Naturally Flexible Support Thread

[Ltown]

havilland,

No regrets being natural, i've tried 3 other times in my life and transitioning in 2008 was the best way since i didn't have to grow it out from twa.
My hair is thcker as a straight natural then when i was relaxed it was thin.
So many more products out there now and youtuber helped alot this time. I have inspired dd, sis and friend to become natural too.

 

[havilland]

havilland, No regrets being natural, i've tried 3 other times in my life and transitioning in 2008 was the best way since i didn't have to grow it out from twa. My hair is thcker as a straight natural then when i was relaxed it was thin. So many more products out there now and youtuber helped alot this time. I have inspired dd, sis and friend to become natural too.

Inspiring others is a nice bonus! Especially when u have bad days. Thanks for sharing these thoughts.

 

[MilkChocolateOne]

Here's a question: For you ladies that have been natural a year or so, how are you feeling about the journey so far? Any regrets? Frustrations? Things you want to celebrate? Things you have learned this far about hair or yourself as a natural? Share...

Mine are: Regrets- none. I shoulda done it sooner. Mad I let fear of the unknown keep me in chemicals. I LOVED my relaxed hair but my natural hair is way better.

Frustrations - humidity and her evil cousin rain

Celebrate- I have the longest hair on my head since I was a kid

Things learned - natural hair takes work and commitment, especially if you want to retain length. With care, my natural hair as an adult is nothing like how it was when I was a kid. I am amazed at how much of a difference the right products and the proper regime makes.

Regrets- Henna, I have a bout 3 inches of hennaed hair left. I am slowly trimming it away.

Frustrations - wash days. There is no such thing as a wash and quick(30 minutes or less) style.

Celebrate- My hair is very healthy.

Things learned- Regimens and hair journeys are unique. There are no rules, just guidelines and suggestions. Recognize early if a popular product or technique doesn't work for you. Don't try to force it.

 

[havilland]

Regrets- Henna, I have a bout 3 inches of hennaed hair left. I am slowly trimming it away. Frustrations - wash days. There is no such thing as a wash and quick(30 minutes or less) style. Celebrate- My hair is very healthy. Things learned- Regimens and hair journeys are unique. There are no rules, just guidelines and suggestions. Recognize early if a popular product or technique doesn't work for you. Don't try to force it.

Don't try to force it! Yesssssss! Save yourself time and hair. good advice.

 

[Prettymetty]

Today's blowout. My longest layer touches the top of my bra I'm not sure if I should trim it blunt again or just let it keep growing in a U shape

 

[havilland]

Today's blowout. My longest layer touches the top of my bra I'm not sure if I should trim it blunt again or just let it keep growing in a U shape

Pretty!

I vote for keep the shape. I used to chase blunt ends...but my hair grows in a v shape. That's just what she does...... Every time I try for blunt ends I ended up losing 2-3 inches of length. I'm NOT ok with that.

 

[havilland]

I have been looking at v shaped ladies because I want to get an idea of what my hair will look like....check this. She would have to cut back to line 16 or 17 to get blunt ends.

NO. JUST NO.

 

[Prettymetty]

I have been looking at v shaped ladies because I want to get an idea of what my hair will look like....check this. She would have to cut back to line 16 or 17 to get blunt ends.

NO. JUST NO.

Blunt ends are overrated anyway I'm going to embrace the V/U.

 

[havilland]

I hope u flexible ladies are enjoying the day off if you aren't working today.

Merry Christmas. Here's to mad growth and healthy long hair in 2015!

 

[havilland]

Ladies. What are your 2015 hair goals?

Mine:

Stop trimming and dusting until June

Flat iron 6 or less times

Finally make it to waistlength

Try cassia or henna

Treat myself to a weave this summer to take a break from humidity

Celebrate two years fully natural in October 2015!

 

[havilland]

Products i want to try

A steam treatment

Clay wash

Bamboo tea

Cassia/Henna

Dallasnappy Hair prods

Camille Rose hair prods

Flaxseed Gel

Using more natural products on wash and condition day

Going back to adding my essential oils and silk aminos to my conditioners. I need to get back in the kitchen with my hair.

 

[Joigirl]

My 2015 goals are to:

Reach waist length.

Try some new styles (braid-out, perm rods, curl formers, etc.)

Pamper my ends.

Maybe flat iron for the first time since my BC in 2012.

Try to figure out my daughter's moisture retention issues.

 

[Prettymetty]

My 2015 hair goals:
Gradually trim ends until short layers catch up.
Retain 4 inches or more
Maintain my blowouts for 4 weeks at a time
Moisturize as needed
Do scalp massages for circulation
Take pics after each blowout to track progress

 

[Prettymetty]

I had to do some digging, but I found a pic from January. Here is my 2014 end of year progress pic

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

My 2015 Hair Goals:

*Update my brushes & combs to wooden.

*Replace all my store bought so called "satin" hair stuff to real silk.

*Purchase some new flat irons. I don't use heat in my hair often as I prefer a healthier route of using roller sets to get my hair straight. I just want more flat irons for variety when I do straighten. I want a CHI original and a FHI platform.

*Grow to full hip length

My regimen is pretty solid so I don't have many hair goals this year...I mainly just want to update my tools.

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

Ladies. What are your 2015 hair goals? Mine: Stop trimming and dusting until June Flat iron 6 or less times Finally make it to waistlength Try cassia or henna Treat myself to a weave this summer to take a break from humidity Celebrate two years fully natural in October 2015!

My limit is 6 times a year as well with the flat iron. I think I used 3 passes this year.

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

Today's blowout. My longest layer touches the top of my bra I'm not sure if I should trim it blunt again or just let it keep growing in a U shape

I know this is late but I vote for keeping the shape your hair naturally grows in as well. Looks so pretty.

 

[Dayjoy]

My hair goals for 2015 are modest:

To get my hair past APL reaching at least halfway between APL and BSL
To moisturize and seal my hair at least every three nights
To get/keep my ends healthy
To get DD past SL even with her choice to be a straight haired natural
To decrease our stash and end the year having and using only staples/HGs

 

[Prettymetty]

Today is my one year Lhcf anniversary!! I need to renew my membership asap

 

[Prettymetty]

I bought a pack of snap clips for $1 yesterday. Ya know the triangular clips that snap open and shut that everyone wore in the 90s? I love them! I use them to hold back my bangs and layers. I use them on my daughter's hair too. I got black so it maybe hard to see in pics...

 

[havilland]

I bought a pack of snap clips for $1 yesterday. Ya know the triangular clips that snap open and shut that everyone wore in the 90s? I love them! I use them to hold back my bangs and layers. I use them on my daughter's hair too. I got black so it maybe hard to see in pics...

I use these all the time. Love them!

 

[Prettymetty]

I'm so frustrated with my hair. First off it smells like a campfire (we had a bonfire NYE). It also feels dry and stiff. I fell asleep without tying up my hair so my blowout is pretty much ruined. I can either wash/cowash and wig it until my next hair appt on 1/20 or try to keep it in a bun to avoid breakage.

What should I do?

 

[Joigirl]

I'm so frustrated with my hair. First off it smells like a campfire (we had a bonfire NYE). It also feels dry and stiff. I fell asleep without tying up my hair so my blowout is pretty much ruined. I can either wash/cowash and wig it until my next hair appt on 1/20 or try to keep it in a bun to avoid breakage. What should I do?

Wash it and do some new styles. Twistout, braid out, twist and curl. Experiment with your natural texture.

 

[Prettymetty]

I'm doing a full head baggy with aloe vera juice and coconut oil right now. I'm going to wash it and plait it later for a braidout tomorrow.

 

[havilland]

I'm so frustrated with my hair. First off it smells like a campfire (we had a bonfire NYE). It also feels dry and stiff. I fell asleep without tying up my hair so my blowout is pretty much ruined. I can either wash/cowash and wig it until my next hair appt on 1/20 or try to keep it in a bun to avoid breakage. What should I do?

I would def deep condition to get rid of the smell and do a low manipulation style.

 

[Ltown]

2015 goal
Decrease stash
Keep hair healthy
Wear twist out and not buns.

 

[havilland]

Back to curls today after three weeks with straight hair. It was so nice having some length to play around with during the holidays.

 

[Prettymetty]

I ended up just bunning all weekend. I'm getting my hair done on Tuesday after work. I mixed up a dc that should be Holy Grailish I was running low on Humecto so I added some Aphogee 2 minute to stretch it out and argan oil, evoo and a few drops of Chi Silk infusion (for the cones). It should provide strength, moisture, shine and slip.

Hopefully this time I don't leave all my products at the salon

 

[ajargon02]

Ladies, when you flat iron/heat stretch are you noticing more splits and breakage? I would like to incorporate a little heat in my regimen, but I am so afraid of heat damage. I just got a hair cut b/c of damage and I don't want another setback.
Thanks for all your suggestions.

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

No, not out of the ordinary. When I first got my hair done(DC, wash, condition, blow-dry and flat-ironed, trimmed) I didn't shed a strand (seriously). Now it's just about 5 strands or so. Maybe your strands are too fine. If you do heat you might have to choose one or the other (blow-dry or flat iron) not both.