I Think Its Time!!!!

[shetara20]

Hello Ladies!!!! I am proud to announce that I will be transitioning to natural in 2009!!!!! I have been finding inspiration from the natural ladies on LHCF(Too many to name) and found out that it is the best way for me to go! I love seeing the natural texture of hair and the curly coils and styles you can do with it! I was talking to my Best friend(chocolatethai shes a member on here) yesterday I made my decision to go natural because these relaxers are gettin on my damn nerves!!!! I am 4a/b type and currently 4 weeks post my last relaxer and I know I have a loooonnnnnggggg way to go but im in it for the long run!!!(I just need a good support system!!!!!)I got a digital camera for christmas and I am excited to start taking pics!!!!! I plan on transitioning with cornrows in my own hair and maybe ill try some wigs(Not sure yet)

Problem is I have some questions!!!

* When I BC I wanna have a decent size afro!!!How long would you transition for in order to do that????

*WHat products should I try to deal with my NG????

* Could someone post some pics of 4a/b natural???I dont know what my curl pattern is yet....

*Should/Can I straighten my hair at least once or twice a month if needed????

 

[naturalgurl]

CONGRATS! Did getting a digital camera entice you? We all love to take pics of our hair LAWD! Just kidding, but it's best to do it with a camera so you can SEE the progress. It doesn't happen before your eyes for some reason. Now to your questions. I'll try my best to answer. Feel free to browse the old fotki!

* When I BC I wanna have a decent size afro!!!How long would you transition for in order to do that???? I would say transition about 6 more months. You will have a TWA but it'll be cute.

*WHat products should I try to deal with my NG???? I say use coconut oil if it works for you or olive oil. They're really good for softening the hair. As far as products I'm sure someone will come up with one for you.

* Could someone post some pics of 4a/b natural???I dont know what my curl pattern is yet.... See my siggy. For close ups see my fotki. Don't have many though...

*Should/Can I straighten my hair at least once or twice a month if needed???? Yes, several people do here so find them and STUDY. Heat can be damaging and it can't be fixed.

 

[shetara20]

CONGRATS! Did getting a digital camera entice you? We all love to take pics of our hair LAWD! Just kidding, but it's best to do it with a camera so you can SEE the progress. It doesn't happen before your eyes for some reason. Now to your questions. I'll try my best to answer. Feel free to browse the old fotki!

* When I BC I wanna have a decent size afro!!!How long would you transition for in order to do that???? I would say transition about 6 more months. You will have a TWA but it'll be cute.

*WHat products should I try to deal with my NG???? I say use coconut oil if it works for you or olive oil. They're really good for softening the hair. As far as products I'm sure someone will come up with one for you.

* Could someone post some pics of 4a/b natural???I dont know what my curl pattern is yet.... See my siggy. For close ups see my fotki. Don't have many though...

*Should/Can I straighten my hair at least once or twice a month if needed???? Yes, several people do here so find them and STUDY. Heat can be damaging and it can't be fixed.

Getting a camera didnt really entice me to change... Im just sick of the stresses of having realxed hair and not knowing how to keep up with it properly and the damage is crazy i need to get off the creamy crack!!!

 

[delray712000]

good morning friend,

well let me just say that i am glad you are transitioning because it is better for you hair and body. whenever we perm our hair it gets on our scalp no matter who does the perm and you and i both know that scalp is skin. the largest organ of the body which carries what ever you put on it to the inside of your body and then the blood, hence body. currently i am doing my 3rd and finally transition right now. the first 2 times i was not successful because i was still not sure of what products and techniques worked for my hair. during the first to times i had crisis and illness which led me to jump the gun and re-perm my hair. i was mad that i did it afterward.

i said all of this to say that i don't want you to get mad and say i got to much going on right now i can't do this and then get a perm. people will not understand what you are doing but do it anyway. this is not to scare you but to prepare you for what is to come. it will be worth it i promise.

i have been transitioning since march or april and i still have a long way to go. look in my profile for pics.

 

[lilsparkle825]

CONGRATULATIONS!

Definitely check out the transitioners threads for help, especially the long term transitioners thread since we/they can offer the most help. I transitioned for a year and definitely had a "decent" sized 'do. I also straightened once or twice a month by going to the Dominicans - worked just fine for me.

 

[delray712000]

sorry i did not answer you questions. here they are.


The last perm I had was in January and big chopped in april. Put kinky twist in until august or september.

Tried all kinds of products but only natural products satisfied me. Trial and error is the key

have a couple of pics in profile and I am 4b

yes you can straighten hair twice a month but you must deep condition your hair. Come up with a good regimen that works for your hair and lifestyle.

 

[naturalgurl]

Getting a camera didnt really entice me to change... Im just sick of the stresses of having realxed hair and not knowing how to keep up with it properly and the damage is crazy i need to get off the creamy crack!!!

AMEN sister! I was tired of my hair falling out and getting a bald spot in the same spot EVERY 6-7 months. Since going natural, that spot is longer than it has ever been. I didn't know I had this much hair!

 

[Muse]

good morning friend,

well let me just say that i am glad you are transitioning because it is better for you hair and body. whenever we perm our hair it gets on our scalp no matter who does the perm and you and i both know that scalp is skin. the largest organ of the body which carries what ever you put on it to the inside of your body and then the blood, hence body.

Well said.

*Should/Can I straighten my hair at least once or twice a month if needed???? Yes, several people do here so find them and STUDY. Heat can be damaging and it can't be fixed.

Naturalgurl is right you have to take notes from the naturals that straighten. You don't want to get heat damage which can hinder your progress just like relaxers if not used properly. I am transitioning 4b and I don't mind heat ONLY because of what I have learned here, so make sure you have soaked up all of the heat using info you can before you get into the straightening. Twice a month is fine. Here's a site from one of our members. She is a natural who straightens, remember her little blog about heat usage and oil, it'll save your hair! http://heatstylednaturals.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html

Tried all kinds of products but only natural products satisfied me. Trial and error is the key

This is also true you may become a bit of a PJ but at least you will know what works, you probably should start with natural products just because they are better for you but I have found that commercial products work better for my natural hair so you will just have to test the waters and see. We could have the EXACT same hair type and for some reason products will react differently on our hair. HTH and welcome I think you are making a very wise decision, I feel so much better not having to spend half my day in a stylist chair paying him way too much to put something in my hair to damage it like clock work every 6-8 weeks. That stuff is for the birds!

 

[shetara20]

bumpity bump bump!!!!

 

[KAT25]

congrats on your journey

 

[naturalpride]

Congrats on your decision, it will be a journey.......I am enjoying every minute of the natural journey