Why are you considering transitioning?

lilree

lilree

Member
I've been thinking about transitioning now for a few months. I'm currently stretching, last relaxer on 9/20/08. I am going back a forth on this, considering pros and cons (they might not be true for you).

RELAXER PROs
- My hair is already relaxed, so I won't lose the SL I have.
- Styling is not as time consuming.
- My hair has been doing a lot better since my discovery of LHCF.

RELAXER CONs
- I don't know how to self-relax and the more knowledge I gain (from you ladies), the less knowledge I believe my stylist has (although she's very nice).
- Considering the economy, I don't like being so dependant on the treatment/salon visits.

NATURAL PROs
- I love my texture. I play in my NG all the time.
- LHCF
- I'm aware of more styling options now

NATURAL CONs
- The only reason why I relaxed 5 years ago is because it began to take 2 days to undo and redo my twists - lossing my weekends (wasn't aware of styling options or salons that cared for natural hair then)
- I workout so much that I don't know when straightening will ever be an option

Right now, I'm leaning toward transitioning, but I also think that maybe I should give my new regimen a chance before making the decision.
 
I am 90% sure I want to transition but I'm getting scared. I want to transition because lately relaxers haven't been working for me maybe it was the brand I was using but I stuck with it because I didn't want to waste the big tub I bought. I don't know what my natural texture looks like. I don't want to relax the rest of my life.

I tried going natural a few years ago but after a few months I couldn't take it. I couldn't do anything with my hair and I liked how relaxers make it more manageable.
Before I started relaxing I pressed my hair once a week. I'm thinking of going back to that.
 
I've been toying with trying to transition for the past year. I keep stretching further and further to see how far i can go.

My Fears:

-Styling options while transitioning. Braids were a disaster, too scaredy-cat to buy wigs, i CANNOT wash and go my hair and just bun it out.

-Fear of heat damage while trying to transition.

-Fear of a short BC. I've never had my hair that short so that means i have to transition longer which means more hell.

-I got a bald spot which may/may not be contributed to relaxer damage. The thought of putting more chemicals on my hair and risking more damage scares me, which makes me need to go natural even more.

-I fear the public. I work in the public and i'm still looking for jobs. I dont want my transitioning hair to be an issue to someone and prevent me from getting a much needed job. I had to interview while having braids and was scared then.

-I fear my natural hair wont be what i think it will be and will have a breakdown similar to MissNorway.
 
MizzBrown said:
I've been toying with trying to transition for the past year. I keep stretching further and further to see how far i can go.

My Fears:

-Styling options while transitioning. Braids were a disaster, too scaredy-cat to buy wigs, i CANNOT wash and go my hair and just bun it out.

-Fear of heat damage while trying to transition.

-Fear of a short BC. I've never had my hair that short so that means i have to transition longer which means more hell.

-I got a bald spot which may/may not be contributed to relaxer damage. The thought of putting more chemicals on my hair and risking more damage scares me, which makes me need to go natural even more.

-I fear the public. I work in the public and i'm still looking for jobs. I dont want my transitioning hair to be an issue to someone and prevent me from getting a much needed job. I had to interview while having braids and was scared then.

-I fear my natural hair wont be what i think it will be and will have a breakdown similar to MissNorway.
Click to expand...


WOW, you've been stretching a year! How many inches of ng do you have?

I was natural before, and initially, I was a little concerned of the reaction by management in the office. If there was a problem they didn't say it to my face.

Currently, I'm wearing an old fashioned updo using 3 combs. It's doing the job for now.

I'm not fimilar with MissNorway's situation. Is there a thread on it?
 
i just relaxed after a 6 month stretch and my hair lacks body,
i liked how full my hair got while i stretched now im thinking of transitioning for a year maybe
 
Well this will be my second or third time trying, but I am 100% sure that I want to transition and go all natural! Now, I do know that although I think I've read enough on how to combat tangles, soften and loosen the roots more (the main reason why I kept going back to relaxing), I am a little concerned that my styling options may be limited. Then again, maybe it will be a misconception like that misconception thread. I don't know, but I'm anxious to find out! I don't mind using a straightening comb or flat iron sometimes either. Oh and the reason why I'm going to transition is:

1. I really want to see what my natural hair is like or will be like now. I haven't worn my hair natural since I was... 14 or 15. I remember how thick and healthy it was.

2. My hair is just above my shoulders, and it seems with this relaxer it will always be at this length (or shorter) because I keep having to get it cut due to split ends. I know on the misconception thread some ladies said they still have to deal with that, but I just think split ends and breakage won't be as big of a problem for me when I go natural.

3. I love feeling my new growth. :yep:

4. I want to wear my hair in some kinky, wavy exotic styles. Like, when I take my braids out and have several months of new growth, I have the cutest braid out! Nice and thick. I can't get this with my relaxer even with three months of new growth. My hair has to be natural to achieve the look that I want.

5. I want to try something different.

6. I'm sick of my hair being so many different lengths. I know it's due to the relaxer. I like layers, but goodness!

I know it's going to be a journey, but I'm ready!
 
Before I decided to transition back in May ('08), I had toyed with the idea of transitioning for over 2 years but I was so scared, especially before I joined here I knew nothing about successful ways to transition, hair care, styles, etc. All I knew was relaxed hair.

But after a while, I just got tired of having that flat hair and dealing with the chemicals. Also, my funds were low and I hated that I was dependent on someone else to treat my hair b/c I didn't want to do my own relaxers. What really did it for me besides seeing many naturals' fotkis and youtube channels was I found the bomb moisturizing combo for my hair. I had started off trying to do a 3 month stretch and it went so well I decided, what the hey, let's just go for it!

Was supposed to do a 1 year stretch but once again, 7 months in, I said what the hey let's just go for it! I luved it and didn't regret it at all and I've never had hair this short ever. Right now, I'm braided up though. I rocked it for a couple weeks but it's cold outside, I need more hair on my head. Hahaha. So I'm rocking braids till May. But I say go for it! If you don't like it, you can always relax again or if you BC and don't like the shortness you can rock wigs, half-wigs, braids, kinky twists, or weaves. The options are endless! Enjoy the ride!:grin:
 
I've transition twice and always went back to relaxer, why lazy. My hair do not have any body it's fine and too soft. I pay $45 for a wrap or curl and bonnet at night just for it all to fall. But after finding hair boards and reading successful transition technique I'm on my way to natural hair.
 
ltown said:
I've transition twice and always went back to relaxer, why lazy. My hair do not have any body it's fine and too soft. I pay $45 for a wrap or curl and bonnet at night just for it all to fall. But after finding hair boards and reading successful transition technique I'm on my way to natural hair.
Click to expand...

That's great. Happy Transitioning! :grin:
 
I'm only 4 weeks post relaxer but have decided to transition! My stylist said those three words I wanted to hear when I told her about it.... "Let's do it!" If I didn't have her help, I probably wouldn't transition.

Although I will probably be wearing mostly straight styles (leave me alone about that) I want to transition because:

1. My relaxed hair has always been thin, lifeless and limp. The longer it gets the thinner it gets - probably due to overlapping.

2. I always had to wear roller sets and full curly styles to keep from looking like a wet chicken with straight relaxed hair.

3. My natural hair will be thicker and healthier.
 
I've been transitioning for 14 months, and I'm so glad I decided to. I just didn't want to relax the rest of my life.
 
I have been transitioning since my last relaxer and I am so close to relaxing I can barely stand it. I like my texture but all the info I have gotten fromt he various hair boards has taught me that you can have healthy long relaxed hair which I thought I couldn't. My hair usually grows to shoulder lenght then I get lazy or bored and cut it. This time I have a goal of BSL and I'm not cutting it or slacking on my regi until I get there. Maybe then I'll decide to transition. I've given myself until Jan 1 to make a decision. I'm either going get kinky twist until I can BC in May or I am going to relax with Phyto or Affirm Fiberguard every 10-12 weeks.
 
Bcuz I have been a "perm-head" for as long as I can remember and I think these here relaxers are eating the doo doo out of my hair. Right now five weeks post and learning to wash and condition in order to deal with it without all that manipulation.
 
lilree said:
Exactly!
Also, I've been watching the misconceptions thread too. It HAS given me more information while weighing my options.

Good luck on your journey.
Click to expand...

Good luck to you too! Let's check back a year from now and see where we're at. Whether we went ahead, length, struggles, etc... I mean if we remember.
 
vivacious1083 said:
Before I decided to transition back in May ('08), I had toyed with the idea of transitioning for over 2 years but I was so scared, especially before I joined here I knew nothing about successful ways to transition, hair care, styles, etc. All I knew was relaxed hair.

But after a while, I just got tired of having that flat hair and dealing with the chemicals. Also, my funds were low and I hated that I was dependent on someone else to treat my hair b/c I didn't want to do my own relaxers. What really did it for me besides seeing many naturals' fotkis and youtube channels was I found the bomb moisturizing combo for my hair. I had started off trying to do a 3 month stretch and it went so well I decided, what the hey, let's just go for it!

Was supposed to do a 1 year stretch but once again, 7 months in, I said what the hey let's just go for it! I luved it and didn't regret it at all and I've never had hair this short ever. Right now, I'm braided up though. I rocked it for a couple weeks but it's cold outside, I need more hair on my head. Hahaha. So I'm rocking braids till May. But I say go for it! If you don't like it, you can always relax again or if you BC and don't like the shortness you can rock wigs, half-wigs, braids, kinky twists, or weaves. The options are endless! Enjoy the ride!:grin:
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention the bolded! What's really gotten to me is seeing my flat hair in all the pics I take. My hair is finer with relaxers and the only way my hair looks even a little full is with lots of curls.
 
1. I like my natural texture.
2. My new growth sprouts quickly and my hair grows in extra thick. So once my rootsare puffed out, it's a wrap.
3. My hair won't stay straight. I know naturals whose flat irons last longer than mine.
so why continue to put chemicals on it?
 
I have tried transitioning before and became very frustrated with the two textures. I went to a hairstylist who cut off my relaxed hair and straightened the natural and unfortunately convinced me to go back to the relaxer as I had no idea what to do with my hair. This was my fault as I didn't research information on how to take care of my hair when transitioning. I am now transitioning again, last relaxer was November 22nd. This time it is for real:grin:

With that being said, I am tired of relaxers. I have been relaxing since I was 9 or 10 (27 now) and I see the way my hair has changed and I don't likey:nono: I have fine textured hair and my hair just seems to get more and more limp as the years go by. I want that full head of hair that is healthy and if I feel the need to straighten I can do that with a flat iron. Also I don't want to relax for the rest of my life, who the hell knows what is going into my body from those chemicals.:perplexed
 
pmichael52172 said:
I'm only 4 weeks post relaxer but have decided to transition! My stylist said those three words I wanted to hear when I told her about it.... "Let's do it!" If I didn't have her help, I probably wouldn't transition.

Although I will probably be wearing mostly straight styles (leave me alone about that) I want to transition because:

1. My relaxed hair has always been thin, lifeless and limp. The longer it gets the thinner it gets - probably due to overlapping.

2. I always had to wear roller sets and full curly styles to keep from looking like a wet chicken with straight relaxed hair.

3. My natural hair will be thicker and healthier.
Click to expand...
WHAT? How on earth did I miss this thread? OMG. Girl, I am over here doing the happy dance.

:yay:


:woot:
 
I'm in the process of "transitioning" to texlaxed. Since I won't cut, I've been experimenting with lye relaxers now but most of them are just way too strong. I've switched to SE MILD and will try that one next month. I realize my ends will be straight and then upwards towards the new growth, it'll be gradually more textured. Full natural will just be too much to comb, too painful and time-consuming. The reason I wish to transition is that my hair was relaxed at some point bone-straight and I don't like it. I can achieve that with a flat-iron. Plus, new growth mandates a regular touch-up every 4-6 weeks or shedding will occur. Trying to lessen that. I can't stretch very long...been there, tried. So my transition is just to texlaxed.
 
I am sure that I want to transition because I know what my natural hair was and it was beautiful. My relaxed hair looks horrible and is unhealthy and even if it's an issue of my self hair care, my natural hair would be easier for me.

I love my New Growth! It's amazing to see how the curls differ in the back compared to the curls in the front, the front is pretty much straight and wirey (sp?).

I look forward to having beautiful hair again, and I think this is the only way for me to accomplish that.
 
This is a really good thread! One of my friends told me something that really made me think- I've been talking about transitioning for the last three years, I've been stretching, texlaxing doing all of this "foolishness" only to perm it months down the line. So, for 2009 I will transition for as long as possible and then BC when I can't take it anymore (or after at least 6 months of growth). So for 2009 I think we should all challenge ourselves and step out on faith....
 
I was considering transitioning, just for the overall health of my hair & to be free of dependence on relaxers for the rest of my life.

However, I really do prefer straight styles, so...I'm thinking that this plan may be a no go.

ETA: People keep mentioning new growth, but combing through an inch or two of NG that is stretched out by the weight of relaxed hair is very different from a head full of tightly coiled natural hair. I just don't know if I have the patience. If I was natural, I would just be blow drying and flat-ironing all the time. *sigh* At least there is lots of wonderful advice and inspiration from natural-haired ladies here.
 
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