Naturals/Transitioners... Observations

[ThursdayGirl]

Now that it has officially been 6 months since my last relaxer (Nov. 2004). I have to admit...this whole experience has been interesting and I have made the following observations:

1. I didn't think I would last this long without a touch-up, but I have :creatures . After you've been getting a relaxer touch-up for over 10 years...then that new growth starts coming in...it feels so tangly and a little coarser... but it really isn't, you just get out of practice combing texured hair when you have a relaxer. I can honestly say that combing my natural roots... isn't any harder than combing the relaxed ends.

2. Its really liberating to not worry about getting a touch up nor going to the shop! :creatures (we'll see if I feel this way after my natural hair gets longer though)

3. My relaxed hair holds on to water like its going out of style. My natural hair seems to be more wiry and stronger (not hard) than I thought ... it just doesn't absorb water the same. (Interesting and cool!) Still seems like all of my hair holds heat like a mug though... Several people (including myself) have gotten burned or almost gotten burned putting heat on my hair.

4. I'm still not anxious to get a BC, some folks seems to get an itch to chop.. I still haven't gotten that. Though I love how twas look on some other ladies... I am not really interested in wearing one myself... unless I have to.

5. Interestingly, I get more compliments on my rod sets and braidouts... than I did with straight my relaxed hair!

What Observations have you made about the changes in your hair... now that it's been awhile since you had a touchup?

 

[balisi]

5. Interestingly, I get more compliments on my rod sets and braidouts... than I did with straight my relaxed hair!

Because textured hair is so much more interesting than straight hair, in my humble opinion.

 

[chocolate01]

I've had a lot of the same observations as you.

I never thought I could handle being natural and know I can't wait to be fully natural. I have been relaxed for 6 years and I always thought my hair had to be straight to look good. As I 've been on this journey, I still like straight hair but I love curly hair, braidouts, rod sets etc.

 

[Country gal]

I hear compliments now from some of woman that I stuck with the transitioning.

I like it when my relaxed hair had texture so the look of my natural hair is very appealing.

When men hit on me now that I natural, it feels better. Weird I know but it's like I don't have to worry about what if they don't like braids or etc. I ignorantly thought that with natural hair I would get less attention but it is so untrue.

 

[candibaby]

I feel the same way about not having to worry about the next touch up.
I have also noticed that my natural hair does not like to stay straight, flat ironing is becoming a big bust these days.
My natural hair also takes better to products than my relaxed hair.. I always used the expensive salon brands on my relaxed hair, but now I'm using cheapie products for my hair.

I haven't gotten the itch to chop yet either, I'm only at 17 weeks! I do hope that I reach my goal by the time I do chop though. (shoulder length unstretched)

 

[curlilocs]

I am only 11 weeks into my transition, but I must agree that it is VERY liberating. I live in a humid climate and with summer approaching it's only going to get worse, but from what I've noticed so far, the humidity actually works for my hair now that I'm letting the natural texture come through.

I know it's gonna be a fun ride! I was natural for 3 years but I wore a TWA, and it was cute to death! But dummy me started relaxing again if I knew then...anyway my point is that I love the feeling of just letting my hair do what it wants to do, and not trying to make it do something for which it obviously was not intended. I also believe that it will be more manageable than this relaxed stuff because I won't have to worry about that dag on new growth ever again

 

[Poohbear]

I've been 8 months without a relaxer. I transitioned without the big chop for 7.25 months and now I am natural.

During my transitioning process, I noticed my relaxed hair would take a longer time to dry than my natural new growth. It would still be wet while my new growth would be dry. This would cause breakage so that's why I just wacked that stuff off!

Now that I'm natural, my hair loves water. It's very short right now (less than an inch long). When my hair is wet, I always see little droplets of water which means my hair is wiry. I also have cottony areas as well. When my hair is dry, I have all these little beady-beads all over. I love rubbing my hand over my head. My hair is also stronger and thicker.

I find natural hair more fun than when I had relaxed hair. I can't wait til my nappy hair grows out!

 

[ThursdayGirl]

cool observations!

 

[Enchantmt]

~I have curly hair. I always thought it was more wavy but I have lil corkscrews everywhere. You wont know what you're working with until you actually remove the relaxed ends.

~The longer I wear my hair natural the better I look with it. Its like I'm coming into my own. I've noticed that with peoples albums too. Once they accept their hair there is a quality they seem to get that makes them appear more polished, more regal.

~People arent nearly as concerned about my hair as I am. Its a waste of time to be self-conscious. All that stress in the beginning for nothing...smh

 

[Country gal]

I feel you. I think I look so much better with my natural hair once I embraced it. Once I stopped feeling insecure with other's feelings and thoughts, I felt such freedom.

 

[missyT]

I feel the same way about not having to worry about the next touch up.
I have also noticed that my natural hair does not like to stay straight, flat ironing is becoming a big bust these days.
My natural hair also takes better to products than my relaxed hair.. I always used the expensive salon brands on my relaxed hair, but now I'm using cheapie products for my hair.

I haven't gotten the itch to chop yet either, I'm only at 17 weeks! I do hope that I reach my goal by the time I do chop though. (shoulder length unstretched)

Hey Candibaby , just curious, how long do you plan on transitioning for if you want your natural hair to be shoulder length, unstretched, before you do the chop? Can you tell if its shoulder length without holding it down or stretching it because I thought that natural hair grows out rather than down?

 

[Ayeshia]

Hey Candibaby , just curious, how long do you plan on transitioning for if you want your natural hair to be shoulder length, unstretched, before you do the chop? Can you tell if its shoulder length without holding it down or stretching it because I thought that natural hair grows out rather than down?

My hair grows out and I wont be able to tell if my hair grows unless I wet it or blow it out..and from my speculations its going to take my hair about three more years for my hair to reach shoulder length unstretched
Stretched however will hope fully take about 6 more months.

 

[ThursdayGirl]

My hair grows out and I wont be able to tell if my hair grows unless I wet it or blow it out..and from my speculations its going to take my hair about three more years for my hair to reach shoulder length unstretched
Stretched however will hope fully take about 6 more months.

You have some really really really pretty hair...stretch or unstretched! Congrats on soon making it to shoulder-length stretched.

 

[ThursdayGirl]

I feel you. I think I look so much better with my natural hair once I embraced it. Once I stopped feeling insecure with other's feelings and thoughts, I felt such freedom.

This is definitely something to look forward to!

 

[DDTexlaxed]

Hey, guys, how about starting a transitioning challenge? Help more sistas out there!

 

[candibaby]

Hey Candibaby , just curious, how long do you plan on transitioning for if you want your natural hair to be shoulder length, unstretched, before you do the chop? Can you tell if its shoulder length without holding it down or stretching it because I thought that natural hair grows out rather than down?

I dont plan on removing my relaxed ends until May 2007. I'll be doing trims and straightening from time to time to check my progress. For some reason I think I'm going to get sick of the conflicting textures and chop sometime next year, but that will only be if my hair is long enough because I do not look good with short hair. I know that natural hair grows out, I was just going to chop whenever I see that my natural hair touches my shoulders, even if when I chop it ends up being a little shorter.

Do you think that's enough time (til May 07) to get my hair to the length I want?

 

[moda]

I notice that my hair is not harder to manage at all, I just have to do different things. My natural hair is much more versatile than my relaxed hair

 

[missyT]

I dont plan on removing my relaxed ends until May 2007. I'll be doing trims and straightening from time to time to check my progress. For some reason I think I'm going to get sick of the conflicting textures and chop sometime next year, but that will only be if my hair is long enough because I do not look good with short hair. I know that natural hair grows out, I was just going to chop whenever I see that my natural hair touches my shoulders, even if when I chop it ends up being a little shorter.

Do you think that's enough time (til May 07) to get my hair to the length I want?

May 2007 is miles away...just keep looking after your natural hair and of course you'll get that length in time. Won't u have probably gotten rid of all your relaxed ends before you get to shoulder length unstretched though if you're getting trims?

 

[curlilocs]

I am in for the transitioner challenge! I will need the support

 

[Cheesecake555]

I am a natural and have been so for 3 years. I love my "curls" I find that my hair has never been healthier or longer than it is now. The key is to keep your hair moisturized. Condition washes, leave in conditioner and S curl work wonders for me.

 

[reformatio]

I love my natural hair! The feeling I get from having it is hard to describe, but it is wonderful. I am still trying to discover what products and methods work well on my hair and I am loving the journey.

 

[locabouthair]

My last relaxer was the end of 2001. After that I grew the perm out by pressing the roots and I continued alteranating between pressing and braids. About a month ago I left the pressing and the braids alone. The more time that has passed the more I notice I am getting more shrinkage. And I notice I don't have that many straight ends leftover from pressing a lot.

 

[Country gal]

Bumping so I can post later today. I have been wearing my natural hair out for at least 3- 4 months so I have lots of observations.

 

[mscounselor]

I notice that now that I am in twists that I miss my new growth and hair to do different styles in. I also notice my new growth requires a lot more to make it shiny. Right now the extensions are jet black and my hair is closer to dark brown. I also forget about my hair...even in the humidity. Its beginning to feel very liberating.