The relaxed ends of my bantu knot twist out weren't holding up so well, so I decided to pin them up, basically giving the appearance of what my hair would look like if I BC'd. I love it!
With my trusty headband, it actually suits me very well - like a crown sitting atop my head. I'm seriously thinking about BCing this weekend. In a perfect world, I'd like to be APL before going completely natchal but I know that's unrealistic with my slow growth rate, shrinkage and the minimal amount of relaxed ends remaining.
I feel like I've met most of the important requirements for being BC-ready:
Appearance
-Am I comfortable with my hair at this length?
Yes. It's not my optimal length but factoring in shrinkage, I won't be at my optimal length for a long while.
-Do I have a grasp of styles that I will wear and do these styles complement my lifestyle?
Yes. I already love wearing wigs and plan to continuing doing so regardless of whether I BC or not. I also like how my hair looks with bantu-knotted twist outs. I have enough new growth to put in a very short ponytail, which can be augmented with a phony-puff. These styles complement my lifestyle irt meetings and events since I'm not in an ultra-conservative field. Another important aspect of my lifestyle is working out. When I'm wearing cornrows, I honestly don't feel comfortable going out in them, so BCing won't change that. I'll wear a scarf or casual half-wig when I go running. When I'm wearing my hair "out", being all natural would actually be easier bc I don't have to worry about sweat reverting my relaxed ends from, let's say, a bantu knot twist out curl pattern to bone straight. I look a ham with my ng in a curly or kinky texture and my relaxed ends straight. With all natural hair, if I sweat, my style might stay or it might not, but at least
all my hair will be the same texture.
-What styling options will I be missing out on if I BC?
Buns of substance on my own hair. Last week, I wore my hair in twists pulled back in a bun, which is a look I loved. Last month, I straightened my hair and was able to do gorgeous buns. If I BC, I won't be able to do either. I also might not be able to wear my hair straightened (aside from occasional length checks) because it's not in a "cut" style, which is preferable for hair of my length.
-Have I accepted my texture?
Yes. Long time ago. I know my hair won't hang. I know that it grows up, not down. I know that my hair isn't conducive to wash-n-go, which isn't really something I feel I'm missing out on.
-Am I prepared for the weird in-between stage of not quite TWA, not quite BAA?
I think so. :scratchch
Regimen+ Hair Health
-Will BCing make my hair easier to care for?
I believe it will. I've always had a problem with roughness and tangling along the border of ng/relaxed ends, even with applying DCs diligently using an application brush since the beginning of my HHJ and regular moisturizing and attentive detangling. My relaxed ends won't let my natchal hair be great!
I think caring for one texture will be easier and will also allow me to care for my [future] natural ends better.
-How will BCing affect my regimen?
I'm still in the process of finding the perfect regimen but I've been doing a low-manipulation regimen and will continue to do so whether or not I BC. My current regimen requires cornrowing under wigs and if I BC, I'll still have enough hair to cornrow. My regimen and how I handle my hair has mostly prioritized my natural hair
, so not much would change. In fact, I really can't think of a single thing that would change.
-How will BCing affect my product lineup?
Once again, can't think of anything. I don't have use any super-heavy proteins or ceramides for my relaxed ends. In light of a recent feature on The Natural Haven blog, I was considering re-incorporating a glycerin/water spray mix into my lineup but that has more to do with the season than transitioning/fully natural hair.
-If I find myself in a rut after BCing, would I be in danger of relaxing?
I honestly don't think so. Not because I'm fundamentally opposed to relaxing. For me, transitioning was an opportunity to get acquainted with my relaxer-free hair bc I felt I owed it to myself to do so. I've never been of the conviction that "I'll never relax again". However, of the various complications that BCing could present, I don't see how a relaxer would solve any of them, therefore I don't see myself in danger of relaxing as a "way out".
I'll sleep on it another night. Any other things to take into account?
::superbanana:
I removed my twists and Henna'd yesterday. Too be honest, I was almost on the verge of BC'ing yesterday. I have quite a bit of NG (my nape is 100% natural though 
. I'll be henna'ing today but I haven't decided how I plan to style my hair. I bought a phony puff yesterday from the BSS, so I may try that or try out my Maxiglide.
