Transitioners support thread

[chosen07]

hi, I'm very new to this forum and am a newbie with transitioning also. Just wanted to check in and introduce myself. I am working my way through this thread for tips and ideas..(only on page 20...)
my last relaxer was in June 2008 and I am currently wearing a sew-in (its been 4 weeks) and I am tired of it! My hair has typically been healthy but relaxers never 'lasted' and I always struggled with scalp irritation so I finally decided to stop torturing myself and just embrace what God gave me. I'm an island girl who was always taught that water isn't good for black people hair..so that's my first challenge to embrace water as a great moisturizer for my hair!!!!

my only question at this point..
I read a couple of the ladies use ponytails (with buns) as a protective style and I'm thinking I may try it..but I have always heard that constantly putting your hair in a ponytail is not good for the hair..it weakens it.. is there any truth to this? or is this another myth?

TIA

 

[Eisani]

^^Welcome to the boards, and the transitioners thread! I am a wet bunner myself and one way I avoid too much tension is by adjusting the position of my bun (high, low, middle, left, right, etc), if I use a ponytail holder none w/metal pieces and never wrapped too tightly, sometimes I don't use a ponytail holder at all, I'll just twist my hair then wrap it around itself and pin or braid the length and pin it up. I also take my hair down every night and loosely braid it before putting on my scarf or bonnet. There are ways to wear a pony/bun and not have breakage.

 

[N.P.R. Addict]

I'm back! I was natural when I joined and then relaxed last November. I have been transitioning sing June 2008, I plan to transition another 6-8 months without BCing.

 

[Eisani]

Hey PME!

 

[vivEz daNs lamouR]

Still truckin'.

I'm getting pretty worried about using heat to straighten my hair but it ultimately is better than attempting to air dry right now since it's getting colder.

*sigh* I want to BC but I'm pretty scared.

 

[crazydaze911]

Still truckin'.

I'm getting pretty worried about using heat to straighten my hair but it ultimately is better than attempting to air dry right now since it's getting colder.

*sigh* I want to BC but I'm pretty scared.

Do you have color in your hair? it looks nice in ur avatar.... you can try using a blowdryer from a distance while keeping ur hair straight with ur fingers. You can use heat without it being 'direct' heat and damaging........

 

[Whimsy]

Still truckin'.

I'm getting pretty worried about using heat to straighten my hair but it ultimately is better than attempting to air dry right now since it's getting colder.

*sigh* I want to BC but I'm pretty scared.

Don't worry, just be careful

 

[Whimsy]

Update for me, I'm 1 year and 2 months post. The past week and a half has been awful on my hair. It was pool, sun, salt water, wind and I just cowashed and put into ponys or buns every day after it was exposed to all those elements.

It feels a lil mushy right now so I think I'll wash and do a protein treatment and condition before I do my braids for tomorrow's braidout. Next week I plan on going to the salon for the first time since my cut to above apl in march. I'm going to get a trim, maybe bangs, and have him straighten me out.

Since it's getting colder, no more braidouts, it's going to be wash/dc and maxigliding straight each week with coconut oil.

 

[Br*nzeb*mbsh~ll]

Update for me, I'm 1 year and 2 months post. The past week and a half has been awful on my hair. It was pool, sun, salt water, wind and I just cowashed and put into ponys or buns every day after it was exposed to all those elements.

It feels a lil mushy right now so I think I'll wash and do a protein treatment and condition before I do my braids for tomorrow's braidout. Next week I plan on going to the salon for the first time since my cut to above apl in march. I'm going to get a trim, maybe bangs, and have him straighten me out.

Since it's getting colder, no more braidouts, it's going to be wash/dc and maxigliding straight each week with coconut oil.

I know that coconut oil while flatironing produced great looking and feeling results, but i heard sooo much about the whole frying your hair thing, so i want to ask you how long have you used c-nut oil while maxigliding ( i know it's a lil different from the flat iron) and have your results been consistently great? have you ever used c-nut oil while flatironing? Thanks in advance!

 

[Growinpainz]

I couldn't take it any longer so I bc'ed this past saturday after 6 months of transitioning.

 

[Caramel Jewel]

I couldn't take it any longer so I bc'ed this past saturday after 6 months of transitioning.

do you like it??

the 14th will be four months for me and I'm ready to BC....I have no styling options..I can't do a bun...because one side of my hair is shorter than the other..I'm nervous about braids..cause they may pull to tight..and i'm tired of spending three hours on my hair and putting heat to it...I don't want to damage my new growth with blow driers and flat irons...the last thing I would want to see after I BC is damaged hair....


the other day I tried a braid out but it looked like a frizzy afro...plus when my young niece saw it she was like ewww..(but I was experimenting and I thought the same thing)

I really dont know what to do but BC...but its only been four months of transitioning and my ideal goal is to have four inches of hair before I do that but I dont think I can go another four months like this (I only have two hats i can wear, besides the two hats I wear to baseball games)

 

[hairedity]

I'm 11 months post this week and I have finally found the right balance between moisture and protein. The new growth is seriously starting to take over and my scraggly permed ends look so puny and miserable. I'm definitely sticking to my transition till I reach my final goal of WL. Okay, I should never say I won't chop before then, but that is how I feel now.
So far the transition has been pretty much drama free, except for the occasional hair-depressed moments. I'm seriously sick and tired of this bun day in and out, but I love co-washing too much to flatiron or put rollers in my hair.
So, onward to 2009 and hopefully I will reach BSL by 30.12.09

I wish I could post updates on my 1 year anniversary, but I'm on HYH Challenge til 30.12.08 and I'm really trying to stick to it!

Happy Hair growing Ladies!!

so what's your moisture-protein balance?

 

[hairedity]

My update: I got braids in September that I'm not too pleased with. But I'm reading that many of us transitioners are wearing styles that we're not super excited about lol!
I'm hoping I can wear them until November then try out invisible braids... wish me luck.

 

[Lyoness]

My transition seems to be going well currently I canerow my hair at night (moisturise and seal obv) and then un ravel them the next day and wear it in a perfectly styled messy pony.. It works well for me and I get compliments on my hair..

The only time I've struggled is styling for going clubbing so I've got a wig for a solution (",)

 

[Whimsy]

I know that coconut oil while flatironing produced great looking and feeling results, but i heard sooo much about the whole frying your hair thing, so i want to ask you how long have you used c-nut oil while maxigliding ( i know it's a lil different from the flat iron) and have your results been consistently great? have you ever used c-nut oil while flatironing? Thanks in advance!

I think 'coconut oil' has a higher tolerance to heat. (not sure about that tho)

been using coconut oil when maxigliding for about 2 years i'd say, always great results, i havent used a flat iron since maybe 05 when i got my maxiglide so i can't speak to that.

My hair's not fried so i'll keep using coconut oil

 

[Whimsy]

I couldn't take it any longer so I bc'ed this past saturday after 6 months of transitioning.

CONGRATS!!!!

How do you feel!?

PIXXX

 

[Soliel185]

I think 'coconut oil' has a higher tolerance to heat. (not sure about that tho)

been using coconut oil when maxigliding for about 2 years i'd say, always great results, i havent used a flat iron since maybe 05 when i got my maxiglide so i can't speak to that.

My hair's not fried so i'll keep using coconut oil

I think the theory behind it is that coconut oil - as a cooking oil - has a higher smoke point than others. Smoke point being the temperature where it would begin to burn off and "cook" your hair. So it's pretty safe to use.

 

[Chromia]

Congratulations Growinpainz!

I'm 1 year and 1 month into my transition. I haven't used heat except for occasionally sitting under my bonnet dryer, but I'm planning to buy a Maxiglide soon. I'm hoping that HSN will have the deal they had earlier this year where the Maxiglide package included the Miniglide. The package still includes the instructional DVD, travel bag, etc. but they took out the Miniglide. erplexed

The deal in the infomercial includes the Miniglide, but it costs about $34 more than the deal HSN had.

I don't know if I would even actually use the Miniglide, but I'm thinking I might need it for my edges or to get close to my roots. :scratchch

I've spent the last 8 or 9 months airdrying and wearing braidouts and I'm getting tired of it.

 

[j'adore]

Okay, I was supposed to BC last week but never found the time because I had a big paper to write. Well, I had a dream last night that I was natural (the first one ever) so when I woke up this morning it felt like today was THE day. So I did it after a 5 month transition. And I love it! I still have some random straight pieces in the back that I couldn't reach, so my mom said she'd trim it up for me when she gets home. I'm going to color it tomorrow with Manic Panic Black Sabbath then I'll take pics.

 

[Caramel Jewel]

do you like it??

the 14th will be four months for me and I'm ready to BC....I have no styling options..I can't do a bun...because one side of my hair is shorter than the other..I'm nervous about braids..cause they may pull to tight..and i'm tired of spending three hours on my hair and putting heat to it...I don't want to damage my new growth with blow driers and flat irons...the last thing I would want to see after I BC is damaged hair....


the other day I tried a braid out but it looked like a frizzy afro...plus when my young niece saw it she was like ewww..(but I was experimenting and I thought the same thing)

I really dont know what to do but BC...but its only been four months of transitioning and my ideal goal is to have four inches of hair before I do that but I dont think I can go another four months like this (I only have two hats i can wear, besides the two hats I wear to baseball games)

its saturday and i've been laying around for most of the day ...that's becasue I got my hair braided and its so tight and uncomfortable ...I actually feel like doing this -> ....it looks really nice though.... erplexed

 

[Br*nzeb*mbsh~ll]

hey, chicas, got my hair flat ironed today with coconut oil and my hair is again like a brand spankin new relaxer...my domini stylist hate, "Josie, it's too much greeeze!" So, I see that makes a big difference in my hair getting really, really, did i say really straight? It just needs to thicken already..patience, patience....

last night i used my cassia, brahmi, maka and amla and left in for 2 hrs, then dc with elasta qpdpr11 and garlic oil for 30 min, then braided up....almost no shedding...Thank God!

I like/ no luv Cassia! Good Stuff! My new growth is super manageable thanks to ayurveda....

 

[mccryssy]

I BC'd this afternoon while my babies napped. Surprisingly, I'm not laying on the floor crying in my clipped hair. I'm really happy with my short hair. I've never had short hair before. This is crazy... I'm so happy. I never would've expected this.

My dh thought for sure he'd be consoling me all night and buying wigs first thing in the morning LOL

Cryssy

 

[Likeyouneverseenme]

so what's your moisture-protein balance?

I co-wash every day so that takes care of moisture. As soon I see broken hairs in my sink I DC with ORS replenishing Pak.
My hair doesn't do well with heavy protein, it gets crunchy and dry.

 

[Whimsy]

re: Miniglide - you won't need it. the maxi get's to the very edges and down to the base of your roots... it's AWESOME!

 

[Whimsy]

I BC'd this afternoon while my babies napped. Surprisingly, I'm not laying on the floor crying in my clipped hair. I'm really happy with my short hair. I've never had short hair before. This is crazy... I'm so happy. I never would've expected this.

My dh thought for sure he'd be consoling me all night and buying wigs first thing in the morning LOL

Cryssy

Congrats!!!

 

[Whimsy]

hey, chicas, got my hair flat ironed today with coconut oil and my hair is again like a brand spankin new relaxer...my domini stylist hate, "Josie, it's too much greeeze!" So, I see that makes a big difference in my hair getting really, really, did i say really straight? It just needs to thicken already..patience, patience....

last night i used my cassia, brahmi, maka and amla and left in for 2 hrs, then dc with elasta qpdpr11 and garlic oil for 30 min, then braided up....almost no shedding...Thank God!

I like/ no luv Cassia! Good Stuff! My new growth is super manageable thanks to ayurveda....

I used my maxi for the first time since... may/june and I almost forgot how awesome the coconut oil/maxiglide combo is. My hair is bone straight and I went to my mom's house last night and she was like "WHAT DID U DO? I thought you weren't relaxing it anymore!" It looks that sleek from root to tip. I'll post some pix tonight

 

[KnottyGurl]

All right! I'm still hanging in there. Lately, I've been a millisecond away from relaxing. I started working out again and lemme tell ya, transitioning and exercising are oil and water. In the past (when I tried it before) I felt like I had to make a decision, natural hair or exercise, but not both. This time, with the knowledge I have from LHCF, I went ahead and had my hair braided today. I'm so happy that I didn't have to sacrifice one for the other. Sounds silly, but that's where I was. I should be 8 months post soon.

 

[DozenRoses99]

I BC'd this afternoon while my babies napped. Surprisingly, I'm not laying on the floor crying in my clipped hair. I'm really happy with my short hair. I've never had short hair before. This is crazy... I'm so happy. I never would've expected this.

My dh thought for sure he'd be consoling me all night and buying wigs first thing in the morning LOL

Cryssy

CONGRATS ON THE BC!!!!!!

 

[vivEz daNs lamouR]

Do you have color in your hair? it looks nice in ur avatar.... you can try using a blowdryer from a distance while keeping ur hair straight with ur fingers. You can use heat without it being 'direct' heat and damaging........

I had color in my hair but its old color from a box job I did back in March of 2006.

Don't worry, just be careful

Thanks love I'm not gonna stop straightening because ultimately it's easier for me to transition this way. I've been using Paul Mitchell's Heat Seal as a protectorant and so far so good!

Today I'm gonna wash and flat iron and do a trim and maybe add some side bangs because I'm a little bored with my hair. We'll see what happens though.

 

[mt01]

Hi ladies,

This is my very first post and I'm just delighted to have found this site. I've been lurking for a little while now and am so excited about the wealth of information that I've received from LHCF thus far!

I decided a few months ago that I wanted to start transitioning... I'd go a week past touch-up time, and then sadly and impatiently dash out and get my relaxer. Not this time. I think I'm ready this time. Normally I relax every 5 weeks. I'm proud to say that I'm 8 weeks post relaxer this week (don't laugh, this is HUGE for me!) I'm a little older than most of you ladies i think, and when I started seeing the random gray hairs coming in, i thought hmmmm.... I'm not ready to go out like this just yet... can't color AND perm, LOOOOOOOOVE the beautiful natural ladies I keep seeing here, hence, time to let the relaxer go!

So, just wanted to introduce myself to you all and say thanks for all the great info and support that I've found here!

Kim