Strongly considering going au natrual

[kedala]

I think that I am just tired of having to get touch ups all the d@mn time. My hair really doesn't seem as healthy as I remember it being during my pre-perm days at the age of 10. I mean over 14 years of relaxing and I just don't want to do it anymore. My hair is about 18 inches right now with new growth that's about 2-3 inches. I haven't relaxed since May and I don't even want to step foot in Target or Sally's.
My hairtype seems to be a 4a, and as I rub my fingers through it and grab a ringlet, some of them are wavy like 3c. I will admit I am extremly confused though, I don't want to let go of my relaxed hair yet I don't want to relax the new growth. I've been doing condition washes with Aubrey's island rinse and deep treatments with the Jojoba and Aloe rejuvenator, on occasion I'll wash with the blue algae shampoo. I'm saying all of this because since doing so, my new growth has been extremely soft and healthy looking and my relaxed hair just looks dull. I don't know what to do. Right now I'm just being stubborn and I refuse to by any relaxer, lye or no-lye. I need to get off my soap box I know, I think I'll wait another 3 weeks and see how I feel about it then.

Thanks for listening/reading

 

[AFashionSlave]

I think you should GO FOR IT!
For me natural has been the best way to go.

 

[Ire_manzi]

Go for it girl and experience the freedom of natural hair.

 

[nita4]

I know how you feel. I went through that for months. I still relax for ease and because I'm use to it. Take your time - it is confusing - but your decision. You can always get a touch up or continue on. Either way, best to you.

 

[laketta]

I say go for it also. Your hair will appreciate not being abused by excess chemicals. It will show that too.

 

[amy1234]

It's totally up to you, do what you feel is right for you... I also wanted to recommend using wild growth oil on your natural hair. I know it kind of smells but it makes your hair softer and shinier- it also might make your transition go more smoothly. Good luck!

 

[kedala]

I've been considering just doing my braid and twist outs during the transition which is how I usually wear my hair anyway. Which is also why I said to myself "how stupid I'm I" -- relaxing my hair just to wear it curly.

 

[inthepink]

Go for it!!

 

[CaramelKiss]

I decided to transition and I've cut off most of my relaxed hair and the feeling is wonderful! I got tired of being "chemically dependent". But, in the end u have to decide what's best for u. Relaxers are no great evil and some women manage them extremely well and have a talent for it, I wasn't one of them.

Think about it carefully and good luck!! No matter what u decide to do, u will always have our support!!

 

[ChocolateCutee]

its really up to you what you want to do with your hair. Transitioning is not easy for some people to do because of the difference in the hair texture.

Do whatever you feel will make you happy, though I want to ask you some questions (which are not meant to be mean)

Why do you want to go natural? Is it because it's the latest trend/experiment?

what were the factors of not going natural sooner

What do you want to achieve with your hair?

These are just a few questions that I wanted to ask. I hope you don't think I was being mean. Just wanted some info to know whether or not I could help in answering you questions and worries about going natural.

 

[Peachtree]

Hi Kedala

Sweetheart, i feel ur frustration. For the past 3.5 mths, that was my biggest dilemma also... having to choose between the relaxed hair which i love so such (& still do) & my natural hair, which i also love.

What helped me to decide was my ability to manage my new growth (about 3" now). For 18 yrs, relaxers, heat, hardening gels, etc were necessary to keep my natural hair "under control", manageable. However, over the last 11 mths, i've learned that a very healthy & consistent regime (3.5 mths *EVEN WITHOUT HEAT*) has given my new growth the same manageable results. This was the principle reason why I was inspired to go natural.... Basically I've learned that I can manage my natural hair without the use of a relaxer. Besides, my natural hair looks a million times better than my processed hair

Wishing u the best as u reflect upon ur decision

"GO

NATURAL"

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

Wishing you all the best in you journey!

Whatever you decide you know that you have support from all of us here!

 

[kedala]

Re: ChocolateCutee

Why do you want to go natural? Is it because it's the latest trend/experiment
It's not because of trend. I don't like having to relax my hair every 3 months or so. It might be because I am tired of doing that. With having used relaxers for so long, my hair is starting to feel dry, so you can also add health reasons to that list also. I use 100% organic products on my hair, Aubrey's and oils, etc, but kind of defeat the purpose when i have to use harmful chemicals to relax my hair.

And even after I relax my hair, I do a braid out usually to get it curly again.

what were the factors of not going natural sooner
Habit. my mother put a relaxer in my hair when I was like 10 or something. I have just been using a relaxer ever since.

What do you want to achieve with your hair?
Overall health and ease (meaning style capabilities) I just want to wash and go.

I don't think any of your questions were mean, they were very valid and insightful for me also.

 

[Guest]

I feel ya. I go through that as well. But I know deep down that I can't deal with the "struggle" of letting it all grow out and then I'd eventually use a straighting comb anyway cause I hate braids and twist, even when I was natural I never wore them. And there's NO WAY I'm doin a TWA thing.

So, for me, the answer is relax. A friend of mine cut all her hair off, and now she's wearin a weave ?!!? or extension braids. She regrets it now.

So don't make an emotional decision, really think about it.

 

[Karonica]

Kedala, I'm glad you started this thread, because I've been seriously considering it myself. My hair is not taking to relaxers as well as it used to and I am sick and tired of having 3 different textures on my hair, and suffering breakage and shedding everywhere. It isn't worth it. My main concerns is the actual transitioning though. I am afraid to cut off my hair, and I don't want to have a ton of new growth and permed hair all at once, and I can't stand wearing hairstyles for a long period of time, so transitioning with braids is not an option for me either. Help!

 

[ChocolateCutee]

Re: ChocolateCutee

I am glad that you didn't take any offense when I asked those questions because I know this subject can be a bit touchy.

I know what you are going through and this is my 3rd attempt at going natural. It was an easy descission to make because I was also fed up of having to relax my hair, going to salans with bad attitudes etc.

It was also a chance to see what my hair look like under the relaxer. Don't get me wrong I had little damage b/c most of the time I kept it short. But I love my hair now. O wasn't supprised about the hair texture b/c I knew my hair type and i just enjoy finding out what my hair likes and dislikes.

Don't get me wrong, it has been hard finding out what worked for my hair. It took at least 2 months of being natural to find what worked for me.

one last thing is that I say to do as much resarch as you can. www.nappturality.com really helped in my journey. also forget about those dumb hair typing systems. They do more harm than good. Whatever your hair type is just look after it and you'll be fine. If you are worried about it being unmanagable you just have to learn to work with it instead of against it and you'll be fine. What is there to be scared of?

Sorry so long, take a look at the site to see hairstyles also. Nappy hair is more versatile than you think

 

[dahllia]

[ QUOTE ]
I think that I am just tired of having to get touch ups all the d@mn time. My hair really doesn't seem as healthy as I remember it being during my pre-perm days at the age of 10. I mean over 14 years of relaxing and I just don't want to do it anymore. My hair is about 18 inches right now with new growth that's about 2-3 inches. I haven't relaxed since May and I don't even want to step foot in Target or Sally's.
My hairtype seems to be a 4a, and as I rub my fingers through it and grab a ringlet, some of them are wavy like 3c. I will admit I am extremly confused though, I don't want to let go of my relaxed hair yet I don't want to relax the new growth. I've been doing condition washes with Aubrey's island rinse and deep treatments with the Jojoba and Aloe rejuvenator, on occasion I'll wash with the blue algae shampoo. I'm saying all of this because since doing so, my new growth has been extremely soft and healthy looking and my relaxed hair just looks dull. I don't know what to do. Right now I'm just being stubborn and I refuse to by any relaxer, lye or no-lye. I need to get off my soap box I know, I think I'll wait another 3 weeks and see how I feel about it then.

Thanks for listening/reading

[/ QUOTE ]

I am going through the exact same thing. I too thought my hair was a 4a, but my mother told me that it was impossible because of the some of the ringlets and the softness of my hairline front and back, infact she used to beg me not to relax those areas because it wasnt necessary and would only damage them. I am coming to the conclusion that my hair is a 3b, 3c and 4a combination. I am still debating in my mind on what to do. I am loving the new growth, and knowing how to better take care of my hair may help me more. BUT new growth is usually pretty and shiny for most people, as it grows....how will it really look? I scheduled myself to do a relaxer on August 31 Sunday. Im already thinking that I may not do it. Girl you are not alone.

 

[jaibee]

I'm considering the sane thing.... I've already been waiting 8 weeks between relaxers ( I used to wait 6) and my hair has grown so much. Now it's been 10 weeks since my last one. I did a twist out last week and everyone was commenting on how pretty my hair was. I pressed my roots two days ago cause I wanted a straight style and it looks great.

But I have a question for the people who do presses... when you want to get a hair cut (ex: layers, etc.), do you do everything yourself (wash, press) then go to a salon to get the cut?

 

[kedala]

I have been doing a lot of research on transitioning, the pitfulls etc... One thing I won't do is cut off any of my hair!!! I also read the Hennaphalic thread again and I think that I will order Lotus Powder just to use now while I'm still deciding on what to do.

I take a Hair, skin, and nail vitamin that has 700mg of MSM, but I also think that I am going to go to my local healthfood store and get an organic low dosage MSM to take in addition to my vitamin regime to help soften my hair's texture.

 

[kedala]

And thanks for all the support on this board. Dahllia, it's good to know that I am not alone.

I feel that it is a big decision, but not a rushed one. So I am not all that worried like 'O my goodness, what I'm I going to do now?!?!

All I have is time, so I am going to use it to nourish new growth (along with my relaxed hair) and see how I like what's growing in...or out

 

[Karonica]

Check your pm's.

 

[AFashionSlave]

[ QUOTE ]
I have been doing a lot of research on transitioning, the pitfulls etc... One thing I won't do is cut off any of my hair!!! I also read the Hennaphalic thread again and I think that I will order Lotus Powder just to use now while I'm still deciding on what to do.

I take a Hair, skin, and nail vitamin that has 700mg of MSM, but I also think that I am going to go to my local healthfood store and get an organic low dosage MSM to take in addition to my vitamin regime to help soften my hair's texture.



[/ QUOTE ]

I hate to be the one to tell you this but if you go natural your hair will eventually break where your natural hair meets your relaxed ends. If you go natural you are going to have to cut off your relaxed hair.

I take MSM also but it has not softened any of my napps. I thought MSM helps to diminish shedding.
There is nothing wrong with your natural hair texture. When hair is in good condition it is soft anyway no matter what texture you have. I used to think that I needed something to soften my napps but now I know that's not true.

If you decide to go natural I'm sure your hair will be beautiful no matter what texture you have.

 

[Kitkat]

I have thought about transitioning also, but I haven't figured out what to do with my hair when it's all natural. Good luck to you and keep us posted on what you decide.

 

[kedala]

If I decide to go natural and I like it and eventually my hair starts to break off then I will cut it off. What I mean in that post is right now, I'm thinking about it so I'm not going to run out and cut off all of my relaxed hair.

MSM is said to help alter or soften hair textures, there is a thread on MSM somewhere with that statement. Actually I think someone did research and wrote that when our bodies lack sulfur and take MSM that it just restores our hair texture to what it is supposed to be (Someone correct me if I'm wrong). Regardless I am still going to take it.

 

[inthepink]

I definitely don't think you have to cut off your relaxed hair or that it will definitely break. I have seen a lot of journals of women who transitioned for years without breakage and without having to chop off their hair as a "big chop." I think with patience and quality care, you can transition gradually. I'm certainly going that route.

 

[sweetcocoa]

[ QUOTE ]
I definitely don't think you have to cut off your relaxed hair or that it will definitely break. I have seen a lot of journals of women who transitioned for years without breakage and without having to chop off their hair as a "big chop." I think with patience and quality care, you can transition gradually. I'm certainly going that route.

[/ QUOTE ]
I did it that way. When my natural hair got to a point in length where I felt comfortable I chopped the relaxed hair off.

 

[kedala]

Thanks hairlove and sweetcocoa, that's what I plan to do also.

btw... your hair is gorgeous

 

[Karonica]

Yip. I plan on transitioning for about a year and know there are people who have successfully done this. I should have at least shoulder length hair in a year. Who knows... I may get impatient and cut it off before then, but I plan on trimming as I go along. That should help.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
If I decide to go natural and I like it and eventually my hair starts to break off then I will cut it off.

[/ QUOTE ]

Kedala, if you take care of it, the breakage should be minimal. Check your PM I'll share with you how the girls at church got through, they were able to get 6 inches of hair, before they started cuttin.

 

[Peachtree]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I definitely don't think you have to cut off your relaxed hair or that it will definitely break. I have seen a lot of journals of women who transitioned for years without breakage and without having to chop off their hair as a "big chop." I think with patience and quality care, you can transition gradually. I'm certainly going that route.

[/ QUOTE ]
I did it that way. When my natural hair got to a point in length where I felt comfortable I chopped the relaxed hair off.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know 2 people who have transitioned out of relaxers... 1 wore braids, the other used the help of her stylist via rollersets. Neither mentioned breakage... so, I'm hoping to transition as successfully as they did with the ole "grow & trim" method

.