New *2010* Transitioners Support Thread!

[frankle56]

Im about ten weeks post and my hair is all nautual in the back because it broke off completely. I plan on BC the other in about three or four months, I hope, if it grows a lot. Just having problems with styling it. I have been hot ironing it all week, knowing well thats not good;however, I don't know what to do with it. I hot iron the relaxed hair only, the other is too short.

 

[moriahar]

My only regret is that I wish I hadn't relaxed back in April. I would have been over a 1 year post by now.

Me too. I don't feel so bad knowing that you and I last relaxed around the same time.

 

[LoveCraze]

Thanks ladies!! Oh and in my excitement to post my milestone, I forgot to say congratulations to those who have reached their transition milestones as well (regardless as to how few weeks it may be). We all had to start somewhere.
And to you too Platinum!

 

[CherryCherryBoomBoom]

I wish I hadn't bothered relaxing, all those times I tried back in 2009. I just kept underprocessing, then I decided I may as well go natural if I can't relax properly. I recently trimmed the bone-laxed ends at the back off, when my hair was straightened and I wanted to neaten the ends and get rid of thin straggly bits. I'm so annoyed my hair has not improved much with length, but as long as I leave the braids and relaxers alone for now, I should be OK. It mostly all looks like an afro now, with some straight bits, but I need to keep the long parts at the front for now to blend with my half wig. I may BC in the summer, hopefully my growth aids and tweaked regimen will help me out

 

[LoveCraze]

I took out my braids and washed, DCd, etc to my hair last night. I'm almost 6 months post and the NG is THICK and very difficult to get a comb through even with water and conditioner but that's the least of my problems. I don't plan to BC until the end of the year but the relaxed ends look so straggly and ugly compared to the NG. I've been trying to blend them together since last night with conditioner, blow drying, drying flat with a scarf, etc but that doesn't help. The relaxed ends still looks startlingly different from the NG. I am about ready to reach for the scissors at this time. Does anyone know any other method I can use to blend them together please? I don't wish to flat iron.

To blend your two textures, look into transition hair styles. There are a plethora of videos on youtube you can check out. Braidouts, twistouts, bantu knot outs, flexi-rod sets to name a few. Work with your NG and not against it. Start now treating your hair as though it is natural so that you can learn not only how to style it and maintain it, but to learn what it likes and what it doesn't. Relaxed ends will always pale in comparison to natural hair so don't let this discourage you. Try not to stress over your hair and accept the challenge that your hair is going through. Experiment with differnent styles and TRY to have fun. I was so one note when I was relaxing only. But now since I started transitioning, my hair changes regularly when I want and I have so much more versatility.
Good luck and HHJ!

 

[msbettyboop]

To blend your two textures, look into transition hair styles. There are a plethora of videos on youtube you can check out. Braidouts, twistouts, bantu knot outs, flexi-rod sets to name a few. Work with your NG and not against it. Start now treating your hair as though it is natural so that you can learn not only how to style it and maintain it, but to learn what it likes and what it doesn't. Relaxed ends will always pale in comparison to natural hair so don't let this discourage you. Try not to stress over your hair and accept the challenge that your hair is going through. Experiment with differnent styles and TRY to have fun. I was so one note when I was relaxing only. But now since I started transitioning, my hair changes regularly when I want and I have so much more versatility.
Good luck and HHJ!

Thanks. I looked at your fotki. I think I need to get some hair accessories to help me get through this. Will also stalk some videos on you tube.

 

[andromeda]

I've been experimenting with protective styles on my straightened hair. Here's a [slightly lopsided] bun that I did using a banana clip and some hair pins. When my mom saw it she was in awe and asked if it was all mine.

I've always loved big buns and since I've been learning more about hair care and styling, I now realize that one doesn't have to incredibly thick or WL hair to achieve to the look.

Happy Friday Ladies! I'm 45 week post! Still wearing Senegalese Twists and will stay in them for the next few weeks. Time flies! I can't believe that I've been transitioning for almost a year now! It has also occured to me that my nape is 100%. I kept hanging setbacks and severe breakage from relaxing my nape. I decided to stop relaxing it but I decided to relax the rest of my hair in April. If I had not relaxed in April, I would be 15 months post now.

Keep up the good work everyone!

WHOOOOO HOOOOO!!! I'M A WHOLE YEAR POST YA'LL!!!


Never thought I'd be able to do it. Wasn't always "Good " hair days but I made it. Through this long process I have learned so much about my hair!! Stick in there ladies, you can do it too! Once you find your staple styles and go to styles (when the others don't work out just right), your hair life will be much less stressful!
Now to reevaluate my hair length and BC plans. No BC for me just yet MG LOL.

Congrats Platinum and StepElise!

I'm on y'all's heels. Can't believe I'm almost a year post!

 

[MummysGirl]

Steph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHOOOOO HOOOOO!!! I'M A WHOLE YEAR POST YA'LL!!!


Never thought I'd be able to do it. Wasn't always "Good " hair days but I made it. Through this long process I have learned so much about my hair!! Stick in there ladies, you can do it too! Once you find your staple styles and go to styles (when the others don't work out just right), your hair life will be much less stressful!
Now to reevaluate my hair length and BC plans. No BC for me just yet MG LOL.

You know I like the sound of that

 

[MummysGirl]

KUTGW Ladies!!!! Enjoy your weekend!

P.S. I'm 63 weeks (14.5 months) post If I end up BC'ing at 20 months (87 weeks post), that'd mean I have 24 weeks to go - that doesn't seem long AT ALL!

*One thing I am sure of, by christmas 2010, I'll be 100% natural! *

 

[msbettyboop]

I tied my hair down with a scarf all day and this is the result. I kinda like it actually. It's curly . It's almost impossible to get a comb through but curly anyway and I like it.

 

[Trini_Chutney]

Im about ten weeks post and my hair is all nautual in the back because it broke off completely. I plan on BC the other in about three or four months, I hope, if it grows a lot. Just having problems with styling it. I have been hot ironing it all week, knowing well thats not good;however, I don't know what to do with it. I hot iron the relaxed hair only, the other is too short.

There are some threads with transition styles, and MG has some great Youtube videos on braidouts and twistouts. Good luck with your transition!

 

[Rapunzel*]

im almost 9 months post and its getting easier i must say. i hope to at least transition 18 months

 

[ZkittyKurls]

Hello, ladies im new and i have been transitioning for about 10 months now and i am currently wearing a weave. i have thick 4a hair and it does not play well with the thin strands of my relaxed ends. i am hoping to transition for at least 6 more months! but everytime i see wonderful pics of ladies BC'ing i get real tempted. :

 

[hair4romheaven]

7mnths post checking in. I am so happy to say I wore my hair out for the first time in months. I blow dried using the tension method. Then did chunky twist all over my head and put jherri curl rollers at the ends. It came out really really nice & bouncy!! Now its back to the braids under the wig. ;-(

 

[Platinum]

Still in Senegalese Twists. Getting a lot of NG now so I'm trying to hold on for a few more weeks beforeI take them out.

Keep up the good work everyone!

 

[Bouncin&Behavin]

I'm now 15 weeks post. I roller set my hair yesterday and wore it out last night. It was cute last night, but it was a steaming hot mess today. Apparently wrapping + 15 weeks of NG = a bad idea. My roots were so puffy so my hair did not lay down. When I unwrapped it, I looked like the Bride of Frankenstein!!! Back to the bun I went.

 

[dorko]

took down my twists over the last week o_0
im happy my hair feels so moisturized

 

[Foxglove]

I've set a date y'all
April 5

 

[seraphinelle]

I might decide to texlax my hair.

 

[MummysGirl]

16 months? I can live with that ;-)

I (Yes 'I') want loads of pictures!!!!!!!!

I've set a date y'all
April 5

 

[Neek-a-Nator]

Still in Senegalese Twists. Getting a lot of NG now so I'm trying to hold on for a few more weeks beforeI take them out.

Keep up the good work everyone!

How long do you keep your twists in???? I don't think mine will last that long, they're def not as sturdy as box braids alothough I love them.

 

[Duchesse]

*creeps into thread doing the bankhead bounce..*

I'm so happy, I've just made 24 weeks/6 months post!!!

I've been trying to transition for the past 1 1/2 yrs., and I always, always crumbled at around weeks 12-16 and texlaxed, then regretted it, then went back into the same cycle.

This time I have ZERO desire to actually ever, ever, ever relax again and I'm so very happy.

I've been doing wigs, braidouts, and rollersets and its smooth sailing. I just need to find staple moisturizers,I'm thinking Qhemet stuff, and I'm set.

My goal is to make it to at least 1 yr, maybe 2 yrs of transitioning.

 

[Platinum]

How long do you keep your twists in???? I don't think mine will last that long, they're def not as sturdy as box braids alothough I love them.

I've had mine since January 25. I usually wear mine for 8-10 weeks and I never have problems with breakage. They never look bad when I take them down, I usually take them down because of the amount of NG I have by then.

 

[andromeda]

I'm now 15 weeks post. I roller set my hair yesterday and wore it out last night. It was cute last night, but it was a steaming hot mess today. Apparently wrapping + 15 weeks of NG = a bad idea. My roots were so puffy so my hair did not lay down. When I unwrapped it, I looked like the Bride of Frankenstein!!! Back to the bun I went.[/QUOTE]Tell me about it! I haven't even attempted to rollerset since beginning my transition but I think next time I blow dry and flat iron, I'll try out curlformers instead of just wrapping.

I've set a date y'all
April 5

*marks calendar* so excited for you!

*creeps into thread doing the bankhead bounce..*

I'm so happy, I've just made 24 weeks/6 months post!!!

I've been trying to transition for the past 1 1/2 yrs., and I always, always crumbled at around weeks 12-16 and texlaxed, then regretted it, then went back into the same cycle.

This time I have ZERO desire to actually ever, ever, ever relax again and I'm so very happy.

I've been doing wigs, braidouts, and rollersets and its smooth sailing.

That's beautiful! Glad to hear things are going smoothly.

I just need to find staple moisturizers,I'm thinking Qhemet stuff, and I'm set.

My goal is to make it to at least 1 yr, maybe 2 yrs of transitioning.

re: moisturizers - I bought Qhemet Detangling Ghee back in December (actually I bought it in Nov but shipping took forever ) and I like it as a moisturizer. When my hair is loose, I apply it straight out of the jar and seal with EVOO or JBCO/CO and when my hair is braided I dilute it with water in a bottle and spray it. As I stated upthread, I could've been better with ensuring that the front of my hair was thoroughly moisturized but aside from that, when I took out my cornrows after a month, my hair was very well-moisturized.

I also bought the Burdock root butter but I haven't been using that.

 

[andromeda]

Trying to get an idea of how much ng I have. My fingers roughly indicate where the ng ends and the bonelaxed ends begin:

on straightened, but reverting hair

on freshly dc'd/washed hair

I also tried doing a bun on unstraightened hair for the first time in a long time:

I know it's messy. I basically let my hair air dry in bantu knotted twists while I was getting ready for my run and then undid them one by one, pulling them back into a banana clip and securing the ends with a bobby pin. I have yet to use gel during my transition (actually I don't think I've ever used gel). I bought some IC gel a year ago but I want to try to the ecostyler and get a denman brush - though the idea of brush + gel makes me apprehensive.

I was pleased to see that I can pull my ng into a ponytail and have the makings of a [small] puff. Of course, when I left my house to go on my run a young lady was standing outside with the fly, big ole puff. I complimented her on it and silently hoped for the day when my puff would be that big.

 

[seraphinelle]

How long have you been transitioning for?

 

[andromeda]

How long have you been transitioning for?

Since 4/2009.

 

[lacreolegurl]

Rant. I'm struggling with my transition right now. My relaxed ends are giving me a really hard time...but I don't want to BC because I'm just at APL and I don't want to lose my length. But even more, I really don't want to perm anymore. UGH. I find myself flat ironing in order to deal with the differences in texture (I think I'm a 4a in the crown with some 3C around nape and edges), risking heat damage and breakage. So today, I told myself that I REFUSE to use heat until my 1 year mark in June and just rock uber-conditioned wash and goes (like today).
Also, I think my hair likes a lot of protein. I was misusing my Aphogee 2 step and using it every 2-3 weeks. Breakage and shedding stopped...so, I haven't don't one in weeks...now the shedding/breakage is picking up.
I hate the limbo of it all sometimes.
Okay...rant over.
Does anyone know of a light protein treatment I could use more frequently?

 

[Imani]

I'm now 15 weeks post. I roller set my hair yesterday and wore it out last night. It was cute last night, but it was a steaming hot mess today. Apparently wrapping + 15 weeks of NG = a bad idea. My roots were so puffy so my hair did not lay down. When I unwrapped it, I looked like the Bride of Frankenstein!!! Back to the bun I went.[/QUOTE]Tell me about it! I haven't even attempted to rollerset since beginning my transition but I think next time I blow dry and flat iron, I'll try out curlformers instead of just wrapping.

*marks calendar* so excited for you!

That's beautiful! Glad to hear things are going smoothly.

re: moisturizers - I bought Qhemet Detangling Ghee back in December (actually I bought it in Nov but shipping took forever ) and I like it as a moisturizer. When my hair is loose, I apply it straight out of the jar and seal with EVOO or JBCO/CO and when my hair is braided I dilute it with water in a bottle and spray it. As I stated upthread, I could've been better with ensuring that the front of my hair was thoroughly moisturized but aside from that, when I took out my cornrows after a month, my hair was very well-moisturized.

I also bought the Burdock root butter but I haven't been using that.

I also like Qhemet products. i have really hard/dry 4b hair. I really like the almla and olive heavy cream. I have the coca detangling ghee but haven't really tried it yet. i put a little on my hair the other day and it seems like it could be a nice product for when I want something lighter and more water based.

 

[melissa-bee]

^ i use ors replenishing conditioner.
I washed my hair tonight, i'm gonna air dry, play in my new growth and flat iron tomorrow evening.