Transitioning and the 6 month hump.

[tarheelgurl]

This is the about the longest amount of time I have gone to stretch a relaxer so I'm going to try and ride it out and transition...yet again.

So, I have a question for the successful transitioners that did not chop.
How do you wear your hair? I have about 3 inches of new growth and sometimes it gets puffy around the forhead giving me a halo effect.

I have tried wet bunning but what happens is the part under the bun gets dry and tangled while the rest is smooth. I wash and condition my hair, then pull it back with a little garnier fructise gel and then bun it with pins in a loose bun. Finally, I tie it with a scarf. The part thats pressed down comes out nicely but under the bun gets tangled. How can I avoid that?

I need some styles and advice on how to handly the new growth. I'm about to start roller setting again but I've never roller set my hair with so much new growth.

Any help and hints will be appreciated!!

 

[whiteoleander91]

I used to let my hair air dry in sections so that it would be stretched, then I could comb it when it was dry fairly easily up into a bun And when I started wet bunning I would make sure that my hair was really detangled and would streeetttch my hair so that my natural hair wouldn't shrink up. It's easier with length though. I started wet bunning...hmmm maybe...month 8? or 9. But yeah, up until then I would just let it dry stretched in sections first

 

[meecee]

When I made it to 6 months post, it wasn't hot yet so I was able to get by with wigs. Now I'm 10 months post and I've been bunning my hair since month 8. My roots will not lay down perfectly, so I work with the volume by doing a "hump" in the front or a large flat twist going along my hair line. I'm also able to bun my hair damp with a part in the front and use a large amount of ecostyler gel. Then I tie my hair down to set it.

 

[tarheelgurl]

Thank you both for the replies! I might try the sections thing. My hair is detangling much easier now that I have found aloe vera juice and I'm not as scared to section it while wet. Whiteoleander91 how many sections do you make?

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

Yes, sectioning works big time. Please give it a try.

As for hair options, the bun is your friend!!

 

[hair4romheaven]

I did full weaves and full wigs. Wash, dc everything in braids.

 

[whiteoleander91]

tarheelgurl about 3 or 4 sections. 4 when starting out (well actually when I think about it, maybe 5) and then 3 when I had more length. I made a big section in the back because the curls are loose there and two in the front because that's where my tightest curls are (plus detangling the front was easier in smaller sections). Actually, I stopped doing it in 4 sections quickly when I noticed how easy it was to detangle in the back.

 

[NappyNelle]

I bunned, cornrowed, and wore extension braids for my transition. S-Curl was my friend.

 

[ChristmasCarol]

I'm nearly 2 1/2 years into my transition and I bun or wear it in a Fekkai Clip about 90% of the time. When I wet-bun, I form a high ponytail while in the shower using a Goody Ouchless (metal free) Ponytail holder. I bend over and use the water flow to assure that it's smooth. If I don't manipulate it after that, it will stay tangle-free. After I get out I finish pinning the bun, etc. Here's how it looks:

Sometimes I blow-dry and wear various buns - don't have to worry about tangles or getting single-strand-knots when I blow-dry first:

You could also make a sock bun or use a donut form. Wrapping your hair around those may keep it tangle-free.

I also flatiron once every 6-8 weeks and wear it straight for a week or so, just for a change of pace.

Good luck on your journey!

 

[Crackers Phinn]

twists using ors loc and twist gel then set the ends on perm rods and sit under the dryer. The spiral curls camouflage the relaxed ends.

Others will disagree, but I think that keeping the hair in twists helps train the hair to stay stretched as it grows out.

 

[meecee]

twists using ors loc and twist gel then set the ends on perm rods and sit under the dryer. The spiral curls camouflage the relaxed ends.

Others will disagree, but I think that keeping the hair in twists helps train the hair to stay stretched as it grows out.

Actually this sounds like a great idea. I was thinking about trying it, but wasn't sure if it would make sense. After my recent hair cut my hair is 40% natural 60% relaxed.

 

[tarheelgurl]

Your buns are beautiful! I have got to get me a form the help me with my buns because my hair is so thin. I have the length, but its just so thin and fine. Can you use the forms on wet hair?

I'm nearly 2 1/2 years into my transition and I bun or wear it in a Fekkai Clip about 90% of the time. When I wet-bun, I form a high ponytail while in the shower using a Goody Ouchless (metal free) Ponytail holder. I bend over and use the water flow to assure that it's smooth. If I don't manipulate it after that, it will stay tangle-free. After I get out I finish pinning the bun, etc. Here's how it looks:

Sometimes I blow-dry and wear various buns - don't have to worry about tangles or getting single-strand-knots when I blow-dry first:








You could also make a sock bun or use a donut form. Wrapping your hair around those may keep it tangle-free.

I also flatiron once every 6-8 weeks and wear it straight for a week or so, just for a change of pace.

Good luck on your journey!

 

[ManeStreet]

I transitioned for 2 years mainly doing braidouts. My favorites were the ones when I'd blowdry to about 50% dry then put about 8 braids in my hair. The next morning take the braids down. I could were it like that for about 5 days then pin it up or bun it. Super easy and it blended the texturers easily

 

[ChristmasCarol]

tarheelgurl

Thanks!

I'm not sure about using a form or a sock bun while hair is wet. I wouldn't do it, though. Hair is fragile when it is wet and wrapping it around a form or sock while soaking wet might be just asking for breakage, IMO. You could put it in a single braided pony, let aidry for awhile and then loosely bun using a form, though. Allowing it to dry in a braid would prevent tangles and give a nice wave to your relaxed hair.

Whatever you do, to avoid a setback or premature BC, DO NOT BUN TIGHTLY!

 

[Ijanei]

Im on month 16 of my transition. I was were you are now and I know the eagerness you probably have about getting it over and done with.

The styles I used were buns, got tired of those fast so I switched to banana clips in every position on each side of my head possible until I got bored with that. Then as the months rolled by, I just did two twists going back into a bobby pin then tucked it under.

In the last few months, I have been doing twists/braid outs.

Also I can not forget flat ironing my hair (to some this doesn't work out for the best but for me, it was a savior on those day when I was going crazy with my hair)

Hope that helps some

 

[MummysGirl]

Braidouts and Twistouts were lifesavers for me. I airdried my hair in at least 3 ponytails to help stretch out my new growth then twisted/braided:




Well done on getting to 6 months and good luck on the rest of your transition.

 

[tarheelgurl]

Ok so some of you are putting the elastic bands on wet hair then making a braid? I promise that is simple enough for me to do!! I just have to play with it I guess. I'll start taking photos to document my trial runs so you guys can see how much you helped me!

 

[ladylibra_30]

MummysGirl your braidout results are gorgeous!