Shrinkage was my enemy today! argh!!

[EbonyEyes]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to tell you what happened to me today.

As many of you know, I've been natural for over two years and when straightened, my hair is quite long! It's almost shoulder length in the front and almost bra-strap in the back.

But you wouldn't know my hair was that long when you see my twists! I've been trying to be patient. My hair doesn't grow incredibly fast but it's growing at a satisfactory rate. This time last year, the front twists reached my eye brow. One year later, they only reach a couple centimeters below my eyes!!!!!!! At this rate, it will take me 6 years to get shoulder length twists!

My frustration with shrinkage was at an all time high today. I was unbelievably close to calling a salon and making an appointment to relax my hair. It was that serious. I just look at the girls at my school with long hair and there was a time, I would be jealous of their length. But now, I just about have that length but you can't even see HALF of it!

Well since then, I've calmed down. I rinsed my twists with lemon water to soothe my scalp, gave myself a scalp massage with my oil mixture, sprayed my twists, and put my twists in four pigtails. I look soooo adorable and my hair feels fabulous! So I feel better but I'm pretty sure that my frustration will come back.

There is still that part of me that wants to relax my hair but I'm scared. When I got my hair straigtened this past December for braids, the braid lady said that my hair was really long and then she says "That's what happens when hair is in its natural state. It grows a lot." Those words stuck with me. Maybe my hair is this long and healthy BECAUSE it's natural and I might lose the length and healthiness if I relax it.

I just wanted to tell you my story. Encouraging words would be great!

Thanks,

Ebony

 

[balisi]

Girl, don't you go and get a relaxer! Do your twists hang in a manner that is attractive and pleasing to you? If so, what does it matter if they shrink? I get serious shrinkage too, but I don't care because I know how long my hair really is, even if no one else does. You have nothing to prove to anyone but yourself. If you find yourself still discouraged by the shrinkage, perhaps a texturizer is the lesser of two evils. But I think you should hang in there and love your shrinkage!

 

[EbonyEyes]

Girl, don't you go and get a relaxer! Do your twists hang in a manner that is attractive and pleasing to you? If so, what does it matter if they shrink? I get serious shrinkage too, but I don't care because I know how long my hair really is, even if no one else does. You have nothing to prove to anyone but yourself. If you find yourself still discouraged by the shrinkage, perhaps a texturizer is the lesser of two evils. But I think you should hang in there and love your shrinkage!

Hi Balisi!

My twists used to look so awesome when my hair was shorter but I'm at an awkward stage. For the most part, my twists do hang but my hair is in layers (I'm growing them out) and with the shrunken length, it looks odd.

I want to love shrinkage but shrinkage and me are not as friendly as we used to be when I first went natural.

I wouldn't get a texturizer because I would still have shrinkage plus have to deal with chemicals.

I don't think I'm going to get a relaxer. I've had a couple nightmares about putting relaxers in my hair. I think those nightmares are trying to tell me something.

-Ebony

 

[balisi]

Now see, that's funny because my hair is layered and I think it gives a very nice look to the twists. My length is around 7.5 inches now, and I get a nice swing from my twists. I was surprised that it would look as good as it does. My front twist reach my eyebrows and just below, to the corners of my eyes. I too wish that I didn't get so much shrinkage, but I'm learning to love it, as I cannot fathom going back to chemicals. I've never had a texturizer, so I don't know how my hair would respond to it, and I'm afraid to find out. I KNOW I do not want any more relaxers. So that means I have to find ways to work with the shrinkage, and I'm having fun doing that. Do you ever decorate your twists with hair ornaments such as cowrie shells (to help lengthen them), stretch headbands, barrettes or artificial flowers?

 

[EbonyEyes]

Now see, that's funny because my hair is layered and I think it gives a very nice look to the twists. My length is around 7.5 inches now, and I get a nice swing from my twists. I was surprised that it would look as good as it does. My front twist reach my eyebrows and just below, to the corners of my eyes. I too wish that I didn't get so much shrinkage, but I'm learning to love it, as I cannot fathom going back to chemicals. I've never had a texturizer, so I don't know how my hair would respond to it, and I'm afraid to find out. I KNOW I do not want any more relaxers. So that means I have to find ways to work with the shrinkage, and I'm having fun doing that. Do you ever decorate your twists with hair ornaments such as cowrie shells (to help lengthen them), stretch headbands, barrettes or artificial flowers?

Oh when my hair was about 6-7 inches all around (I had a layered look), my twists looked hot. I loved the effect of the layers. And my hair was quite swingy. My hair is longer now with layers but it just looks awkward. Still swingy but awkward looking.

I never tried cowrie shells to lengthen my hair (i have to try that). I've tried stretch headbands but they don't look good on me. I can't find barrettes that will snap on my thick twists. The artifical flowers idea is great! I have to locate some!!

-Ebony

 

[balisi]

Glad to help, Ebony. Let us know how you like the shells and/or flower decorations. I bought some clip-on silk flowers at Wal-Mart for under $2 just last week.

 

[Netta1]

If I were you I wouldn't relax or texturize, I'm sure your hair shrinkage is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why don't you try banding your hair if you really wanna see some length? For me even brushing out my hair allows me to see some length...try these ideas first.


It sounds like your hair is healthy and you've made great progress...why in the world would you want to turn back, are ya CRAZY???? Keep on going movin towards the natural light and don't look back, this too shall pass!

 

[deedabug]

do we need to start a shrinkage support group?? my hair is in twists right now...looks like i bout bout may 3 inches of hair...but its longer than that...a friend keeps tellin me over time my hair will stop shrinking...i dont think it will...overmoisturizing i may do...but i have to have moisture or it will be crispy...i would rather be overmoisturized....juss when i think my hair looks crappy i get a compliment or stares of admiration so i blow off my thinkin my hair bites....a relaxer isnt in my thoughts...i wouldnt think of chancing it with damage...i dont miss split ends or the 2x a year break offs in the same spots....

 

[balisi]

do we need to start a shrinkage support group?? my hair is in twists right now...looks like i bout bout may 3 inches of hair...but its longer than that...a friend keeps tellin me over time my hair will stop shrinking...i dont think it will...overmoisturizing i may do...but i have to have moisture or it will be crispy...i would rather be overmoisturized....juss when i think my hair looks crappy i get a compliment or stares of admiration so i blow off my thinkin my hair bites....a relaxer isnt in my thoughts...i wouldnt think of chancing it with damage...i dont miss split ends or the 2x a year break offs in the same spots....

Yes, deedabug, a shrinkage support group might be needed around here