Ladies, how would you go about doing it?

[DDTexlaxed]

Ladies, I am thinking about going natural for good. However, I need to relax my hair until I get enough length for a ponytail. Then I think I can long transition. I have a short cut that is tapered in the nape. I think for me to go natural for good, I need long natural hair, or enough for me to put in a ponytail. Does this make sense? Please give me some tips if U have a better way or if u have any helpful advice. My hair can't take braid extensions or weaves, so I'm thinking this will help me start from beginning again...well, sorta.

 

[~*~ShopAholic~*~]

Oh my, , I think you should just start off natural if that's what you "really" want. It would end up being a waste of time in my opinion to start off w/a few in. of hair relaxing it to only go natural once you reach a certain length. Then if you can't deal w/the two textures while stretching you'll only end up starting from where you are at right now. I say start going natural now if that's what you "really" want and just get it pressed out along your journey so you can make a ponytail a little sooner. HTH's

 

[NewYorkgyrl]

Ladies, I am thinking about going natural for good. However, I need to relax my hair until I get enough length for a ponytail. Then I think I can long transition. I have a short cut that is tapered in the nape. I think for me to go natural for good, I need long natural hair, or enough for me to put in a ponytail. Does this make sense? Please give me some tips if U have a better way or if u have any helpful advice. My hair can't take braid extensions or weaves, so I'm thinking this will help me start from beginning again...well, sorta.

Well going natural with long relaxed hair is a very dificult task. There is no magic or easy way to get all of the length to suddenly become long natural hair. Eventually all the long relaxed hair has to be cut off. So I don't really understand why you need to perm it first. That is confusing me....

I say this because you are basically implying that you need to grow your hair to a certain "goal" before you go natural. That is cool but it takes alot of patience and time. It could mean not starting to transition for another 1-2 years. Are you really willing to wait that long before you start?

I don't really know what to suggest if you are totally against braids or weaves. I probably wasn't even much help. Sorry. Maybe someone else has good suggestions.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I am taking all suggestions, and thank you for your imput. I've been struggling w going natural for good for the longest and I know that it is the healthier choice for my hair. I just feel dumb because I haven't been able to do it. I was thinking that long transitioning would help because I would have more options for my hair. If I can't braid it then I could put in in a pony tail. Just need some suggestions or tips. I'm not gonna make this decision hastily.

 

[Poohbear]

Ladies, I am thinking about going natural for good. However, I need to relax my hair until I get enough length for a ponytail. Then I think I can long transition. I have a short cut that is tapered in the nape. I think for me to go natural for good, I need long natural hair, or enough for me to put in a ponytail. Does this make sense? Please give me some tips if U have a better way or if u have any helpful advice. My hair can't take braid extensions or weaves, so I'm thinking this will help me start from beginning again...well, sorta.

Don't worry about getting your hair in a ponytail so quick. You don't "need" to relax until you get enough length for a ponytail... you can get that length for a ponytail whether you relax, transition, or go natural. If you really want to go natural and at the same time have a ponytail in the near future, transition (grow out your hair without relaxing it). There are several threads about transitioners. Check them out. Hope that helps.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I'm relaxed already. That is why I am thinking about doing my transition this way. Sorry if I wasn't clear. This has always been my struggle. I know natural is the way to go, but I'd like to have my natural hair be longer than a twa this time. This way, I have more things I can do with it. I was going to do it this way because a stylist recommended relaxing until I grow out this short cut first. erplexed

 

[Poohbear]

I'm relaxed already. That is why I am thinking about doing my transition this way. Sorry if I wasn't clear. This has always been my struggle. I know natural is the way to go, but I'd like to have my natural hair be longer than a twa this time. This way, I have more things I can do with it. I was going to do it this way because a stylist recommended relaxing until I grow out this short cut first. erplexed

Transitioning means growing out your hair withOUT relaxing. Relaxing while you are transitioning to natural is not really transitioning to natural. You can grow out your natural new growth to the length you want before chopping off the relaxed ends. If you don't want it to be a twa, you will probably have to transition anywhere from 18-36 months depending on how fast your hair grows and how long it's been since your last relaxer touch-up. Check out the following members who had long transitions to natural: Peachtree and hairlove. I know there are more who transitioned for a long time, but I cannot think of them right now. Since your hair is relatively short right now, transitioning shouldn't be too much of a problem. Just gradually cut off the relaxed ends as you grow it out.

 

[Sweet_Ambrosia]

The longer your hair is, the longer your transition will be, depending on how often you trim/cut your hair.
Having long hair can be a plus when your transitioning, long hair offers more styling options.
However, it can be difficult for some with long hair as well as short, it's not an easy journey either way.
Since your hair is short, the journey wont be as long as someone with long hair, that's a plus IMO.
Relaxing your hair now would be backwards step, it would be a waste of time as B.W.E. mentioned.
I'm sure there are some styling options you can try on short hair that can help you along with your transition.
Perhaps a rod set, bantu knots/sets, braid outs, or even a wig.
Remember the journey to natural is 90% mental, and only 10% is about hair.

BTW, I'm a long haired Transitioner 13 months in.

HTH

 

[DDTexlaxed]

OKay, thanks for tips. I just was thinking what my stylist told me was a lil off. I had a mishap the last time I tried to texlax, so I fully relaxed it. I will be in for a long transition. I've already got new growth, thanks to MTG. I'll be asking the long transitioners more Qs the further I get in my transition. Poohbear, wow! Your hair is very inspiring. Thanks for your help again. My nape really didn't take to the relaxer and my sides are no longer strait. Relaxers don't last long on my hair, so I really don't know what to expect this time. I will just long stretch and hope for the best. Long stretchers, please lend me your tips.

 

[Browndilocks]

You may want to rethink your strategy if you're trying to go natural. It would benefit you more to keep your hair short while clipping the permed hair away than to grow longer hair and transition. I transitioned with long hair and it took me 5 years to be fully rid of my relaxer. It's no joke.

 

[nurseN98]

You may want to rethink your strategy if you're trying to go natural. It would benefit you more to keep your hair short while clipping the permed hair away than to grow longer hair and transition. I transitioned with long hair and it took me 5 years to be fully rid of my relaxer. It's no joke.

Pretty much. I had longer hair (between my shoulder blades) and I've stopped relaxing since Oct. 2002, I BC'D in March 2005 after (yes, almost a 2 1/2 year transition).

Do you really want to be natural though? It seems like you had a lot of trouble last time and you seem happy when you got your relaxer. Your hair has to grow either way so it's gonna take some time either way. But if you aren't mentally really for it then just keep your hair relaxed. There's nothing wrong with that

 

[DDTexlaxed]

Pretty much. I had longer hair (between my shoulder blades) and I've stopped relaxing since Oct. 2002, I BC'D in March 2005 after (yes, almost a 2 1/2 year transition).

Do you really want to be natural though? It seems like you had a lot of trouble last time and you seem happy when you got your relaxer. Your hair has to grow either way so it's gonna take some time either way. But if you aren't mentally really for it then just keep your hair relaxed. There's nothing wrong with that

I know there is nothing wrong with being relaxed. I just know what I'd like to do w/ my hair. I have to overcome that mental block or else I'll always be unhappy with my hair. I'm looking to finally end my natural challenge. I appreciate all your concern.

 

[Cichelle]

I don't think it makes much sense to relax more to get more length just to transition. As other's have said, you can stop relaxing and transition to natural. You can wait until your natural hair is a length you are comfortable with and then do the chop.

My hair was just past BSL when I was relaxed. I decided to go natural, but I didn't want to cut off the hair until I could make some kind of ponytail. My goal was to transition for 18-24 months, but I ended up doing a trim at some point to put my hair above BSL and then the B/C at 14 months. I cut off over 10 inches of my hair and was able to put it in a little tiny high ponytail, except for my bangs. I was very happy to finally be rid of the relaxed hair, but I'll keep it real when I tell you that it was difficult for me to get used to having (what I considered) short hair. Transitioning has its issues and it's not always easy, that's for sure. But if going natural is important to you, I know you can do it. There are plenty of people here to help you along. Good luck!

 

[Syrah]

How to do it?

I dunno. I just stopped perming.

And when I had about 3 inches of new growth I went and got a cut cuz I didn't like the two totally different textures (even though I only cut about 4 inches off).

And then like 3 months later, I big chopped to my ear. And regretted it ONLY because I wasn't used to my new texture and didn't know what to do with it, since it was too short for my trusty bun.

And now, 2 years later, I'm finally starting to appreciate and enjoy all the character this head has (haha).

It's definitely a struggle at times, but anything worth doing will be a struggle at some point during the transition.

Good luck to ya!