jamoca5
New Member
Hello LHCF peoples!
I'm Ashley, 16, and after 4 years of relaxing, I am now transitioning. My last relaxer was on May 7th, 2009, which makes me about 20 weeks post, I believe. I decided to start transitioning back in early July. At the time, I had cornrows w/extensions (as I usually do in the summertime), so all was pretty well. Well, now it's September, and the school year has gone underway, and I find myself somewhat lost and clueless.
Luckily, my older sister is a cosmetologist (or aspiring, she currently attends Dudley Beauty College). What's not so lucky is that she and I kind of clash when it comes to how to treat my hair. For example, last weekend after I washed my hair, I didn't want to use heat to dry it, after which, my sis chastised me, saying "We're not white, Ashley!" But this comment doesn't make much sense to me anymore, seeing as though I've been researching, (especially here on LHCF) and most black women who wear their hair natural say its a big no-no to use heat on your hair.
Which leads me to wonder that since there seems to be a certain amount of guidelines for naturals, and guidelines for relaxers, if there's a completely different set a rules for transitioners as well.
As for protective styling, since school's started, I've been using weaves a little bit (something I'm still not completely used to wearing). My current profile pic is me with cornrows (some extensions used) with a curly weave sewn in. More recently, I now have this "makeshift wig" thing where I have a stocking cap over my cornrows and curly tracks glued on it (can someone remind me what it's called?). The style is cute, but this itching is driving me CRAZY! I definitely prefer using my actual hair than tracks (although sewing them in is tolerable). But I don't know what styles I can do, besides braids.
So bottom line is, I'm stuck. I don't have a specific regimen, I'm not sure how to care for my hair (especially since what my sister advises contradicts what I'm reading)... I don't even know what my hair type is! Any advice/tips would be extremely helpful. Mainly routine things like how often should I wash it, where I could find products without any harmful chemicals, protective styling, caring for it at night... <i>anything</i> to help me through this confusing and frustrating time. I plan on sticking to this for the long run, but that may not last very long if I don't get a clue. Help, anyone?
I'm Ashley, 16, and after 4 years of relaxing, I am now transitioning. My last relaxer was on May 7th, 2009, which makes me about 20 weeks post, I believe. I decided to start transitioning back in early July. At the time, I had cornrows w/extensions (as I usually do in the summertime), so all was pretty well. Well, now it's September, and the school year has gone underway, and I find myself somewhat lost and clueless.
Luckily, my older sister is a cosmetologist (or aspiring, she currently attends Dudley Beauty College). What's not so lucky is that she and I kind of clash when it comes to how to treat my hair. For example, last weekend after I washed my hair, I didn't want to use heat to dry it, after which, my sis chastised me, saying "We're not white, Ashley!" But this comment doesn't make much sense to me anymore, seeing as though I've been researching, (especially here on LHCF) and most black women who wear their hair natural say its a big no-no to use heat on your hair.
Which leads me to wonder that since there seems to be a certain amount of guidelines for naturals, and guidelines for relaxers, if there's a completely different set a rules for transitioners as well.
As for protective styling, since school's started, I've been using weaves a little bit (something I'm still not completely used to wearing). My current profile pic is me with cornrows (some extensions used) with a curly weave sewn in. More recently, I now have this "makeshift wig" thing where I have a stocking cap over my cornrows and curly tracks glued on it (can someone remind me what it's called?). The style is cute, but this itching is driving me CRAZY! I definitely prefer using my actual hair than tracks (although sewing them in is tolerable). But I don't know what styles I can do, besides braids.
So bottom line is, I'm stuck. I don't have a specific regimen, I'm not sure how to care for my hair (especially since what my sister advises contradicts what I'm reading)... I don't even know what my hair type is! Any advice/tips would be extremely helpful. Mainly routine things like how often should I wash it, where I could find products without any harmful chemicals, protective styling, caring for it at night... <i>anything</i> to help me through this confusing and frustrating time. I plan on sticking to this for the long run, but that may not last very long if I don't get a clue. Help, anyone?
