Hello everyone! I'm new (although I've stalked the lhcf for years), so bear with me...
When you BCd: My husband attacked me with the clippers on July 31st, 2010. There was no transition for me as I now had a buzz cut (that I loved).
How many months post-relaxer were you when you BCd: I guess i hadn't had a relaxer since May 2010...so 2 1/2 months. My BC cut out all the relaxed bits, though.
Have you been natural before? When?: I've been natural before, in Summer 2006. That lasted about 2 months before I ran screaming back to the relaxer. In hindsight I didn't know a thing about natural hair (or MY hair), so I went about it all wrong and it was a big mess.
Your hair type, preferably your hair's characteristics (strand size, density, curl diameter, amount of shrinkage, growth pattern-up/down, etc.): I would say that my hair (using the LOIS system) is an O, maybe an OS. Using the other system i THINK I'm a 4a (and I could very well be wrong). If I take a random piece of hair out it falls in a perfect circle. The diameter of the curl is about the size of pencil. When stretched my hair pulls into definite spiral. The amount of shrinkage is like 50%, but that's from only 2 months of being natural. The strand size is medium to fine, and the density is thready.
Your current regimen: I Cowash daily because my hair LOVES moisture (and also because I live in Hawaii and the weather is beautiful year round). I was using Hello Hydration by Herbal Essence, but I've since switched to Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Moisturizing conditioner. After I get out of the shower i put on a bit of Giovanni Direct Leave-In mixed with a bit of Amla oil, and I'm done I DID just discover Cantu Shea Butter, though, so i plan on adding that to my daily mix. I was doing an overnight Amla oil DC weekly and then an Ayurvedic mask (Amla, Brahmi, Shikakai) on the next morning (usually a friday night/saturday morning combo), but that got time consuming. Now i just do a DC with the Suave Almond and Shea butter/Amla oil mixture and put on my heat cap for an hour or two...and I get the same results (and it's MUCH easier to rinse out ;o).
Your favorite styles: Right now all I can do is wear my TWA. At work, though, I rock a wig (WITHOUT a wig cap, since wearing a nylon wig cap for nigh on 2 months damaged my hair something serious). I'm waiting for the day that my hair becomes uniform enough for me to rock my natural style to work (as you can see in the pics, my back sides are giving me problems).
Your current length and goal length: Current length is TWA. Goal length is anything other than TWA
)
Your photo album, if any:
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I'm hoping to get some encouragement that this twa phase won't last forever, and also to find out exactly where the heck these straight bits of hair are coming from
) I'm also looking to confirm (not that it matters) that my hair IS 4a and/or O (or OS) type.
Thanks!