What is your reason????

[MsDes]

I'm natural because I just wanted a new look. I was tired of relaxers and the whole relaxing process. I'm loving my natural look. I don't think I will ever go back to relaxing. If I wanna wear it straight which will be once every blue moon I will just simply flat iron it. Natural hair is so versatile. I love it.

 

[lilpooky]

I was natural for 2 years before I relaxed in 2010. I still love natural hair but I relaxed because I felt it better suited the look I wanted to achieve and it made styling easier.

 

[MyCoilsGoBoing]

Honestly? Laziness. I know that i wouldn't do what i needed to do to properly take care of relaxed hair. In the near future, i'll have a lot of things going on and my hair is the thing i want to think about. My regimen will be simpler than what it is now since i plan to keep my hair in minibraids.

 

[quirkydimples]

I totally just posted this in the wrong thread a few minutes ago, but now I'm in the right place (I hope):

Years ago I went natural because my relaxed hair was always breaking off and never grew past shoulder length. After BC'ing I remained natural for about 7 years. I made it past shoulder length, but here's the problem: I like wearing my hair straight. Another problem: I exercise several times a week and sweat...a lot (spin, kickboxing, running, etc.).

So, after lurking on this site for a couple of years, I decided I knew enough about my hair and hair products to relax and have healthy hair. I cut off a couple of inches, relaxed and haven't looked back. That was two years ago and it was the BEST decision I've ever made for ME. I stretch my relaxers 14-16 weeks. My hair feels good. My ends look great. My hair doesn't take five hours to air dry and I can wear it straight without fearing reversion.

To answer the original question, convenience and personal hair style preferences were the determining factors for me relaxing.

 

[MystiqueBabe]

I have decided to transition because I am just tired of relaxed hair. For me it's not really that serious to have straight hair. Though I have never had any scalp damage or chemical burns, the whole process is just time consuming and I hated it. Along with the high maintenance regimen just so my relaxed hair won't break off. It's not really worth it imo. Anything that someone needs gloves to apply and melts hair off does not belong on my hair. If I want straight hair I can just flat iron it or rollerset. It's not worth having the weakest hair type and having a chemical slapped on it making it even weaker. Hair that tends to split easily, that can break with the slightest touch, over processing, and constantly caring for the demarcation line, it's just too much hassle for me. Enough already. I don't want to be 40 years old getting relaxer touch ups lol.On top of the fact that relaxers have caused female pattern baldness is reason enough to give up relaxers for good. I just can't go around bald and I don't want to be reliant on weaves/wigs ever. Especially for someone who has had long hair most of their life.

There is just too much risk with relaxers I have read the stories and have seen first hand how relaxers can destroy a person's hair. It's just too much risk because you could apply a relaxer like you normally do and next thing you know your hair is falling out in clumps. It's not worth it just to get straight hair, imo.


Natural hair is easier for me and I miss my natural hair. It is very manageable and thicker than my relaxed hair. I have been relaxed for only about 2 years and that alone was enough for me. It's harder to retain length with relaxed hair. If I want healthy hair the relaxers have got to go. Period. My natural hair is easy to manage, carefree, pretty, God-given and is perfect just the way it is (that is TRUE relaxation). I don't know what I was thinking putting a relaxer on it. Never again.

 

[greenandchic]

My hair is on the delicate side so it would not do well with a relaxer or even much direct heat. I have a hard enough time with retention, I cant imagine what a chemical process would do to my hair.

Last but not least, I prefer the look of my natural hair over straight any day. Its been 9 years since I rocked straight hair.

 

[greenandchic]

@kupenda I'll take the side eyes. Anyone who was natural before it was popular is used to getting side eyes anyway Going natural when it wasn't popular was not easy. It's easier to go natural these days and that's a great thing

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

THIS! I don't use the line, "I was natural before it was cool", but in middle school in the very early '90s, I was used to being UNCOOL all the time. Depending who was the bully of the week, I either had "good hair" (and picked on out of jealously) or nappy hair. This went on until my mother allowed me to start getting my hair pressed weekly at the shop.

 

[closertomydreams]

I have been texlaxed for three years and I love it. I texlax every 3-4 months. It is the most manageable way for me and my hair is thriving with it. I used to relax bone straight and while it looked nice, I knew that it was not healthy for my hair.

I usually wear my hair curly or in a braid-out anyway so I really don't need a straight look. I prefer my hair with texture to it.

 

[MsDee14]

I'm transitioning because:

I never wore my hair straight
relaxers barely took on my hair leaving me with multiple jacked up textures
I could never get the hang of self-relaxing and I hate visiting stylist
I love natural hair and finally have the courage to embrace mine

 

[Beany]

What is your reason for being relaxed, natural, texlaxed, loc'ed, etc?

The Perfect Storm so to speak. Here goes... (kinda long)

I was a healthy APL almost BSL relaxed head, stopped getting relaxers when I got pregnant and planned to go back to relaxers after I had ds (which I did).

I had post partum shedding and tons of damage due to quick weaves worn while pregnant. I planned to lay off relaxers for a few months and nurse my hair.

I did a hard protein treatment with 6 months worth of new growth and the demarcation said "HECK NO"! My hair was so tangled I had no choice but to BC. I was sad I had like 2-3 inches of hair.

I said I would stay natural for a year or two and go back to relaxers, but I LOVE my natural hair and won't go back. *takes a breath* The End.

 

[pre_medicalrulz]

I've always been relaxed for as long as I can remember. I love curly hair but I don't think I want to cut my hair off - my head is too big.

 

[MyAngelEyez~C~U]

Relaxers and my hair/scalp do not get along.

 

[Qtee]

I'm natural...1st I wanted locs..but once I BCd I feel inlove with my hair and wanted to play with it...After 3 years..I'm tired of shrinkage..its bittersweet cause I love my curls but I hate braid outs or twist outs on me with all the frizz..I want to wear my hair straight in the winter and curly in the summer. But I suck at str8ening my natural hair..So I'm taking the easy way out..I will relax..I dont know if I will relax it bone straight or not but I'm ready to show some length..