Naturals & Transitioners: Temptation To Relax Questions

[Ballerina_Bun]

Do you ever contemplate relaxing or texturizing/texlaxing? If, so, what is it that brings on the temptation:

1. Natural texture too much of a challenge, for whatever reason...​

2. The summer season and humidity.​

3. shrinkage​

4. æsthetic reasons​

5. other​

What is it that stops you from relaxing/texturing/texlaxing?

 

[naturalmanenyc]

Yes, I think about relaxing. I'm 26 weeks and 2 days post right now and wearing a curly style....as curly as my hair gets with relaxed & texturized hair plus the new growth.

I think about relaxing whenever my straight styles do not come out relaxer straight and because of shrinkage.

I don't relax though because I am certain that relaxing made my hair thinner over the years. I am looking forward to a thick head of curls, that I will straighten at least once a month.

If you are tempted to relax, think about the goal for your hair. If you can achieve the goal with a relaxer, then you have your answer. For me, I am certain that I can't get my thick, childhood hair back and still continue relaxing.

 

[Ms_Twana]

Do you ever contemplate relaxing or texturizing/texlaxing? If, so, what is it that brings on the temptation:[/COLOR]

1. Detangling is easier when relaxed.

2. Seeing straight, flowing hair​

3. shrinkage​

4. DH making comments about my natural hair​

What is it that stops you from relaxing/texturing/texlaxing?

Twistout on NATURAL hair (sorry but twistouts on relaxed hair just does not compete), knowing my hair is healthier

What advice would you give to those that are tempted right now?

Do something different to your hair: straighten it, get some weave (sew-in or fall)

I get straight hair envy quite often, but not the itch to relax everytime. I do think about relaxing every now and then, though.

 

[KEWLKAT103]

I never have the urge to relax. I always read threads of people trying to decide and being frustrated with their hair. That's their choice, but I just can't relate.
I can't really remember when my last relaxer was erplexed, but I think it's been about 8 years or so. I love my hair and even when it's getting on my nerves I don't think about relaxing it.
From what I remember relaxing comes with it's own set of problems and there will still be frustration to deal with.
The advice I would give to someone thinking about it is to leave your hair alone for awhile. get some braids or do some stylish buns for awhile.

 

[tatiana]

Every once in a while, I think about relaxing but that happens when I can't get my rollerset to look like it did when I was relaxed and at times the shrinkage irks me.

However when I get the urge to relax I think about how thin my hair was and how my scalp was getting more and more sensitive to relaxers.

If you are tempted to relax, think about the reasons why you went natural in the first place.

 

[Chromia]

No, I haven't contemplated that. I have contemplated buying a flat iron, but I haven't thought about doing anything to permanently straighten my new growth or loosen the texture. I'm 9 and 1/2 months post relaxer.

The advice that I would give to those who are tempted is to check out transitioners' or naturals' fotkis and check out any threads about transitioning. Or if you like someone's hair send them a PM asking for advice. That way you can get info. on products, tools, methods, etc. That might not work for those who are tempted to relax, but that's what motivates me to keep transitioning. What also motivates me is envy of natural styles and looking forward to seeing what I can do with my hair later on.

I think a relaxer is a great option for anyone who really likes or feels a lot more confident with straight hair and doesn't have the patience to press or flat iron. You have to do what's right for you and whatever makes you happy.

 

[SEMO]

I wasn't really thinking of relaxing, but I was thinking of how I was growing a little tired of my natural hair. Shrinkage annoys me way more than I anticipated. I wear my hair in a curly ponytail and seems almost impossible for me to see growth.

I didn't realize how much my hair had grown until I did the comparison shots in my siggy.

 

[LadyKaypnyc]

I'm loving my natural hair too much!

My hair and I get along very well, we have a routine going that keeps both of us happy kiss:.

So relaxing doesn't cross my mind at all, ask me about flat ironing and you'll get a different answer

 

[Gracie]

Shrinkage, shrinkage, shrinkage will drive be to it but what keeps me from doing it is knowing that I can flat iron my hair if I want to

 

[ladylibra]

not so much relaxing but wearing straight hair every now and then... which i blame on all you women here with your lovely straight hair looks

i solve that problem with flat ironing and weave. i just bought a wig that looked really cute and wore it several days in a row... already i am bored of the straight look on me. but see, it gave me my fix, and now i can go right back to my awesome natural coils.

 

[LunadeMiel]

It's been a year since my last relaxer and the only time that I got the urge to relax was when I was transitioning (and that was b/c I wanted to see how long my hair was). The combat this issue, I just big chopped. Since I've been 100% natural relaxing isn't even in my vocabulary anymore...

 

[JustKiya]

I never have the urge to relax. I always read threads of people trying to decide and being frustrated with their hair. That's their choice, but I just can't relate.
I can't really remember when my last relaxer was erplexed, but I think it's been about 8 years or so. I love my hair and even when it's getting on my nerves I don't think about relaxing it.
From what I remember relaxing comes with it's own set of problems and there will still be frustration to deal with.
The advice I would give to someone thinking about it is to leave your hair alone for awhile. get some braids or do some stylish buns for awhile.

Cosigning 100% with that, except it's been at least 10 years, for me.

Now, ask me if I'm ever tempted to lock this head back up, and I must admit, the thought does briefly drift through my mind erry now and again.

 

[imstush]

1. Natural texture too much of a challenge, for whatever reason...No just the thickness sometimes (but I love it and hate it at the same time)

2. The summer season and humidity. - for me I love my hair in the summer and humidity. I sport wash and go's daily​

3. shrinkage For the most part my hair is pinned up so no shrinkage is not a problem​

4. æsthetic reasons This is the only reason for me, I do actually prefer to wear my hair straight.​

What is it that stops you from relaxing/texturing/texlaxing? my natural hair is thicker, longer and just plain healthier. But I do think about it when I get bored of wearing my hair up in a bun all the time.

 

[Robin41]

I am absolutely struggling with this issue right now. I've been natural for two years and I'm just bored with the limited styles and looks I can get with natural hair. Plus, my sister-in-law, who had been natural for years and was my inspiration to go natural in the first place, all of a sudden up an relaxed her hair and got a fierce haircut and I love it on her. That is really tempting me to relax. I'm going to give it another couple of weeks and if the feeling doesn't go away, I'm just going to do it and not look back.