Transitioning without BC'ing Support Thread

[Meemee6223]

I just started taking a hair skin and nails vitamin too. My front grows slower as well. I have only had a sew in once several years ago, but yep Im pretty sure you can still wash you hair, you just have to be sure it gets dry bc the hair on top blocks it fom getting much air.

Can you get your hair into a high puff and slick the top down? Or wear headbands/scarves in the front with the back out?

Yes, I can definitely get it into a high bun and headbands with the back out would work too. Thanks! I really don't want to wear wigs and I've always had a sensitive scalp so I need access to it.

 

[daviine]

TokyoReina I was just reading your post that you wrote when you were "too through with transitioning." At least that's what I think the title of thread was. I was like "Yes! That's how I I feel!" Then I was trying to figure out what you ended up doing. I come back to this thread and find you here posting and that I've already started talking to you and agreeing with you.

Hey girl!

LOL @ thing 1 and thing 2. I'm sure once you get more growth they won't even bother you anymore.

Have you tried twist with your own hair, clipped up? That's what's holding me down during this transition.

I haven't tried twisting because I really don;t know how. I also don;t think it will look good on me until I'm all natural because my hair is anorexic looking because I have more relaxed hair than new growth still.

I'm going to try to take a picture of Thing 1 and Thing 2 one day. I hope I'm not cursing myself by calling them "Thing 1 and Thing 2...

Well, I guess I should've asked BEFORE I purchased it. I thought the spray would be good for my scalp since I'm in braids. I need something for my scalp because it itches with the braids. I have to wash at least once a week. I recently read that listerine would help with the scalp issue. I'm surprised to say it helped my scalp but I'm afraid it will dry out my hair.
My hair appears to be 4a in the back, 4b on the sides and 4c on the top and front. erplexed I have no idea what kinds of products to use.

That sounds like my hair. I mean from what I understand about hair typing, anyway. There are definitely some different textures going on. And some sections seem more defined than others.

Hello everyone! I am coming out of "lurk" mode to post.... I am hoping to do a long term transition. I am about 9 weeks post and am about bra strap length. I really want to not cut any hair until I can pull my natural hair into at least a puff or maybe longer. This is going to be a BIG challenge for me, as I have very little patience for tangles. I have been natural several times before, but I am hoping to stay with it this time.

Thanks everyone for all of the wonderful tips so far!

Hi MVPMOM!!!!! Welcome!

@MsDee14


@daviine You are cracking me up! I think you are too hard on yourself, Im sure it isnt as bad as you think and like someone else said, when you get more length thing 1 and 2 will be easier to tame.

My hubby doesnt like weaves/wigs,etc either. Then again, neither do I but those u part wigs look very tempting! You could sew them around the perimeter of your braids/twists for security with just a few pieces of thread and take it down every week in like 5 minutes and get to your own hair to give it some TLC. It would be a nice break! But I know what you mean about hair being a good distractions sometimes too...its kind of my hobby now, but Im sure that will get old as time passes lol.



@Meemee6223
I just started taking a hair skin and nails vitamin too. My front grows slower as well. I have only had a sew in once several years ago, but yep Im pretty sure you can still wash you hair, you just have to be sure it gets dry bc the hair on top blocks it fom getting much air.

Can you get your hair into a high puff and slick the top down? Or wear headbands/scarves in the front with the back out?

I've never actually worn a wig or a weave. I can;t commit to a weave. But I was willing to try a wig but DH threatened to embarrass me in public. One day I said I was going out to look for wigs and he started telling the kids to call me horsehair. So, I don't know that wigs are for me but they seem like an option. I really just want it to throw over braided hair or for bad hair days. Is that realistic? But I feel like a need to take a course on wigs. I need a local wig buddy to shop with me.

The derm told me I need to take biotin to address my thinning crown but I've been nervous because I already deal with facial hair. I'm going to try to get some today and just monitor my face like crazy.

Oh and headbands? That's all I can do (I haven't mastered bunning) ...but I need to go fabric shopping so my MIL can make me some satin ones. Otherwise I'm just going to start wearing those cotton yoga wraps and put a lot of oil or something on my hair. I can't go out looking crazy anymore. I mean I know I will but I'd like to minimize that. And I'm not really happy with the "styles" I've been coming up with so I gotta work on that.

 

[Z-kitty]

I am so over this hair of mine and this transition. I spend more time on my hair than I think you should. My twist outs are never consistent and I cant style my hair for nothing..... DH asks why I spend so much time on my hair to put it in a bun and my excuse is that i'm always experimenting. UGHHH

 

[SunnyDelight]

17 months and counting. Bunning now but can't wait till the weather is cooler so I can go back to wigs. I will probably do a trim this weekend.

 

[MVPMOM]

Thank-you for the welcome!

 

[daviine]

I am so over this hair of mine and this transition. I spend more time on my hair than I think you should. My twist outs are never consistent and I cant style my hair for nothing..... DH asks why I spend so much time on my hair to put it in a bun and my excuse is that i'm always experimenting. UGHHH

Z-kitty
I'm glad I'm not the only one. I spend a crazy amount of time on my hair and end up just throwing a headband on and pinning the back.

 

[Meemee6223]

I've never actually worn a wig or a weave. I can;t commit to a weave. But I was willing to try a wig but DH threatened to embarrass me in public. One day I said I was going out to look for wigs and he started telling the kids to call me horsehair. So, I don't know that wigs are for me but they seem like an option. I really just want it to throw over braided hair or for bad hair days. Is that realistic? But I feel like a need to take a course on wigs. I need a local wig buddy to shop with me.

The derm told me I need to take biotin to address my thinning crown but I've been nervous because I already deal with facial hair. I'm going to try to get some today and just monitor my face like crazy.

Oh and headbands? That's all I can do (I haven't mastered bunning) ...but I need to go fabric shopping so my MIL can make me some satin ones. Otherwise I'm just going to start wearing those cotton yoga wraps and put a lot of oil or something on my hair. I can't go out looking crazy anymore. I mean I know I will but I'd like to minimize that. And I'm not really happy with the "styles" I've been coming up with so I gotta work on that.

My hair is thin in the crown area too. As far back as I can remember it's always been short there. I thought about taking biotin but I read that it can cause major breakouts so I opted for skin, hair and nails vitamins which has a little bit of everything in it. I'll let u know if that helps me. I need to see a derm about my scalp. I think I may just be one of those people with an oily scalp which needs to be washed more often.

 

[Meemee6223]

I am so over this hair of mine and this transition. I spend more time on my hair than I think you should. My twist outs are never consistent and I cant style my hair for nothing..... DH asks why I spend so much time on my hair to put it in a bun and my excuse is that i'm always experimenting. UGHHH

Dh says I'm "obsessed" with my hair. He had bsl hair and didn't spend nearly as much time on his hair. But what he fails to realize is that 1) his hair was like 3c/4a whereas mine is 4abcxyz 2) I'm transitioning 3)i don't wear cornrows everyday. We are not comparable! And I'm NOT obsessed!!! Well, maybe a little... And he gets mad because I only wear my hair in a bun. I truly don't know what else to do with it.

 

[RemyRem]

Had a wash session yesterday and tried a couple new things. First time pre-pooing and using a sulfate-free poo. It was great! But I did two strand twists on my hair, rolled them, and let it air dry and took it down this morning. Pics Below!

 

[Leslie_C]

Had a wash session yesterday and tried a couple new things. First time pre-pooing and using a sulfate-free poo. It was great! But I did two strand twists on my hair, rolled them, and let it air dry and took it down this morning. Pics Below!

RemyRem, very cute And cute headbead Im a headband/scarf/hair accessory junkie! What products did you use to set your twists with?

 

[MsDee14]

Leslie_C Thanks for the response.
As for maintaining the twists; if I plan to wear them down, I cross wrap the twists or band them in about 4 ponytails(to stretch them) then wrap my hair with a satin scarf.
Try not to apply to much water based products to them or they will frizz.
Umm..I don't do much to maintain them since once they start to get messy..I throw on a hair scarf or head band to hide the frizz in the front. I sometimes re-do the twists on the perimeter though.

 

[Shelew]

I am so over this hair of mine and this transition. I spend more time on my hair than I think you should. My twist outs are never consistent and I cant style my hair for nothing..... DH asks why I spend so much time on my hair to put it in a bun and my excuse is that i'm always experimenting. UGHHH

Yeah me too! I went to salon today to get a press and I was like in heaven just to have someone else doing it and being finished with hair in an hour not all day! I have to rethink and try to guide these hairstylist instead of giving up on them

 

[Lanea87]

I've never worn wigs or quick weaves... What's a "u part"? I've been curious about half wigs for a while. I may look into that. Depending on how my edges look after I take these braids out I may try to get one more install. That would get me through 6 months (with the previous, current and the next instalment). ZebraPrintLover

Meemee6223, like a removeable sew in. But one that you made for yourself. I will post a pic of mines. I hope you can see it well. I leave my own hair out in the front. I am about to buy a closure and re do mines. Once I do that I will repost pics.

Whenever I wear it I take the wig off every night and roll it up as you see in the pic and I take my braids down weekly to wash. That just my reggie for when I rock mines.

I'm super late replying... I'm 13 months post relaxer today. I'm pretty sure I'll be BCing sooner than 18 months post.

Im so mad my twist outs and braid outs look a hot mess. I can't wait to cut all the relax ends off.

toyas08 Thanks for responding. Where you been lady LOL?

I am 11 months post. The front of my hair grows much slower than the rest and is very coarse. I think working out and drinking green smoothies made it grow faster in the beginning of my transition.

There is no way I can style it the way it is. I just ordered some hair skin and nails vitamins in hopes that it will grow just a tad faster. I'll definitely need to get reacquainted with more weave styles when I take these braids out. I've also been thinking about a sew in. can u wash your hair when you have a sew in?

You deep in the game girl.
Yea you can but that can be a mess and I wont advice it if you never done it before.

 

[daviine]

ZebraPrintLover beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing. I love the pic of the with the Caruso roller!

 

[RemyRem]

RemyRem, very cute And cute headbead Im a headband/scarf/hair accessory junkie! What products did you use to set your twists with?

Leslie_C thanks! I used Shea Moisture Moisture Retention as a leave in, used Mizani Coconut Souffle on the hair, sprayed a mixture of water and Raw Shea butter Oil on the NG and sealed with Raw Shea Butter Oil on the ends.
I love hair accessories too, I had a bunch but I keep misplacing them so now I have to buy more lol

 

[Z-kitty]

I was up early this morning washing out my overnight DC and then finger detangled. I must have blacked out after that because the next thing I know i'm in the mirror cutting off the rest of my relaxed ends. Just waiting on my sister to come later and finish me up since I got happy and cant trust myself.

BTW: I still ended up with a significant date because my B-DAY is today!!

 

[daviine]

I was up early this morning washing out my overnight DC and then finger detangled. I must have blacked out after that because the next thing I know i'm in the mirror cutting off the rest of my relaxed ends. Just waiting on my sister to come later and finish me up since I got happy and cant trust myself.

BTW: I still ended up with a significant date because my B-DAY is today!!

Wait... What!? So that's it--- you're fully natural now?

That is exactly why I'm scared to buy scissors.

I can't wait for pics!!!

 

[Leslie_C]

I was up early this morning washing out my overnight DC and then finger detangled. I must have blacked out after that because the next thing I know i'm in the mirror cutting off the rest of my relaxed ends. Just waiting on my sister to come later and finish me up since I got happy and cant trust myself.

BTW: I still ended up with a significant date because my B-DAY is today!!

Z-kitty wooohooo! Cant wait to see pics! Congrats! Id have no issue what-so-ever chopping at the point you are at...Im sure you have PLENTY of hair to work with since you are nearly 18 months post! Yea! Please dont leave us in this thread and come back to share tips and tricks as a new natural to show us the ropes for when we "cross over" LOL.

 

[daviine]

@Z-kitty wooohooo! Cant wait to see pics! Congrats! Id have no issue what-so-ever chopping at the point you are at...Im sure you have PLENTY of hair to work with since you are nearly 18 months post! Yea! Please dont leave us in this thread and come back to share tips and tricks as a new natural to show us the ropes for when we "cross over" LOL.

Yes....please don't leave us. I guess you weren't kidding when you said you were so over your hair.

 

[Leslie_C]

@Leslie_C thanks! I used Shea Moisture Moisture Retention as a leave in, used Mizani Coconut Souffle on the hair, sprayed a mixture of water and Raw Shea butter Oil on the NG and sealed with Raw Shea Butter Oil on the ends.
I love hair accessories too, I had a bunch but I keep misplacing them so now I have to buy more lol

RemyRem....did you use the SM Smoothie? Isnt the moisture retention a shampoo? Also what is the coconut souffle? Sounds yummy...is it a moisturizer or a styling product. LOL @ misplacing accessories...I do the same thing with mine as well as my jewelry. I have a big basket in my bathroom with them in there, but you will also find them in my car and in my nightstand...and the kitchen counter...and the couch cushions at times LOL.
Have you tried mizoutlet? Im about to order some stuff from there, its so cheap! Im looking for a place online to find those beanie hats cheap. I cant wear them to work bc Im a nurse but Ill be rocking them on my days off for sure!

Wait... What!? So that's it--- you're fully natural now?

That is exactly why I'm scared to buy scissors.

I can't wait for pics!!!

daviine I totally get that! One thing that helps me is I look on youtube at people who chopped at 6 and 9 months and see how short their hair was and know Id be unhappy so that keeps me under control. I have a big head and long face and I just dont think I wear super short hair well.
Seems like about 15 months is going to be my minimum transition and 18 months to 2 years max.

PS I saw a thread called something like "I cant go out without my headband" yesterday and I chuckled bc I thought it might have been your post lol. I almost tagged you in the thread lol. Speaking of headbands, mizoutlet.com has some cute ones and they are only a dollar!

 

[daviine]

Happy birthday Z-kitty

 

[MsDee14]

Z-kitty Congrats and Happy Birthday!

Patiently waiting for pics!

 

[daviine]

Yes--I'm posting AGAIN. Because I'm avoiding housework.

@Leslie_C thanks! I used Shea Moisture Moisture Retention as a leave in, used Mizani Coconut Souffle on the hair, sprayed a mixture of water and Raw Shea butter Oil on the NG and sealed with Raw Shea Butter Oil on the ends.
I love hair accessories too, I had a bunch but I keep misplacing them so now I have to buy more lol

Me too and I'm always misplacing them. I really need to try to do better.

@RemyRem....did you use the SM Smoothie? Isnt the moisture retention a shampoo? Also what is the coconut souffle? Sounds yummy...is it a moisturizer or a styling product. LOL @ misplacing accessories...I do the same thing with mine as well as my jewelry. I have a big basket in my bathroom with them in there, but you will also find them in my car and in my nightstand...and the kitchen counter...and the couch cushions at times LOL.
Have you tried mizoutlet? Im about to order some stuff from there, its so cheap! Im looking for a place online to find those beanie hats cheap. I cant wear them to work bc Im a nurse but Ill be rocking them on my days off for sure!



@daviine I totally get that! One thing that helps me is I look on youtube at people who chopped at 6 and 9 months and see how short their hair was and know Id be unhappy so that keeps me under control. I have a big head and long face and I just dont think I wear super short hair well.
Seems like about 15 months is going to be my minimum transition and 18 months to 2 years max.

PS I saw a thread called something like "I cant go out without my headband" yesterday and I chuckled bc I thought it might have been your post lol. I almost tagged you in the thread lol. Speaking of headbands, mizoutlet.com has some cute ones and they are only a dollar!

@Leslie_C I don't misplace jewelry because I don't vary that much but the accessories are in my car, under the couch, and everywhere else but they're supposed to be in this butter cookie tin (you know the one) or in my drawer but they don't always make it there. I can never find the one I'm looking for when I need it. I'm going to have to watch to see where I tend to drop them so I can just put a basket or something there. I saw something online where someone organized their hair accessories with shower curtain rings and hangers but I'm not disciplined enough for that. I love the idea...but I know who I am.

I do the same thing with the Youtube videos. It always make me feel so much better to see how similar we are sometimes. I'm going to look for the thread, lol. I don't see all the threads because I usually pst from my phone unless the battery dies or I need to see siggies or I need to multiquote. (ETA: Or when I need to put some smilies in my post and I don't know the codes).

I'm going to go to mizoutlet but I'm nervous because I'm not much of a shopper unless it's online shopping. I love packages! And I love ordering from my laptop. I gt the "we need to control our spending" talk this morning. Oh well....

 

[Rae81]

I'm getting a lil sad cuz my curls are so tight in my crown and the front I'm gonna be transitioning for ever .

Sent from my HTC EVO 3D

 

[daviine]

I'm getting a lil sad cuz my curls are so tight in my crown and the front I'm gonna be transitioning for ever .

Sent from my HTC EVO 3D

Awwww....hugs. I know how you feel. I just wanna be done with it already.

What's your goal?

 

[MsDee14]

Leslie_C Thanks for introducing me to Mizoutlet. Just spent a half hour browsing through there.

 

[Leslie_C]

Yes--I'm posting AGAIN. Because I'm avoiding housework.



Me too and I'm always misplacing them. I really need to try to do better.



@Leslie_C I don't misplace jewelry because I don't vary that much but the accessories are in my car, under the couch, and everywhere else but they're supposed to be in this butter cookie tin (you know the one) or in my drawer but they don't always make it there. I can never find the one I'm looking for when I need it. I'm going to have to watch to see where I tend to drop them so I can just put a basket or something there. I saw something online where someone organized their hair accessories with shower curtain rings and hangers but I'm not disciplined enough for that. I love the idea...but I know who I am.

I do the same thing with the Youtube videos. It always make me feel so much better to see how similar we are sometimes. I'm going to look for the thread, lol. I don't see all the threads because I usually pst from my phone unless the battery dies or I need to see siggies or I need to multiquote. (ETA: Or when I need to put some smilies in my post and I don't know the codes).

I'm going to go to mizoutlet but I'm nervous because I'm not much of a shopper unless it's online shopping. I love packages! And I love ordering from my laptop. I gt the "we need to control our spending" talk this morning. Oh well....

daviine... @ the cookie tin....Im cracking up because I have a christmas cookie tin on the back of on the back of the toilet with accessories in it lol.

Im so all over the place...I want to be organized when I grow up! I wanted to try the shower curtain rings thing to oranize my scarves bc they are all over the house too and in the fall I hope to wear them around my neck sometimes or tied to a purse and not just as headbands like I do now. I also want to get one of those things with a bunch of clear pockets that hangs in the closet for jewelry. I never used to have much and would lose what I did have, but Ive started to collect bold jewely bc I just feel like it is necessary to jazz up my sometimes homely looking transitioning hair lol. Big earrings and/or colorful scarves really pull it together or at least in my mind they do lol. Im pretty slob like by nature, but Im getting better little by little. Its keeping it up that is hard...I have a big walk in closet but it still looks like a tornado hit it. Drives my hubby nuts bc he is a neat freak by nature. We had to meet in the middle lol.

My husband is the worst with frivolous spending so he cant say anything to me lol. I still sneak stuff in sometimes though since he thinks Im obsessed with hair products and cant see how I can possibly need anything esle since its falling out of the cabinets lol.

 

[Leslie_C]

@Leslie_C Thanks for introducing me to Mizoutlet. Just spent a half hour browsing through there.

MsDee14 youre welcome! Payback for introducing me to two strand twisting transitioning hair! I think I found the key to them not looking crazy and fuzzy/messy so quickly. Last time I was moisturizing and sealing by spritzing with water and sealing. I read its best to avoid water and water based products...so I probably need to try something oil based like a shea butter whip. They still look brand new today and last time by day two many had unraveled and they already looked old and fuzzy. And they still feel moisturized without spritzing.

 

[MsDee14]

MsDee14 youre welcome! Payback for introducing me to two strand twisting transitioning hair! I think I found the key to them not looking crazy and fuzzy/messy so quickly. Last time I was moisturizing and sealing by spritzing with water and sealing. I read its best to avoid water and water based products...so I probably need to try something oil based like a shea butter whip. They still look brand new today and last time by day two many had unraveled and they already looked old and fuzzy. And they still feel moisturized without spritzing.

That's great that you found a way that works best for you. Yes, water based products can introduce frizz quickly, especially when you have a lot of natural hair.
Let me know how it works for you!

 

[daviine]

@daviine... @ the cookie tin....Im cracking up because I have a christmas cookie tin on the back of on the back of the toilet with accessories in it lol.

Im so all over the place...I want to be organized when I grow up! I wanted to try the shower curtain rings thing to oranize my scarves bc they are all over the house too and in the fall I hope to wear them around my neck sometimes or tied to a purse and not just as headbands like I do now. I also want to get one of those things with a bunch of clear pockets that hangs in the closet for jewelry. I never used to have much and would lose what I did have, but Ive started to collect bold jewely bc I just feel like it is necessary to jazz up my sometimes homely looking transitioning hair lol. Big earrings and/or colorful scarves really pull it together or at least in my mind they do lol. Im pretty slob like by nature, but Im getting better little by little. Its keeping it up that is hard...I have a big walk in closet but it still looks like a tornado hit it. Drives my hubby nuts bc he is a neat freak by nature. We had to meet in the middle lol.

My husband is the worst with frivolous spending so he cant say anything to me lol. I still sneak stuff in sometimes though since he thinks Im obsessed with hair products and cant see how I can possibly need anything esle since its falling out of the cabinets lol.

Leslie_C I have one of those clear pocket thingies which is why I don't lose my jewelry (that I never wear lol). Maybe I need something similar for hair accessories. I don't know. There's something fun abotu tossing headbands into a big container but not so fun when looking for it. But, I love the idea of just pulling out the jewelry organizer and being able to see exactly what you have....hmmm (inset smiley here that scratches his chin).

Since my husband is about to be the only one working, I see his concern...but I'm trying to get everything I need because I don;t want to have to ask him to buy me hair products.

I, too, want to be organized when I grow up....I wonder when that will be.

I know what you mean about jazzing up your look while transitioning. In fact, yesterday I went to Sephora and explained to the girls there (one was black) that I'm transitioning, I don;t wear make up but I want to do the no-makeup look. I left with a $48 tube of what is a BB cream or tinted moisturizer. I'm not even sure what it is. And that's what prompted the money talk this morning.

Anyway, the black girl, told me she transitioned in 2005/2006 and that those were the hardest years. She realized though that it is important to go to the salon every 2-3 weeks in order to transition successfully. She then told me that her stylist had to train her natural hair to grow. Somn like that. Definitely not Niko's cousin. (After she gave me her advice, she passed me off to the lady who sold me the $48 tube). But that's another story.

Later I'll come back and tell you a not-so-interesting story about a comment my cousin made to me yesterday.