New *2009* Transitioners Support Thread!

[FindingMe]

I think I'll be transitioning for at least two years. I would love for my natural hair to be at least APL straightened before I chop the relaxed ends off.

Does anyone have an issue with tangles on the relaxed portion of your hair. I don't know what do about it outside of being patient when detangling. Any advice about what to do would be appreciated.

try using a cheapie conditioner. I use V05 balancing formula. I wet my hair, slather it on (it only costs .99 or less, so most times I will use like a third of a bottle on wash days...i wash every 7-10 days), and detangle with the conditioner drenched on. Most of these cheapie conditioners have cones, so it provides a lot of slip to aid in detangling. Then, when I can comb thru my whole head with a wide tooth comb, I rinse thoroughly and use my herbal shampoo and conditioning rinse. The herbal shampoo I use has a mild sulfate, so it washes the cones out and then I leave the rinse in (it has no cones) and finish my shower.

Just detangling with the conditioner first before I even shampoo has been a godsend for me...

 

[Sweet1977]

Good Morning Everyone,
I have been lurking for some time as I have been thinking about Transitioning and am currently trying to NOT get a relaxer. What keeps yo motivated?

 

[jreagins]

Good Morning Everyone,
I have been lurking for some time as I have been thinking about Transitioning and am currently trying to NOT get a relaxer. What keeps yo motivated?

Knowing that I can still achieve the same styles without the use of a relaxer or heat, and seeing the versitility of my natural hair (curly to straight) is what keeps me motivated. I can still have 'relaxed' results but my hair is alot thicker and healthier. I cant even tell that I dont have a relaxer (until my hair gets wet), and it doesnt take alot of work, for me at least. I've learned what to do and when to do it.

 

[Sweet1977]

Knowing that I can still achieve the same styles without the use of a relaxer or heat, and seeing the versitility of my natural hair (curly to straight) is what keeps me motivated. I can still have 'relaxed' results but my hair is alot thicker and healthier. I cant even tell that I dont have a relaxer (until my hair gets wet), and it doesnt take alot of work, for me at least. I've learned what to do and when to do it.

Thanks for responding. I don't even remember what my natural hair was like, which is what got me thinking about transtioning. I then thought about how much fuller and healthier my hair seemed to be when looking at pics and I just had a press so here I am. I want thicker and healthier hair.

 

[Eisani]

I'm so on the fence...I go thru these phases where I'm all good w/the transition then there are other times I miss texlaxing! I mean, I only did it 1-3 times a year, but I just miss it some days! I said I would give myself until the week before my b-day (in April) to think about it, but damn as of right now, I'm leaning that way. I love how thick my hair is, but it's also a chore and it seems like it takes so much elbow grease to tame it into a bun since it's been too cold to wet it everyday. WINTER BE OVER, ALREADY !!!

 

[natural2be]

Knowing that I can still achieve the same styles without the use of a relaxer or heat, and seeing the versitility of my natural hair (curly to straight) is what keeps me motivated. I can still have 'relaxed' results but my hair is alot thicker and healthier. I cant even tell that I dont have a relaxer (until my hair gets wet), and it doesnt take alot of work, for me at least. I've learned what to do and when to do it.

I have the same reasoning when it comes to going natural. The first time I tried to transition I got my hair flat ironed and you would have sworn I got a relaxer until the humidity got to it of course Also I hate that first week or two of getting the relaxer because my hair looks limp, no body to it. Lastly, I like the curly look and being able to do a big curly style one day and if I feel like it, being straight the next. Also I feel like the health of my hair will be so much better.

As I always say, time will tell

 

[SignatureBeauty]

I'm so on the fence...I go thru these phases where I'm all good w/the transition then there are other times I miss texlaxing! I mean, I only did it 1-3 times a year, but I just miss it some days! I said I would give myself until the week before my b-day (in April) to think about it, but damn as of right now, I'm leaning that way. I love how thick my hair is, but it's also a chore and it seems like it takes so much elbow grease to tame it into a bun since it's been too cold to wet it everyday. WINTER BE OVER, ALREADY !!!

LOL E.!! Thank You for signing my guestbook!

I too miss Texlaxing and had planned to only do it 2x's a year, I am just tired of the dryness and oils don't help with sealing etc. I am giving myself until July and if I don't want to deal with it anymore I'M TEXLAXING But I also agree that the Cold weather can make my hair act a fool, But Deep down I know I am gonna stick it out it just hepls to get those words out LOL!!

 

[Eisani]

LOL E.!! Thank You for signing my guestbook!

I too miss Texlaxing and had planned to only do it 2x's a year, I am just tired of the dryness and oils don't help with sealing etc. I am giving myself until July and if I don't want to deal with it anymore I'M TEXLAXING But I also agree that the Cold weather can make my hair act a fool, But Deep down I know I am gonna stick it out it just hepls to get those words out LOL!!

sho nuff!

 

[MizzBrown]

I's getting sick and tired of doing these rollersets twice a week!

I really am! Its a jungle up in my scalp!

 

[SignatureBeauty]

It must be the Cold Weather? LOL!!

 

[Sweet1977]

natural2be: I have been there, went to salon, she pressed my roots, came out looking good, sweated a little, oh oh, POOF.

MizzBrown: Girrrl, I am still new to rollersetting. I did it once and HATED it, . I am TRYING to stay away from the relaxer.

 

[Neala21]

N E transitioners got a great techniques with rollersetting. some parts of my head come out good but others part are bad. I'm starting the anchoring method and will try again this weekend. My hair comes out so poofy like and I still havent got the saran wrap down especially since I'm on the BOot camp so no direct heat. Please help out.

Otherwise the transition has had its ups and downs. I am 7 months post today seeking to go up to 2 years it all depends on my length as I definitely want to be past SL unstretched natural hair.

 

[Soliel185]

I'm ONE YEAR POST today!!! :bouncegre :locks:

I don't have any pics b/c I'm in a sew-in at the moment, but when I wash this weekend I'll snap a few on my crown and edges. I honestly never thought I'd make it this far. I've transitioned before, but this is my first REAL transition with a plan and products and techniques.

 

[Black Hoya Chick]

lost count..i think this is week 44? ugh

 

[Black Hoya Chick]

45 i believe. lol. just puffin' away

 

[lina]

I'm transitioning (again) also!!! lol Hope all goes well. I'm going to trim on a regular basis.

 

[Monilove122]

I'm 39 weeks post and I'm doing pretty good. I wear my hair straight and initially was having a hard time with getting it to STAY straight but got a CHI for Christmas and it's doing wonders!!! I wash every couple of weeks (used to do it more often but it seems to get straighter over time and it's less work for me), rollerset, then flat iron with my CHI. It comes out GREAT and so far so good. I do think, however, I will have to work more with my natural hair in the summer months as I don't see it staying straight when it's hot and I'm sweating. I may just get some braids for a while.

 

[Monilove122]

Knowing that I can still achieve the same styles without the use of a relaxer or heat, and seeing the versitility of my natural hair (curly to straight) is what keeps me motivated. I can still have 'relaxed' results but my hair is alot thicker and healthier. I cant even tell that I dont have a relaxer (until my hair gets wet), and it doesnt take alot of work, for me at least. I've learned what to do and when to do it.

You and I are in the same boat. I'm not having a problem at all. I'm wearing my hair in an angled bob so alot of the back is probably relaxer free by now as it's really short. But, I just do the same thing with my hair as I did when I relaxed. I love the fullness and it's just SO healthy!!!

 

[Spongie Bloom]

Hi all can i hang?? I am 22, i was natural all my life (mom didnt allow me to get one til i was 16) i got a relaxer in 2002 when i was 16, i cut my hair in 2005 leaving ng only but i didnt do that for natural reasons i had gone thru an upheaval and so on anyhoo i relaxed again in 2006 and now this yr im going natural it is one of my new yrs resolutions i miss big hair

anyway my plan is to transition in extensions byy using the cng method im currently in twists and my hair is apl at back and chin length in front my last relaxer was at xmas though it didnt take properly wish i hadnt relaxed then but oh well. Im planning to cut all the relaxed hair off by december

 

[-Love Love*]

Hey Ladies

I've decided to go natural. I'm almost a month post but I tried to self relax and it was really under processed. I like my natural hair... it really is a mixture of 4a/4b. I was reading somewhere about 4b having a "z" type pattern and that the person had never really seen it. I have the Z pattern LOL. I'm really stressed about what to do with my hair. Being on the dance team, we HAVE to wear our hair down. My braid outs never look quite right so I always end up putting my hair in a bun. I don't have any rollers for a roller set. I'm forced to flat iron every week! Even though I use a heat protectant, my hair is still breaking and shedding. I use a low setting too. Dont know about that. I plan on transitioning in braids for the most part. I really don't know what to do right now but bun and hope for greatness. this flat ironing is really messing me up.


Sorry Its so long

 

[Sweet1977]

Soliel185: You go GIRL!!

 

[jreagins]

Today makes 65 weeks post for me! YAY!!!

 

[jreagins]

You and I are in the same boat. I'm not having a problem at all. I'm wearing my hair in an angled bob so alot of the back is probably relaxer free by now as it's really short. But, I just do the same thing with my hair as I did when I relaxed. I love the fullness and it's just SO healthy!!!

Yay!!! I still do the same things to my hair too, I just have the proper tools, and knowledge now

 

[CheLala13]

Hey ladies, what are you using as your daily moisturizer?

I still haven't found one that's good enough to last the entire day. I want to try Qhemet, but their online store doesn't open until Feb 3 and I've heard their shipping takes a while. So I need a moisturizer until then.

 

[joytimes10]

Hey ladies, what are you using as your daily moisturizer?

I still haven't found one that's good enough to last the entire day. I want to try Qhemet, but their online store doesn't open until Feb 3 and I've heard their shipping takes a while. So I need a moisturizer until then.

I'm using NTM Leave In Creme. It makes my hair soft and silky to the touch. And it really helps to tame my NG.

 

[lilree]

Hey ladies, what are you using as your daily moisturizer?

I still haven't found one that's good enough to last the entire day. I want to try Qhemet, but their online store doesn't open until Feb 3 and I've heard their shipping takes a while. So I need a moisturizer until then.

I am alternating NTM leave in, aloe vera juice and glycerin, and the Hairveda baggy stuff (forgetting the name right now). Very happy, but note that I am not straightening anything right now. Just leaving it alone.


19 weeks post and all is well!!

 

[Monilove122]

Today makes 65 weeks post for me! YAY!!!

Wow, you are doing great girl!!!!

 

[Monilove122]

Yay!!! I still do the same things to my hair too, I just have the proper tools, and knowledge now

Exactly!! The tools and knowlege have made a world of difference. I would never have thought before this process that I could do the same things to my hair and NOT have to relax it.

Moni

 

[-Love Love*]

Hey Ladies

I've decided to go natural. I'm almost a month post but I tried to self relax and it was really under processed. I like my natural hair... it really is a mixture of 4a/4b. I was reading somewhere about 4b having a "z" type pattern and that the person had never really seen it. I have the Z pattern LOL. I'm really stressed about what to do with my hair. Being on the dance team, we HAVE to wear our hair down. My braid outs never look quite right so I always end up putting my hair in a bun. I don't have any rollers for a roller set. I'm forced to flat iron every week! Even though I use a heat protectant, my hair is still breaking and shedding. I use a low setting too. Dont know about that. I plan on transitioning in braids for the most part. I really don't know what to do right now but bun and hope for greatness. this flat ironing is really messing me up.


Sorry Its so long

I was hoping someone could help me out or give me some guidance or something lol

 

[Sweet1977]

Love,Love*: I am also transitioning and it's becoming a task to deal with my relaxed hair and new growth. I wash/blow-dry and flat iron my hair once a week because I don't know how to do much of anything else. I have tried doing rollersetting, but it didn't turn out nice at all. I am thinking about getting braids to assist in my transition. I think I also have 4a/b hair.