I think my journey to natural hair started when I heard about “Good Hair” coming out. I watched the trailer and did more research. My last relaxer was March 2009. And yes I consider myself still transitioning. LOL
Until about October 2009 I was doing braid outs. But as time went on my braid outs were not working. I have been doing straight styling since then. Only blowing and flat ironing every other week. I am now training for a triathlon and have to swim every week. This has presented all new challenges. I now need to wash and blow /flat iron every week. I have been cutting out the relaxer at a rate of 1/2 inch a month. So right now my hair is just touching my shoulders.
Lexi- It can be done to be a Long Transitioner. You don’t have to do a big chop, but challenges do come with being a long transitioner- like trying to make the textures match- your relaxed ends and your new growth. If you do plan on flat ironing it to make your roots match, just make sure to protect your hair so you don’t permanently damage the roots…which will mean you will have to cut even more hair later down the line. Protective styles work well too like braids or twists. How have you been getting through Long Transitioning? Please share your story.
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I’m almost on month 9 and I try not to straighten too often. Flexi rod sets have been my savior bc my ends are curly and I let my roots do as they please and I get a full curly look which I love. I’m also considering braids to keep my hands out of my hair and to give my hair a rest.
I’d recommend roller sets for as long as you can to get your roots straighter (maybe not so much in the summer, though) just because it’s less direct heat. My hair started doing much better when I stopped using direct heat so I would suggest trying low heat styles!
I transitioned for a year, so I guess I’m in between short and long transitioning. For the first 5 months of my transitioning I flat ironed every two weeks, and even that was super damaging. By the time I really stopped to notice my hair, the back of my hair near the nape was already natural and the demarcation line was really weak. My permed edges came out on a regular basis.
Like Christine stated, roller sets are good. I’ve also seen bantu knot-outs to give nice results. If braidouts stopped working for you, try twistouts. Twistouts never worked for me but my braidouts where always on point!
I’m almost 12 months and I’ve never straightened. It does get tough because every “out” style (bantu knot out, twist out, etc) I do now looks horrible. So now I’m thinking of switching to doing curlformer sets and silk roller wraps to help my hair look better. I might get some braids put in as well. I hope to transition for at least 18 months and maximum 24 months. We’ll see lol!
I’m a little over 10 months into transitioning now. The only time my hair is straightened is every 2 months when I go get a trim. Like Arlene, I get a half an inch trimmed off everytime. I cowash twice a week and either wear a roller set, twist out, bantu knot out, flat twist out, or do Dr. Akbari’s roll and tuck method. It’s rare that I braid my hair because I cant do it that well but I’m hoping to get better. I’m with Jenny, 18 months is my goal and at the max 24.
I got my last relaxer in July 2010 (4months) and I have been transitioning since then. The only problem I have unlike everybody else is that Im in law enforcement meaning a tight bun is all I can do. This becomes VERY difficult especially when I have to work out 3 days a week and my hair starts puffing up. So everyday I gel and wet my hair and tie it down so the edges can lay down. I wash my hair every week and sit under the dryer and then flat iron it straight. I dont know if Im causing heat damage but I feel like thats the only option for me because I can’t do the transitioning styles like braid outs and roller sets. So because of all this Im becomoing frustrated and just want to the BC (big chop) now, I dont even care how long my natural hair is I just want it off so I can stop dealing with it. I jus hope Im comfortable with having short hair!
Ive been transitioning since OCT and my hairs styles just don’t come out right… Never do they look like the ladies on the youtube or TV screen. I’ve tried almost everything. I’m begging to think Transitioning is not for me
I have been transitioning for about 11 months now and in the beginning nothing worked for my hair so I flat ironed a lot. After having tons of breakage, I only flat iron on trim days which is every 10 months for me… (Changing it to 6-8 weeks). The protective styles that I wear now are braid outs, satin braid outs, and roller sets. If I do the braid outs, I redo my hair everynight. Most of the time I do not think my hair looks good, because it isn’t as straight and put together as it once was. You just have to realize that it isn’t that it looks bad, its just a “different” look.
I’ve been transitioning for a year and two months so far and when I saw your pics I was so excited because your hair looks just like mine. I haven’t been able to find many videos of people with Long hair who have successfully transitioned long term without a big chop. My hair is to my bra syrup at this time, I have been slowly cutting it, but the two textures are very different. It just looks like a really bad weave lol. I can see that u posted that video two years ago so I was just wondering if your transition was successful. I need all the pointers i can get. Thx
@nicole: Check Out “alexxxhes” on Youtube! Shes a long-term transitioner (27 months now) with long hair and her hair Looks Great!