Ok People! This is a BIG BIG Decision! Help me out!

[lizzyb168]

PLEASE EXCUSE THE BIG PICTURES!


So today , just over 1 year since my last relaxer, i had a terrible time detangling my hair. It was full of single strand knots. Big clumps of hair. It was just Toooo muchh and i really didnt know if i could take it anymore.
Here is a couple of pictures i took a couple of days ago, just so u can get an idea where im at in my transition.

So i picked up my scissors and was getting ready to cut because i was just sooooooo. But somehow i restrained myself and thought i should just straighten a lil part of my hair and see how i felt.
So here is some pictures of it straightened. On the other side u can see how shrunk my hair is normally.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._435840075545_561060545_6120404_1722004_n.jpg

(the red lines show where my natural hair ends)

So after all this i still really dont know whether i shud cut it or just straighten my whole head and see how i feel in a couple of weeks. I really want to wear my hair down for the summer and im tired of braids and twists and hats etc etc.

So wat shud i do?


UPDATE: Here my flat Iron pics. n a comparison from oct 09 til now.

Oct 09:

Now:

 

[blksndrlla]

If you aren't sure...wait a few weeks and see. No rush...

 

[Vintageglam]

Lizzy - I think you already know in your heart what you need to do. Please see the bolded ....

ETA: Everyone has days like this... my advice step away from the scissors and take yourself down to a natural hair salon such as Adornement in Brixton and have a steam and super treatment and get them to style or straighten it for you until you are ready to deal with it.

You will feel 100% better I assure you. The pampering aspect works every time to calm your frazzled nerves....

ETA2: Your hair is BEAUTIFUL

So after all this i still really dont know whether i shud cut it or just straighten my whole head and see how i feel in a couple of weeks. I really want to wear my hair down for the summer and im tired of braids and twists and hats etc etc.

So wat shud i do?

 

[Hairsnob]

Back AWAY from the scissors!!!!!!!!

No cutting. Just straighten it out and take the time to think about what you want to do. Don't cut away all your progress out of frustration.

You'll be just fine!!

 

[OrangeMoon]

Wow shrinkage is a bia bia. Me myself would wait it out. However, if you comfortable with cutting off the relaxed ends and managing your natural hair then go for the BC.

 

[lizzyb168]

Lizzy - I think you already know in your heart what you need to do. Please see the bolded ....

ETA: Everyone has days like this... my advice step away from the scissors and take yourself down to a natural hair salon such as Adornement in Brixton and have a steam and super treatment and get them to style or straighten it for you until you are ready to deal with it.

You will feel 100% better I assure you. The pampering aspect works every time to calm your frazzled nerves....

ETA2: Your hair is BEAUTIFUL

I just cant trust any salon anymore. I only ever really trusted one stylist but she just disappeared out my life! I will go down there and take a quick peak at how good it is though. Thanks

 

[lizzyb168]

Thanks everyone for your responses!

 

[sithembile]

Lizzy - I think you already know in your heart what you need to do. Please see the bolded ....

ETA: Everyone has days like this... my advice step away from the scissors and take yourself down to a natural hair salon such as Adornement in Brixton and have a steam and super treatment and get them to style or straighten it for you until you are ready to deal with it.

You will feel 100% better I assure you. The pampering aspect works every time to calm your frazzled nerves....

ETA2: Your hair is BEAUTIFUL

Hi PR! I've never heard of this salon, are they really good? I'd be willing to come down to London for a treat once in a while once I BC.

 

[Dak]

You may be at the point where you can only detangle when your hair is wet. You've got some beautiful thick hair. You say you want to wear your hair out for the summer, what style are you thinking? You'd look pretty with a headband & a puff. If you want to start wearing your natural hair, I'd say cut it. If you're into roller setting &/or flat ironing, keep it long.

 

[lizzyb168]

You may be at the point where you can only detangle when your hair is wet. You've got some beautiful thick hair. You say you want to wear your hair out for the summer, what style are you thinking? You'd look pretty with a headband & a puff. If you want to start wearing your natural hair, I'd say cut it. If you're into roller setting &/or flat ironing, keep it long.

I was thinking exactly that. A headband and a puff but i cant do that all the time because i have alopecia. So i was also thinking of just wearing it out and buying alot of hair pin accessories. Im not really into direct heat and flat ironing anymore as i LOVE my curly hair, but i think for the next couple of weeks im just gonna keep it straight. After all these comments, i think i just need to really think about this more. Oh and i only detangle my hair when its wet/damp, any kind of dry detangling would be a disaster. Thanks for your comment

 

[Vintageglam]

I just cant trust any salon anymore. I only ever really trusted one stylist but she just disappeared out my life! I will go down there and take a quick peak at how good it is though. Thanks

Hi PR! I've never heard of this salon, are they really good? I'd be willing to come down to London for a treat once in a while once I BC.

Ladies this is a lovely salon. I go there sometimes when I just want to kick back and relax. Steam treatments are about 25-30 GBP and then you just tell them how you want to style your hair i.e. roller set, twists, flexi's etc. Not sure how much the different services are.

they are based in Moreley's in Brixton. They also sell all the Qhemet products as well as Aubrey's organics and use salon quality products such as Joico. They specialise in natural hair and are very hair health focussed.

I seriously advise you Lizzy just to go for a steam and flexi set or something. If you decide to go down there please don't forget to report back.

 

[Bublin]

I just cant trust any salon anymore. I only ever really trusted one stylist but she just disappeared out my life! I will go down there and take a quick peak at how good it is though. Thanks

When you go let me know what you think. I went for a peek a long time ago and the reception was odd. They just handed me a leaflet and sent me on my way. Lol.

 

[*CherryPie*]

CUT THE HAIR.

You have very pretty natural hair, and it's long enough to do lots of styles. Don't stress yourself out any longer. Cut and treat yourself to a reward!

 

[1QTPie]

I'm on side cut it! LOL. But that's because I know what you're going through. Do what you really want to do. It's growing, so it's not like it will stay short forever.

Try everything you can to retain the length, but if it's causing you too much stress and time, be free. SNIP SNIP!

 

[halee_J]

Lemme fist just say, I love your hair it look so soft and THICK. I would get a deeeeeeeeeep treatment and see if that helped with the managability(using a steamer or the hot towel mwthod) and possibly also flat iron like how westNDNbeauty did hers, and think about it some more.

If doing really deeep treatments and detangling only with lots of con doesn't help then, I would say cut.

 

[lizzyb168]

just to let everyone know im currently flatironing my whole head. Will post pictures of the results. Thanks again for the commentS!

 

[SvelteVelvet]

Since your natural hair has surpassed the length of your relaxed ends, I would cut.

BTW, we have the same natural hair texture. My last touch-up was the top of Feb and I've been contemplating giving myself a whole year off of relaxers to test out transitioning. Your pics just motivated me to commit to going natural.

 

[lizzyb168]

Since your natural hair has surpassed the length of your relaxed ends, I would cut.

BTW, we have the same natural hair texture. My last touch-up was the top of Feb and I've been contemplating giving myself a whole year off of relaxers to test out transitioning. Your pics just motivated me to commit to going natural.

awww thanks. Trust me, it will be the best decision u ever made!

 

[lana]

I think your hair looks healthy and good and I think that thinner ends are to be expected if you are mostly natural with a few relaxed inches on the ends. The key is to "hide" the difference in texture from yourself so that you won't be tempted to cut it off - if you want to keep the length.

I personally don't go to salons and don't plan to start, even on my worse hair days, I always say if anyone is going to jack up my hair it's going to be me. I personally never felt relaxed in a salon before, even the nice ones, I'm watching them like a hawk! Alert! Awake and Aware! Is a better descpription of how I was at a salon...

I say up the deep conditioning treatments and wear your hair however you think makes it look the best! Right now I'm dealing with two different lengths, so...I wear it all in a curly set most of the time or a bun and I can't see the difference, while the nape catches up to the rest of my length (the nape is natural, the rest is texlaxed, but my nape can't handle chemicals).

 

[teysmith]

I say cut it. You already have a good legnth of natural hair so Its not like its going to be a dramatic cut.

 

[PerplexingComplex]

I was gonna type, "just do rollersets", but I see you already decided to straighten. For future reference, rollersets are very nice transition styles.

 

[dynamic1]

You natural hair looks for healthy but I understand your hesitation to chop. Try rollersets, flat twist outs or regular twist outs/braid outs if you want to wear it down for the summer. Attempting straight hair, with that proportion of new growth, plus summer heat may add to your frustration.

 

[beans4reezy]

Give yourself some more time before you do something as drastic and irreversable as cutting it.

 

[Bnster]

Beautiful hair, you have a lot of natural length. When did you consider you wanted to cut the relax out? Try the ladies suggestions on heat treatment, if you feel comfortable cut the relax out, if not blend the two textures in curly style. HHJ

 

[lizzyb168]

Beautiful hair, you have a lot of natural length. When did you consider you wanted to cut the relax out? Try the ladies suggestions on heat treatment, if you feel comfortable cut the relax out, if not blend the two textures in curly style. HHJ

I literally considered cuttin out the relaxer today. Washing my hair was just too frustrating, and then detangling nearly pushed me over the edge. I think im goin to change my conditioners bk to mizani because they just made my curls so soft n managable. Aubrey organics just doesnt do anything 4 me!

 

[Eritreladiee]

I would chop off the ends. You might as well enjoy your hair this summer, yeah it'll be short, but its better than dealing with 2 textures.

 

[lizzyb168]

bump.........

 

[SEMO]

If you're unsure I would give it a few more weeks thought. You always have time to big chop. But once you do, there's no re-attaching the hair once it's cut. But if you do feel it's time I say go for it!

 

[RubyWoo]

I say cut it! Your hair is long enough to do a lot of cute styles such as twists, twist outs, chunky twists/twist outs, micro twists, cornrowed styles, puffs, wash and go..I can go on. I suggest going on you tube and check out natural hair styling/care/tutorial videos. You tube has been excellent resource for me since I began my natural journey .

Honestly, I think it would be a waste to straighten it. Your ends look thin due to the natural growth. In addition, you'll have challenges with reversion due to the heat.

Good luck whatever you decide! Your natural hair looks beautiful!

 

[lizzyb168]

I say cut it! Your hair is long enough to do a lot of cute styles such as twists, twist outs, chunky twists/twist outs, micro twists, cornrowed styles, puffs, wash and go..I can go on. I suggest going on you tube and check out natural hair styling/care/tutorial videos. You tube has been excellent resource for me since I began my natural journey .

Honestly, I think it would be a waste to straighten it. Your ends look thin due to the natural growth. In addition, you'll have challenges with reversion due to the heat.

Good luck whatever you decide! Your natural hair looks beautiful!

This is my first time using direct heat this year and will be my only time. When i have used heat in the past my reversion has usually be fine, so hopefully nothing will go wrong. Thanks for your suggestions