Naturally Flexible Support Thread

[havilland]

This thread is for us homeless ladies who are:

Newborns - Newly Naturals who need a home

Late Term Transitioners - Those who are close to the end of a long term transition

Flexible Naturals - those who wear curls and straight hair

Grown Natchas - Post TWA graduates

Fencers - Relaxed ladies considering transitioning, chopping in the near or not so near future

MOST IMPORTANTLY this thread is for natural ladies who are hair lovers! Ladies who LOVE ALL HAIR. This thread is not for women who hate chemicals and hate chemically relaxed hair and want to bash and preach doctrine to those of us who choose to alter our hair pattern.

In short, this thread is about LOVE.....


Join us & post the following:
You don't have to post it all at once


A. any pictures from your journey you want to share -
1. transition pictures
2. before and after pictures
3. growth pics during your journey
4. natural styles
5. transitioning styles

B. your regimen
1. current regimen and products
2. regimen during transition, especially at different stages

C. how long you relaxed and what products you used

D. any setbacks and how you overcame them as a natural or relaxed head. (you never know who you can help with this information)

E. Your goals as a natural, especially length goals

F. Any hair inspiration pictures or stories about who/what inspired you (in a POSITIVE way) to go natural or consider it

F. Anything else POSITIVE you want to share.


TO BE CLEAR - It is totally ok to post your OWN journey, issues and story but do not preach or be negative about chemicals and direct it at other ladies. This is not the thread for that.

 

[ronie]

What about those like me who are currently natural with a plan to relax once we reach a certain length?
Last year my fail 6 month stretch ended up in a transition. I BC'd to start over and relax my virgin hair once APL. I am now SL, so relaxing Hopefully September 2014.

 

[havilland]

I will start:

I started my long term transition July 2011 and ended July 2013

My goal was to keep my length at all costs. I decided that I would either transition and keep my hair long OR go back to relaxing it and just keep it trimmed to apl or sl.

I was very frustrated that it took me 5 years and many setbacks to get to bsl. Almost all my setbacks were chemically related. My thin hair just couldn't retain it's growth. My ends would get to apl and then become gummy and weak.

My new goal is to get to waistlength and hopefully maintain a nice strong hemline with blunt ends.

Pics are of my hair at the start of my transition just over two years ago. I was deep in a ten month stretch and then thought....i might as well try to transition. So i did.

The second pic is my hair today.

 

[havilland]

What about those like me who are currently natural with a plan to relax once we reach a certain length?
Last year my fail 6 month stretch ended up in a transition. I BC'd to start over and relax my virgin hair once APL. I am now SL, so relaxing Hopefully September 2014.

you are most certainly welcome!

 

[caliscurls]

Subscribing.....

 

[daviine]

I didn't even read the original post all the way through but I'm here!!!! I'm no longer homeless! Thanks havilland!!!

And it seems I missed your BC so congrats!!!!!!!

 

[havilland]

daviine

hey mama! welcome!

i didn't big chop....just trimmed every month until the ends were gone.

 

[daviine]

daviine

hey mama! welcome!

i didn't big chop....just trimmed every month until the ends were gone.

I know what you mean... That's why I always say I "big chopped" with quotes. There was nothing big about it except for my excitement. There really wasn't much hair for me to chop. It was more like a series of multiple snips lol.

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

I've finally found a home! I love hair..no matter if it's relaxed or natural and find it quite silly when I see people bickering over the two.

I will start by giving a little history. I was relaxed for years then decided to get some color. After about a year, I noticed my hair was thinning and breaking. My hair stylist suggested that I get a protein treatment and make a choice between the 2 chemicals. Since I was starting to get grey hair around the same time, I decided to keep the color and ditch the relaxer. That was almost 2 years ago. I would say half of my hair is natural and the other half still have relaxed ends. I don't consider myself natural, relaxed, transitioning...just someone who no longer get relaxers. My main style when I was relaxed was rollersets and that has not changed.

Routine
I get my hair pressed once a month at the salon.

Other than that, I roller set.

Those roller sets turn into braid-outs or Bantu knots after a few days.

Then from there ponytails and buns.

I really don't have a set time when I wash my hair...I just know when it's time (if that makes sense) As far as products, I was introduced to Silk Dreams by a church member and that was how I found this forum as well.

My goal is to grow my hair to my belly button.
I'm still new to posting, so once I figure out how to attach pictures I will add them later

 

[Rae81]

I'm here, feels good to have a home. Be back later with pics and details

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

Subbing...

 

[havilland]

I've finally found a home! I love hair..no matter if it's relaxed or natural and find it quite silly when I see people bickering over the two.

I will start by giving a little history. I was relaxed for years then decided to get some color. After about a year, I noticed my hair was thinning and breaking. My hair stylist suggested that I get a protein treatment and make a choice between the 2 chemicals. Since I was starting to get grey hair around the same time, I decided to keep the color and ditch the relaxer. That was almost 2 years ago. I would say half of my hair is natural and the other half still have relaxed ends.

I don't consider myself natural, relaxed, transitioning...just someone who no longer get relaxers. My main style when I was relaxed was rollersets and that has not changed.

i like this comment!

my stylist Reniece says something similar. she likes to say she "prefers to straighten her hair without the use of chemicals."

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

*****************

 

[havilland]

I tried a wash n go again today for the LAST TIME.Ugh....massive fail!

I looked like a poodle.

Here's a texture shot. She's in a ponytail now. That ish was not cute!

 

[Dayjoy]

I think you started this thread for ME since I was squatting in the Transitioning w/o BCing thread and refused to leave even though I had already chopped. I know exactly what you mean. I was past the TWA stage when I chopped, I'm not struggling (at least not yet), and my hair won't be straight all the time. Since I had been in the other thread for so long, I just kept wandering back in there. Nosiness will keep me looking in their windows, but this is where I will lay my head. Be back later to tell my tale.

 

[davisbr88]

I'm joining!
I am a natural who is now about 50/50 straight/curly.
I will update with info later!

 

[BostonMaria]

Flexible Natural here! I go from curly to straight to curly to straight LOL
I love all things hair! I love my hair and just want to enjoy it. I've been trying to hit tailbone since forever, but I will most likely stay at the length I am now.

My mom relaxed my hair in 1981 at the age of 10. I BC'd in 2007 when I was 36.

The pic with the short hair was taken in 2007 when I first BC'd
Second pic was taken last Friday

 

[Rae81]

Flexible Natural here! I go from curly to straight to curly to straight LOL
I love all things hair! I love my hair and just want to enjoy it. I've been trying to hit tailbone since forever, but I will most likely stay at the length I am now.

My mom relaxed my hair in 1981 at the age of 10. I BC'd in 2007 when I was 36.

The pic with the short hair was taken in 2007 when I first BC'd
Second pic was taken last Friday

Your hair is lovely. What is your regimen?

 

[BostonMaria]

Your hair is lovely. What is your regimen?

Thank you!

My regimen is simple. Right now I wash my hair once a week with a L'Oreal sulfate free shampoo. I deep condition with either Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose, Diez en Uno, or Silicon Mix. Sometimes I'll experiment and make my own conditioners. I usually mix my DC's with oils (coconut, avocado, EVOO, etc) and steam for an hour. I like to keep my hair stretched so I rollerset and then flatiron with my CHI. I don't always do protective styles, but a bun is usually the quickest thing to do. I alternate between curly and straight sometimes just for versatility. I do search & destroys and only trim my hair when needed (maybe once a year). About every 6 weeks I do an amla treatment (I mix it with coconut milk + avocado oil). I have greys that I destroy every 4-6 weeks with Tints of Nature LOL If I am feeling cheap I will buy Nice & Easy touch-up brown dye instead.

Hope this helps!

 

[daydreem2876]

Hi

Considering all of my commitment issues about my hair, I feel like I have a home

Products rotate, however I now do have staples, rotates depending on what my hair wants to do but it basically consists of:

wash, condition, dc, and rinse every 7 days

If I need a moisture boost, I will cowash and moisturize daily in between and extend washes to about 10 days

Otherwise, I moisturize with the butter/oil of choice and braid at night, fluff and style in the morning

The products currently in rotation (in no particular order)

Shampoos: Aveda Brilliant, Carol's Daughter Monoi, Yes to Carrots

Conditioners: Revlon Nourishing/Strengthening Treatment, Yes to Carrots, HB Carrot

Cholesterol + honey, Aphogee 2min, Organix Morrocan DC treatment

Leave in sprays: Revlon Argan Oil, Carol's Daughter Monoi

Butters/Oil: Qhemet's AOHC for my scalp, Hairtage Hydration Blackberry Sage and Mango/Coconut concoction, CD Monoi Oil, Avocado Oil

Stylers: Proclaim beeswax and EcoStyler Olive oil gel

I transitioned for 14 months, BC'd 2.5 years ago and have been completely natural ever since. I stopped relaxing mainly because I would rather have color instead of straight hair. I tried to color my relaxed hair befor but it would always break off (then again was not properly taking care of it). That said, I finally scheduled an appt for highlights at the Aveda Institute in a few weeks. I am sooo excited

 

[BostonMaria]

I transitioned for 14 months, BC'd 2.5 years ago and have been completely natural ever since. I stopped relaxing mainly because I would rather have color instead of straight hair. I tried to color my relaxed hair befor but it would always break off (then again was not properly taking care of it). That said, I finally scheduled an appt for highlights at the Aveda Institute in a few weeks. I am sooo excited

I love color too! Unfortunately I used to henna years ago and it has pretty much bonded to my hair to the point where I can't dye it anymore. I'd have to transition and cut away, which is NOT an option

 

[havilland]

I love color too! Unfortunately I used to henna years ago and it has pretty much bonded to my hair to the point where I can't dye it anymore. I'd have to transition and cut away, which is NOT an option

so if you use henna you can't use traditional dyes anymore?

 

[Napp]

I like the term flexible natural

 

[havilland]

Shrinkage is the debil!


Pic one is my hair this winter before I cut my chemicals off.
Pic two is my hair today at the exact same length but naturally shrunken.

 

[havilland]

I like the term flexible natural

MileHighDiva coined that phrase.

 

[curlycrocheter]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Curlycrocheter & I'm a flexible natural who flexes more towards the straight side

I've recently decided (for the last time) that I will not let myself feel guilty for preferring to wear my hair straight while still indulging in my natural curls when I see fit.

I will update with pics after I finish uploading them.

 

[MileHighDiva]

Late/Long Term Transitioner checking in here. My last touch-up was August 2011, so I'm 24 months into this thing and I'm almost done with my transition. The only place I still have relaxed ends are on the top/front. I feel like they're protecting my natural hair. I'm due for a major dusting/trim during the Fall Solstice, so we'll see what happens then. I'm currently Full BSL and fighting for MBL by New Years Eve.

I had two bad visits to my self, messing around with a titanium flat iron I bought from TJ Maxx in February and April. After, much research I bought a Sedu Revolution, just received it on Wednesday. However, I wont try it till late September, before the trim. I'm scared of having another bad visit to myself and ruining progress. That titanium messed my natural ends up!

I was a "ride or die" relaxed head for 24-25 years. I'm extremely flexible! My hair is stretched most of the time via braid out and curl former sets. I plan on trying out roller sets for stretching when the weather cools off.

I'll post pix of my remaining relaxed ends on my next wash day.

I love hair porn! Especially, healthy hair! I don't care if your natural, DIYer, salon or relaxed head. I just want it to look good, be hair pornilicious, and healthy.

OAN: I want to know where do I get my "100% Natural Card?" Who do I get in contact with, regarding this urgent matter?

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

I love color too! Unfortunately I used to henna years ago and it has pretty much bonded to my hair to the point where I can't dye it anymore. I'd have to transition and cut away, which is NOT an option

I'm so glad you pointed this out! I will stick to going to the salon for my color re-touches ever summer

 

[MileHighDiva]

Ms.havilland thank you for starting this thread!

 

[Rae81]

I transitioned for two years and cut off my relaxed ends last month. My hair is apl stretched. I used wear my hair straight a lot in the beginning of my transition because at that time I want transitioning I was just stretching my relaxer until I could get a touch up. Once I decided to transition I stopped using heat and wore protective styles all the time. Keep trying to add pics but it keeps saying the app is crashing.

Eta: I see the pic showed up