New *2010* Transitioners Support Thread!

[determineddiva]

Hi Stepiphanie,
I never thought of diluting it, but will give it a try. I have never cowashed , in my mind i guess i feel that my hair isnt clean unless I use shampoo. I know that probably sounds crazy, plus I only wash my hair once a week (work week every 5 days). My biggest problem is finding things to do with my hair that still looks professional, for military too?

Welcome Determineddiva! Congrats on making it to 14 mths! Your goals sound pretty reasonable to me, I'm sure you'll make them. You mentioned that the nioxion strips moisture, have you thought abt diluting it a bit and applying it via an applicator bottle? Or maybe shampooing every other wash day, and cowashing on others? Those things have really helped as far as my hair not feeling stripped after wash.

 

[determineddiva]

Itown,
I live right outside of columbus. Happy to know that there is someone from Ohio on here
Thanks for the warm welcome

Welcome to the thread! I'm originally from Akron, how about you?

 

[determineddiva]

Itown,

we started transitioning around the same time. How is it going for you? Im learning so much about my hair. Things I never would have know, because I always went to the shop every two weeks to get it done .

Welcome to the thread! I'm originally from Akron, how about you?

 

[Ltown]

Itown,

we started transitioning around the same time. How is it going for you? Im learning so much about my hair. Things I never would have know, because I always went to the shop every two weeks to get it done .

The first 6 months were rough because I was use to wrapping relax hair so I did not know what to do. Since it was cold I just started wearing pony/buns. I have about 2" relax hair in the front left, I've been nip a little every other month. Since it cold, we just had a blizzard here in DMV I'm going to keep it up until the winters over. I've always been do it yourself (diy). I've been using alot of shea butter mix with coconut oil, olive oils and essential oils.

 

[Black Hoya Chick]

OOOHHHHHH EEEEEMMMMM GGGGEEEEE, Black Hoya Chick your hair is freakin fabulous. It's so long, thick, and lush. It looks completely natural in that pic. KUTGW. I know I certainly won't be able to last that long, kudos to you.

Thank you! Girl the time just starts flying after a while. and my hair does behave like its all natural for the most part, but I know that last 2+ inches of relaxer are chillen up in there.

 

[LoveCraze]

So I told my boo last week that I'm transitioning and he was like, "What's that? Some kind of movement?" and I said no and explained the whole concept to him and he was like hun, i can't wait to see your real hair. A few days ago I sent him a pic of Erykah Badu with really big hair and told him that's how my hair is going to be in the end, not sleek and straight and just wanna prepare you for it. I thought he'd be kind of freaked out or something but instead he's literally been doing cartwheels ever since. Everyday he's like, "how's our transitioning going? When can I see your hair?" I love the support and encouragement so much. Just thought I'd share this.

Awww that was just sooo sweet. Isn't it GREAT to have the support from our significant others. My DH is a great supporter of me going natural as well. The only thing with him though is that he DOES NOT want me to BC. I guess he figures I'm doing such a good job transitioning that I shouldn't have to cut it off. But in my heart I'm feeling that ultimately I'll have to go there and I was thinking next year sometime. Oh well.

Oh and I showed him the hair of this youtuber to see what he thought about it.
http://www.youtube.com/user/misskrisnew?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/7/oObkilRUaGM
He said he really liked it, so for him it's not all about the loose curly hair types (3C-ish) Cause I def got some 4's up in this head of mine.

 

[MummysGirl]

I just found a really tiny section that's all natural. It's soo soft

Now I'm not sure if I want to snip a little section anymore...

 

[Shay72]

^^Oh thanks! Reminder to go to Sally's today. I've been going for forever now. I want to get scissors, end papers, and an apron or aprons . I usually walk out with some hair accessories and earrings too.

 

[MummysGirl]

^^ Can't wait to see pics

 

[MummysGirl]

My very very very new blog: http://myhairmyhealth.blogspot.com/

It's only got one post so far but anyone who knows me will expect me to post very often

 

[Platinum]

I believe how time flies. I'll be 8 months post this Friday. I'm so happy because I didn't think I would make it this far.

 

[destine2grow]

I have a question I am 11 wks post and I am falling in love with cowashing. However I have fine hair and I wanted to know how often do you ladies cowash? I also would like to try Trader Joe's Noursih Spa conditioner but I live in Fl, is there a place I can purchase online. TIA

 

[MummysGirl]

I have very fine strands and I cowash 3-4 times a week and my hair is doing well Sorry I can't hel[ with your other question, I live in the UK.

I have a question I am 11 wks post and I am falling in love with cowashing. However I have fine hair and I wanted to know how often do you ladies cowash? I also would like to try Trader Joe's Noursih Spa conditioner but I live in Fl, is there a place I can purchase online. TIA

 

[MummysGirl]

Well done!

I believe how time flies. I'll be 8 months post this Friday. I'm so happy because I didn't think I would make it this far.

 

[Ltown]

My very very very new blog: http://myhairmyhealth.blogspot.com/

It's only got one post so far but anyone who knows me will expect me to post very often

Great, add it to your signature so everyone will always see it and visit! I will!

 

[zora]

I am 7-8 weeks post. I'm transitioning so I can texturize.

 

[tmhuggiebear]

I apologize in advance for this question.

At what point during your transitioning do you ladies start co-washing? I am about 8 months post and just co-washed for the first time today. Like many here, I just feel weird about not using shampoo. Per haps I just don't fully understand the benefits of cowashing.

 

[caligirl2385]

stepiphanie, your twistout is NICE!!

 

[vainღ♥♡jane]

i'm feeling really good about my hair right now. i decided to do some things differently this wash. i dc'd on dry hair today. i used olive oil and Aussie Deeeeep, detangle, and then put in four braids. i dc'd for 2 hours (i got pretty preoccupied on the net ). let me tell you, it was HEAVEN rinsing out my hair. no tangles, no knots, just silky, smooth, detangled hair. how awesome is that? then i tried mane'n'tail detangler when i got out of the shower. i'm kinda on the fence with this product. i kinda feel like my hair was fine before i used it, and after i sprayed it it seemed like my hair was starting to tangle. it could be due to my technique though. i was trying to detangle in those 4 sections, but i guess i gotta make smaller ones for my thick hair. when i made smaller sections it seemed to work fine. after i detangled, i applied some coconut oil to my hair, then some random moisturizers that i do not like. i don't have any other moistures though so i have to use what i got right now. i put my hair in 10 braids for a braidout tomorrow.

question: for those of you who do no heat styles, do you set your hair while it is fully wet, or do you let it dry first? i was doing my braids on dripping wet hair, and it was really annoying. i felt like every time i bombed a section, the relaxed parts tangled right back up. the natural part stayed nice and smooth, but eh realxed hair started twirling around other strands and getting all bunched up and stuff. i didn't like that at all. the relaxed ends are like pb&j, they just won't let go of each other. please give me any tips you can on how to do these styles without retangling my hair. ♥

 

[MummysGirl]

I do my braids/twists on 80-100% dry hair... I did try doing them on damp hair and although the results were always nice, it took much longer to dry completely and I had to be a little more careful because wet hair stretches easily and I didn't want to tear out strands while braiding/twisting.
It's nice to hear things are going really well with your hair

question: for those of you who do no heat styles, do you set your hair while it is fully wet, or do you let it dry first? i was doing my braids on dripping wet hair, and it was really annoying. i felt like every time i bombed a section, the relaxed parts tangled right back up. the natural part stayed nice and smooth, but eh realxed hair started twirling around other strands and getting all bunched up and stuff. i didn't like that at all. the relaxed ends are like pb&j, they just won't let go of each other. please give me any tips you can on how to do these styles without retangling my hair. ♥

 

[MummysGirl]

I am 7-8 weeks post. I'm transitioning so I can texturize.

No need to apologise
I started cowashing very early in my transition (7/8 weeks). I don't think it really has to do with how many weeks post you are because some people cowash from a week after their relaxer.

I like cowashing because:
1. As someone who works out 4-5 times a week, I can't shampoo wash my hair multiple times a week because it'll dry out my hair.
2. I've discovered that I don't NEED to shampoo every week because cowashing helps keep my hair moisturised whilst lightly cleaning it (obviously not as well as a shampoo)
3. My hair is just more manageable

I cowash 3-4 times a week and shampoo wash every 3-4 weeks. Some people cowash multiple times a week but shampoo wash once a week as well...

I apologize in advance for this question.

At what point during your transitioning do you ladies start co-washing? I am about 8 months post and just co-washed for the first time today. Like many here, I just feel weird about not using shampoo. Per haps I just don't fully understand the benefits of cowashing.

 

[KathyMay]

I'm going on 41 weeks post, still transitioning went to a Dominican salon in the DC area last night, they ask if my hair was relaxed or natural, I went on to say it was relaxed went to the wash bowl, had some henna stuck to my scalp (long story) they thought it was dandruff, then they went on to make a fuss about my hair asking me how long has it been since I had a relaxer, then said I need to decide between relaxing and going natural because my hair is going to break yada yada need a good conditioner gotcha check I have been on LHCF for years. Okay then I am finished with the wash they are “discussing” my hair throwing the brillo word out there & decided they couldn’t do my hair in a rollerset, they would have to do a straight blowout which is $30 more. I refused to pay the extra price and walked out of the salon with a wet head. IF they would have touched my hair it was soft but since I’m a 4a/b they assumed it was “brillo” I went home and saved my $65.

 

[SherylsTresses]

I'm 20 weeks post now. What has been helping me is:

• Using Silicon mix for DC
• Conditioner as a daily moisturizer on dry hair (Nexxus Humectin)
• Adding 100% pure garlic powder to my prepoo
• Roux Porosity Control as a final rinse for 1 minute
• Continuing to moisturize my hair from end to root and sealing with EVOO
• Sleeping in two pigtails and roll ends w/ satin pillow foam curlers, the one with the arms

 

[Khaiya]

10 weeks post tomorrow.

 

[tmhuggiebear]

No need to apologise
I started cowashing very early in my transition (7/8 weeks). I don't think it really has to do with how many weeks post you are because some people cowash from a week after their relaxer.

I like cowashing because:
1. As someone who works out 4-5 times a week, I can't shampoo wash my hair multiple times a week because it'll dry out my hair.
2. I've discovered that I don't NEED to shampoo every week because cowashing helps keep my hair moisturised whilst lightly cleaning it (obviously not as well as a shampoo)
3. My hair is just more manageable

I cowash 3-4 times a week and shampoo wash every 3-4 weeks. Some people cowash multiple times a week but shampoo wash once a week as well...

Thank you so much for the feedback. I really appreciate it. Yea i don't work out as much as I used to. I used to be a hardcore dancer so I had to wash sweat out of my hair frequently. As for manageability, I completely understand now. Today I inspected my hair after my first cowash which was yesterday and my hair was definitely more manageable and had a lot less tangles. The only thing is it didn't feel as clean as it used to so I figured maybe I'll co-wash once a week, shampoo once and maybe dc once a week. But I am definitely in love with the manageability. Maybe I should've started co-washing prior to being 8 months post!

 

[MummysGirl]

Hmmm.... I think stretching out my new growth (With relaxed ends) might not be a good idea cos I'm sure my new growth is longer than this (or maybe I'm just imagining things ). I think the demarcation line is the area that doesn't easily stretch out and I also think that's scab hair. Or maybe the hair on the edges grows slower?? Don't know why I'm trying to find excuses... this should give me more motivation to transition for 2 years!



What do you think? (not about the scab hair cos it's not visible)

My right side (bottom pics) grows faster than my left side (top pics)...

 

[Khaiya]

I'm not sure how to answer your questions but your hair looks really nice and shiny!

 

[Sequoia]

MG, not quite sure how to answer your question either. Do you mean that you're finding it harder to measure how much growth you have? Have you tried wetting the section (with water or con) so it's easier to see your NG?

 

[MummysGirl]

Lol, I re-read and it does look like I'm rambling.

I'm just trying to get a good representation of the length of my new growth and I thought the easiest way to do so was by stretching it out (it was easy to seperate cos this was airdried hair). But I felt an area between my relaxed and natural hair that felt like clumped together coils which didn't stretch out as much... now that I think about it, it's most probably the area that was under my ponytail holder while airdrying.

I just looked through your online album and the best way is definitely snipping off the relaxed ends in a section.

I haven't been length checking but I had to for a couple of challenges I am a part of...

So I think I'll take a break from length checking till I do the same (sometime next year)

Thank you

MG, not quite sure how to answer your question either. Do you mean that you're finding it harder to measure how much growth you have? Have you tried wetting the section (with water or con) so it's easier to see your NG?

 

[Sequoia]

^^ Oh okay, I get it now. I'd hold off on the little snips because it gets addictive .