which thrives better? Relaxed or Natural?

[aminata]

When I was an undergraduate I had natural hair --it was not healthy at all. (and I'm sure my press-n-curls were not helping...)

When I had relaxed hair--it was healthy (okay I had a great stylist). Last January I decided to transition again--from January until early October I had my hair pressed (or flat ironed) 2 or 3 times. My hair was pretty healthy for transitioning hair.

Let me add one more thing--when I was relaxing w/o a hairstylist my hair was shedding and falling out. --

So--it really depends on what techniques you use to care for your hair--natural or relaxed.

 

[Healthb4Length]

I can personally say that for me natural hair thrives much better. When I was natural my hair grew from a TWA to collarbone lenght in exactly 1 year (my hair grows about 8-9 inches per year aways) my hair was so thick I didn't know what to do and I was not a member of this site! I put in a texturizer myself and it looked great! It was when I started doubting myself land going to stylist when things started to go down the drain. My ends would constantly break my hair always dry, then I found this board and things has been looking better! I still believe that my natural hair grows so much faster than my relaxed or texturized hair.

 

[Netta1]

I voted...um natural of course lol.....although it does depend on how you treat it.

When I was relaxed I actually decovered this board...so I knew how to make the "best" of being relaxed. I just decided to go natural because I wanted to.

My* natural hair is a HECK of a lot healthier then my relaxed hair. Its thicker, grows quicker, is stronger and more fun!

 

[aminata]

netta, your hair is beautiful.

 

[Faith]

I have to agree with the women who say their natural hair hardly broke and they hardly had split ends. I think in the 5 years I was natural. I trimmed less than 5x and my hair wasn't split. I trimmed to maintain a look. Now it seems combing it splits it. Handling it splits it. Using just a tiny bit of heat splits it. And it breaks even with the most gentle hands. My hair hardly broke when it was natural. I could wash and comb and hardly get anything in the comb.

I say natural..for my 4b/a hair...natural. It's more fragile relaxed.

 

[Nanyanika]

my natural hair wgrew faster and was obviously much stronger but my ends would dry and tangle. now i'm texturized and after a few a corrective relaxers i have more breakage and my hair is weaker. In my case natural hair thrives better.

 

[Faith]

I noticed something with the knots on the ends. My mom and sister both get it..they have 4a hair (S-shape). My hair being more 4b (Z) doesn't tend to knot up..just those sections that are 4a. I found another positive for my 4b hair...LOL!

 

[sugaplum]

And if i do wanna go straight, imma do like u and wig it!!!
You look good girl

Aww thanks loonatick My natural hair is growing like crazy and the curls are becoming more courser and harder to control. Plus the winter weather out here in Cali is dry and can make your hair very brittle no matter how much moisturizer you put in your hair.

But the wig I got from the BSS. It's synthetic and it cost like $35.00. I it. I have 3 wigs already.

I'm so glad to here that you are transitioning and staying away from the heat. Your hair is gonna thrive and it will definatly love you back.

 

[Puddles]

Well I like wearing my hair straight and I sweat badly. I have always sweated my presses right out. My mother said I would sweat while she pressed my hair. And now that I'm an adult....wearing ponytales like I did as a child isn't an option. So natural only worked for me as a child.

My texterized hair is long and healthy. I have less breakage 'cause I use no heat. When I do.....I don't have to worry about sweating my hair back. I just wrap it up till it dries and I'm back in business. I can do my C/O once week without much manipulation...bun it up and go.

I only need to trim once or twice a year.

So I think it really depends on the person.

 

[sillygurl18]

Natural because you're not using less chemicals than you are when you are relaxed. Man-made is never as good as natural.

 

[Caramela]

Hair that's properly cared for and maintained thrives best wether that be relaxed hair, or natural hair.

 

[B_Phlyy]

Hair that's properly cared for and maintained thrives best wether that be relaxed hair, or natural hair.

I agree with this. I've been natural and relaxed and my hair was horrible in both states because I didn't take care of it.

 

[locabouthair]

I agree with this. I've been natural and relaxed and my hair was horrible in both states because I didn't take care of it.

this is the same case with me.

 

[Sarafina]

This thread is a great read.

I am texturized with lye, but my hair looks and acts almost the same as my natural hair. But my new growth feels different from the rest of my hair. It just feels more elastic, soft, and natural (no pun intended).
I am seriously thinking of transitioning now. Not for length (my hair has reached armpit length without taking care of it), but for the health of my hair and body. I can't imagine how much it would thrive if I continued to take care of it. I do love the manageability of myhair now though

 

[nissi]

Having been relaxed, then natural and now relaxed again, it really depends. Natural hair is probably stronger overall, but i learned that since i want to wear my hair straight and I am concerned about manageability, relaxing my hair is the best option. For me, natural hair that is blown out or airdryed, flat ironed, and curled cannot compare to relaxed hair that is washed, conditioned, roller set and left alone. HTH! HHG!

 

[caribeandiva]

natural hair is bound to thrive more cause the strands aren't weakened by relaxers.

 

[Poohbear]

I voted natural for the same reasons countrygal, meccamedinah, blossssom, and beyondcute have expressed...

I overprocessed my texturizer due to ignorance. I couldn't figure out why texturizers were so temporary in my hair! I found the culprit though....MTG. After my hair dresser cut the damaged hair off, I was completely in love with my natural hair, that i hadn't seen since I was 8 yrs old. My natural hair then was so thick, it would break combs and brushes. Now, this time, my hair was soft and curly! I just wanted to see how long this new texture was gonna last. Now that it has grown out a little, it is still curly, but now the thickness is coming out and I'm still loving my hair. The reason why I say my relaxed hair thrived more is because I knew how to care properly for it. It also showed length more quickly. It may take me some time before I can say my natural hair thrives better. I'm still a natural newby.

Just because natural hair doesn't show length quickly doesn't mean it's not thriving... Shrinkage is a perfectly normal, natural, healthy trait of natural hair.

 

[a_ caribbean_dream]

I had longer and less problematic hair as a relaxed head. My natural hair is crazy- but versatile and it grew on me. lol. As for which thrives better I say that must be judged on an individual basis with both natural and relaxed periods.

 

[danimani]

My nape has grown by leaps and bounds since I quit relaxing. I just thought I had permanent bald spots. Turns out the hair just wasn't given a chance to grow with my relaxer.

 

[Faith]

At this moment I say hair type/natural. For 4a/b hair I think natural is the best way to go.

 

[dynamic1]

I had less problematic hair as a relaxed head.

I agree. When I was getting a relaxer, I knew how to properly take care of my relaxed hair. The last time I was natural was age 12. At that time I wore a few ponytails or braids and did not care about hair health, length or maintenance. I had to care for my own hair at that time and made it to the salon infrequently.

Caring for my natural/transitioning hair is trial and error. It is also more difficult to manipulate and style. Doing neither is not a viable option.

 

[nadine1977canada]

My hair thrived both ways...but at least with the relaxer I didnt get knots and I trimmed less. Oh well such is life.

That is exactly why im getting my hair relaxed. Im tired of all the knots!!!

 

[LovelyZ]

With all things being equal, meaning having knowledge of proper care of natural and relaxed, I think Natural can thrive better, since relaxing weakens the hair.

 

[chayil0427]

I believe both hair types can thrive equally as well or be equally as damaged. It all depends on how you care for your individual hair type. Personally I'm relaxed now and my hair is much healthier then when I was natural simply because I'm taking care of it and using better products.

Good thread.

Chayil

 

[Candy_C]

hmm well i'm in love with my relaxed hair and i'm sure iwould learn to love and cope with my natural hair too.

i'm just enjoying my hair. i wanna try another adventure after i reach my goalof hipbone...which will be natural

anyway

i think it depends on the tools n products. some products can make any hair a DREAM to work with. sooooo

 

[MizaniMami]

I don't have the patience to deal with my natural hair. I HATE tangles with a passion.

I voted relaxed hair. Not saying that natural hair can't thrive, but I am saying it depends on the person.

I know if I were natural, I would get easily irritated which can result in me pulling my hair out.

 

[keluric]

With all things being equal, meaning having knowledge of proper care of natural and relaxed, I think Natural can thrive better, since relaxing weakens the hair.

I agree with the last point. Relaxed hair is, by definition, weaker hair because the chemicals break the bonds.

I'm not sure about "thriving." There are plenty of relaxed heads with technically thriving hair. I just think natural hair, if taken care of properly, is stronger.

 

[kristina]

not like it's a competition or anything because both states present different challenges. For example, imo relaxed hair may be weaker because of the chemical process but continually detangling or manipulating fragile natural hair can cause manual damage and breakage as well if one as not careful. i think this is part of the reason there aren't a ton of type 3c 4a 4b naturals with waist length hair (yeah, I know there are some but we create lists of these folks for a reason). And the few type 4 naturals that are waist-length almost all follow a regimen involving very little manipulation.
fo me personally though, natural hands down because my super fine hair strains cannot handle chemicals

 

[carmella25]

I also believe that hair thrives when you take care of it.

 

[glamazon386]

For me it's natural hair. But I think it depends on the person and how they are caring for their hair.