair moisturized, like braid spray or curl activator.

Also, it may be good to talk to her about natural hair. I would explain that it doesn't matter what other's may say about her hair. Just let her know natural hair is beautiful too and whatever her hair ends up looking like (wavy or tightly coiled) it's perfect, because it's her's. I wish you both good luck.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's good advice! Thanks! I haven't talked to her in detail yet but i did tell her that I won't be relaxing her hair anymore. I already keep it plenty moisturized with s-curl. I don't think I will have a problem with breakage because I only relaxed her hair 2 times a year and had no breakage problems.

Her hair like daily co washes so when she's not in braids I think I will do this. I appreciate your support. Thanks

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

[ QUOTE ]
kitchen_tician said:
Her hair is beautiful also. I don't have any tips, but best wishes on the transitioning.

How does she feel about it?

[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks! She doesn't care one way or the other just as long as she looks nice!

 

[NubianAngel]

I have seen your daughters pics, and I do think that you are making the right decision by transitioning her. She is so young to be going through the ups and downs of having relaxers

I think it will also compliment her more, IMO. I hope you don't take offense because I don't mean any harm.

I don't have any children, so I can't offer any personal experiences. I just want to offer my support and wish you the best. Oh and Nappturality's napptural children section will have alot of other mothers who can share their experiences with transitioning their daughters with you.

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

[ QUOTE ]
NubianAngel said:
I have seen your daughters pics, and I do think that you are making the right decision by transitioning her. She is so young to be going through the ups and downs of having relaxers

I think it will also compliment her more, IMO. I hope you don't take offense because I don't mean any harm.

I don't have any children, so I can't offer any personal experiences. I just want to offer my support and wish you the best. Oh and Nappturality's napptural children section will have alot of other mothers who can share their experiences with transitioning their daughters with you.

[/ QUOTE ]

No offense taken.

I have been battling with this decision for the past year. One of our members, Deeply Rooted, inspired me to finally go ahead and do it. Her hair is so close to my daughter's hair they could be hair twins. Her pics showed my that my daughter's hair can be shiny and healthy in it's natural state. So I am gonna go for it!

Thanks for your support and thanks for suggestion the Nappturality's napptural children section. I will take a look over there to get more inspiration.

 

[bettydavis]

I think transitioning her is a good idea. So many little girls grow up with no memory of their natural hair texture....I think you've made a great decision.

Braids, twists, bantu knots, would work great on her. There are so many style options that would look cute on a little girl and be protective, and with your braiding skills I'm sure you'll come up with some of your own. I wish you and you daugther the best of luck.

 

[MrsQueeny]

Hi I have been doing the same with my daughter's hair. She wore cornrow braids for about a month recently. I had cut her hair to about chin length prior to putting them in. Now she is wearing bantu knots and loves them. The best advice I could give is to detangle (I mix water and conditioner and spray)and then put her hair in 4 braids and wash. I also give her a deep conditioning treatment. That helped me so much. I continually spray her hair with braid spray or surge morning and night. She has about 4 inches of new growth. I am thinking about cutting the remainder and putting her cornrows back in this weekend. PM me if you need anymore tips. I'll be praying that everything works out. Take care Queneesha

 

[OnceUponAtime]

I'm still transitioning and have followed general hair care rules, like being gentle for instance and maintaining moisture.

I have been fortunate to retain most of my length with protein treatments. Other than eggs, I'm not sure what treatment I would recommend that would be gentle with as little drying as possible. I use the harsh stuff, but I can handle it and my commitment to washing and conditioning frequently helps. I'm not comfortable with the idea of harsh treatments on children.

If I think of or come across something useful, I'll be sure to pass it along.

 

[shoelover1972]

I do not have any advice but your daughter's hair is gorgeous and I think that you have made a wise choice. I am sure with a mother like you with so much experience re haircare you should have no problem with transitoning.

I see too many young girls with bone straight hair that looks lifeless and I wonder if their hair would have been in better condition if they had not had their hair relaxed at such a young age

Good luck

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

Thanks Ladies for all the wonderful advice and support!

Betty Davis, she def. will be wearing a lot of twists, braids and bantu sets. I need to get some pics of her beginning her transitioning journey.

 

[Ayeshia]

goodluck DSD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! your daughters hair will be in good hands with you

no transitioning advice. and i dont think your daughter would want to walk around with two inches of har...so no twa for her

 

[inthepink]

Good luck, DSD!

 

[Irresistible]

Congrats to you and your baby DSD!!!

 

[alliyah4eva203]

congrats and good luck

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

Thanks for all the support everyone! I really means a lot. I was almost in tears reading all the supportive posts.

[ QUOTE ]
ayeshia said:
goodluck DSD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! your daughters hair will be in good hands with you

no transitioning advice. and i dont think your daughter would want to walk around with two inches of har...so no twa for her

[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks!

Ayesha, you are a trip!

No twa for her. I will probably do braids, braids outs and bantu sets. When she wants it straight. I will pull out the ole flat iron, but not too much! Her hair does well with ponytails too.

 

[EXSQUISIT]

Good luck DSD....I know it will be a breeze for you!

 

[BLESSED1]

I was just thinking about transitioning also, I'm 4a/b and have been relaxed for almost 20 years now, I'd love if you could pm me some helpful tips that you've come across!

 

[Miosy]

DSD, I think it's a great idea especially from the way her hair texture looks

I find that for young girls who constantly get their hair braided or in different styles that require pulling, it's best to leave it natural because that hair is way stronger than the relax hair. My litttle cousin always had her hair in braids or some type of "pulling" style while her hair was relaxed and she was never able to retain length because her ends always broke especially when we did conrows on her. I'm transitioning her now. Her hair is shorter than your daughter but I basically treat her hair like I do mine. Carefully detangling, quality shampoos & conditioner, protein treatments, etc. I basically keep her in a bun since she has now abut 5 inches of new growth, the edges are a lot stronger and I am also alternating with box braids every other month. Sometimes I flat iron when she wants a straighter look. Initally, I cut all the uneven broken hair and now I cut slowly. HTH Good Luck

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

Thanks Ladies!

Moisy, thanks for all the advice. I need as much as I can get. I probably won't do a big chop but I will trim it as it grows in. I think it will be better this way. I will keep her shoulder length until her hair in all natural. I wonder how long that will take. I need to measure.

 

[Chimma]

I think that's a great idea.
I think it is best that a little girl grows up knowing how to care for her natural hair. If she decides to relax later in life, she will be more empowered and will relax healthier if she already knows how to care for her own hair texture. If she stays natural, it will be much easier for her to do than for most of the new naturals, who never grew up knowing their own hair texture!

 

[Cinnabuns]

[ QUOTE ]
DahomeyAmazon said:
Since your daughter is young it may be best to keep her hair in braided styles while transitioning. I know someone who transitioned for three years with braids, she did not experience the breakage often associated with transitioning. I also suggest finding a product that will keep her hair moisturized, like braid spray or curl activator.

Also, it may be good to talk to her about natural hair. I would explain that it doesn't matter what other's may say about her hair. Just let her know natural hair is beautiful too and whatever her hair ends up looking like (wavy or tightly coiled) it's perfect, because it's her's. I wish you both good luck.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, very well put.

 

[Ayeshia]

I think it will take her about a year and a half to get to shoulder length

Maybe less. Childrens hair grows really fast

 

[deeplyrooted]

[ QUOTE ]
dontspeakdefeat said:
[ QUOTE ]
NubianAngel said:
I have seen your daughters pics, and I do think that you are making the right decision by transitioning her. She is so young to be going through the ups and downs of having relaxers

I think it will also compliment her more, IMO. I hope you don't take offense because I don't mean any harm.

I don't have any children, so I can't offer any personal experiences. I just want to offer my support and wish you the best. Oh and Nappturality's napptural children section will have alot of other mothers who can share their experiences with transitioning their daughters with you.

[/ QUOTE ]

No offense taken.

I have been battling with this decision for the past year. One of our members, Deeply Rooted, inspired me to finally go ahead and do it. Her hair is so close to my daughter's hair they could be hair twins. Her pics showed my that my daughter's hair can be shiny and healthy in it's natural state. So I am gonna go for it!

Thanks for your support and thanks for suggestion the Nappturality's napptural children section. I will take a look over there to get more inspiration.

[/ QUOTE ]

A little birdie whispered in my ear and mentioned that this post existed.

I swear I'd miss my own ear if it wasn't attached to my head.

Congrats, DSD on your decision. Feel free to PM me anytime throughout your daughter's transition. I'm not the most knowledgable about transitioning, but I'm more than willing to share anything I know about natural hair care to help someone else out. All the best and good luck to you and your daughter. She's a cutie patootie.