Transitioning without BC'ing Support Thread

[sunnieb]

Very true. How many weeks post are you?

Only a few weeks. But, when I relaxed last time, I wondered if I'd do it again. My natural friends are proof that someone with my texture can do it. I love their hair and want to see what my natural hair looks like.

 

[divachyk]

Imma see. Treating it as a long stretch for now. Like @divachyk says, I can always relax if I want to.

BOOM! There you go @sunnieb. Knowing a relaxer was just a salon appt away kept me sane the entire time.

 

[divachyk]

@rileypak, @Beamodel, @IDareT'sHair...I think banding my hair and making it smooth and stretched makes the difference. Tonight, I bunned after applying leave ins (skipping banding) and it's not nearly as smooth and sleek. Even the bun part is acting a little funky.

 

[divachyk]

TY @sunnieb, I just seen your compliment. Now we need @Nix08 to join us.

 

[sunnieb]

BOOM! There you go @sunnieb. Knowing a relaxer was just a salon appt away kept me sane the entire time.

I have enough relaxer for one more treatment and haven't ordered anymore. I'm just thinking right now.

 

[sunnieb]

TY @sunnieb, I just seen your compliment. Now we need @Nix08 to join us.

Wouldn't that be something! The three relaxed sisters becoming natural. How about that? @Nix08

 

[divachyk]

That would be something @sunnieb. Take your time, you'll know when its time. Just do like me, keep stretching until you feel it's pointless to turn back. That's when I knew.

 

[Nix08]

Hey ladies!! That would be something, unfortunately I can barely stretch 8 weeks lately....I've just fallen of the hair care wagon

 

[divachyk]

But we still love you lots! @Nix08....now get back on that wagon.

 

[Beamodel]

@rileypak, @Beamodel, @IDareT'sHair...I think banding my hair and making it smooth and stretched makes the difference. Tonight, I bunned after applying leave ins (skipping banding) and it's not nearly as smooth and sleek. Even the bun part is acting a little funky.

Thanks Hun @divachyk
I as just watching videos on banding and African threading. I will try that next time. I predominately straighten my hair but I'm getting tired of doing it.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

Focusing heavily on Moisture during these hot, dry months. Keeping my strands highly moisturized.

Still using a light protein of some sort at least twice a month.

 

[divachyk]

You asked about protein usage sometime ago @IDareT'sHair....my creamy leave-in has a bit of protein so that's probably why I don't have to use reconstructors as often.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

....my creamy leave-in has a bit of protein so that's probably why I don't have to use reconstructors as often.

@divachyk
This is good to know.

I probably don't use it nearly as much as I did fully relaxed. But I still have quite a stash of Protein Treatments and Reconstructors.

 

[SuchaLady]

Yes. Think it's about time.

J/K. Kinda Y'all just gonna leave me all alone in the Relaxed Hair Thread. Me and my natural don't vibe though

 

[divachyk]

I was gonna tag you @SuchaLady but I didn't want to start seeming like natural nazi.

 

[sunnieb]

J/K. Kinda Y'all just gonna leave me all alone in the Relaxed Hair Thread. Me and my natural don't vibe though

I ain't gone yet! I'm just gonna see what I can do. I've never tried. I still have my relaxer in there ret to go.

 

[Beamodel]

I ain't gone yet! I'm just gonna see what I can do. I've never tried. I still have my relaxer in there ret to go.

@sunnieb @SuchaLady

I haven't relaxed in 19 months. This "transition" has been pretty good but I wear my hair straight daily. I wash and blow it out every two weeks.

I do plan on going back to a relaxer (bc this "transition" was never my intention) but I'm not sure when. I've honestly gotten so lazy lately. I barely have relaxed hair left though. About an inch in the back and a few inches in the front. The rest of my hair is fully natural.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

Still staying moisturized up. Making sure my strands have all the moisture they need.

 

[divachyk]

Are you natural?....is a question that was asked today and I said no but then I caught myself. I'm so use to answering no that I have to train myself to say yes. When you tell non-hhj folks you're transitioning and you're 25 months post, they say, oooh....you're natural. They don't realize transitioning is a long process and I have quite a few relaxed ends left. I just hide them well.

 

[flyygirlll2]

@divachyk This happens to me often but last weekend this older woman was with her son and they were whispering behind me as I was walking. The last stopped me to ask me how I did that with my hair, I looked at her perplexed and asked did what?

She said my hair looks natural and wanted to know how I got my coils to pop I guess. I told her no, I'm not natural yet and that I was still transitioning. Her son interjected "But You look natural though." I didn't feel like breaking things down for them at that point so I KIM.

 

[divachyk]

@flyygirlll2, from here on out, I will say I'm natural because people just don't get it. I must admit, it felt good to have my hair admired by someone in real life...that's when you know you're doing something right.

 

[flyygirlll2]

@divachyk You take great care of your hair and it shows

 

[divachyk]

Thank you so much @flyygirlll2 and back acha!

 

[IDareT'sHair]

Still on this transitioning Grind. Heading into 22 months "growing" strong.

 

[GettingKinky]

I got my hair straightened today and it just confirmed for me that I'm not ready to BC the last ~6 inches. I'm only a few inches past APL and I'm not ready to give up length.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@flyygirlll2 @rileypak @Saludable84 @GettingKinky @divachyk @stephanie75miller

Have you notice if Air Drying gives you better retention?

It seems like air drying, it takes my hair longer to dry and it's more tangly? (I think)

My past practice was to dry about 80% under the dryer.

I "said" I was going to try to continue to air dry for the remainder of the summer.

 

[flyygirlll2]

@IDareT'sHair I don't necessarily love air drying but with the weather getting hotter/high humidity, I just can't be bothered to do anything else for the time being.

Blow drying on cool worked for my hair, even though it took forever. My hair needs to be stretched since I have a lot of shrinkage and my hair likes to tangle on itself. I think the key to successfully air drying has to do with the type of products you're using and making sure the hair is properly detangled beforehand.

It's a lot trial and error and I'm still learning what works and doesn't.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@flyygirlll2

Thank you!

Have you noticed anything regarding 'retention' with air drying vs cool blow drying?

 

[flyygirlll2]

@IDareT'sHair I honestly don't know until I straighten my hair, and you know in not about that life for the moment

My hair retains well due to other factors, i.e.
( protective styling, keeping it balanced ). So, I can't really say it's air drying.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

My hair retains well due to other factors, i.e.
( protective styling, keeping it balanced ). So, I can't really say it's air drying.

@flyygirlll2
Very Good Points.
I just don't want no setbacks tryna' air dry instead of doing what I've been doing.

I may finish July out air drying and then go back to my normal routine.