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1 YEAR TRANSITIONING: What I've Learned

Posted on November 13, 2012 at 10:40 AM


RECAP:

October 28, 2011, I decided to embark on a new journey. I decided that I would no longer apply relaxers onto my hair. It was a hard decision, not because I would miss the relaxers - but because I was afraid of the result and even more other's opinions. I was not sure what my texture would be and if I could even manage it. I just knew that I was tired of the burns and breakage. Really, my relaxers never took right and it would end up looking like I barely got a relaxer. 


I had been through so much damage over the years that I was fed up! I even had to wear scarves (India Arie style) a whole semester because my hair had broken off so badly and my eczema had returned. My confidence was at an all-time low but I had to press on anyway. After my hair returned to a healthier state and length began to grow, of course I applied another relaxer in my hair. It was not until I graduated college and had a close call with damaging my hair due to a bad 'DIYweave' incident (I was so inspired with YT vids that I thought I could do my own weave....FAIL!), that I decided it was time to try natural. 


LESSONS:

Transitioning....hmm...it is not as easy as you would think. I knew that BIG chop was not an option for me at the time. I gained enough confidence to even consider natural, but the idea of chopping majority of my hair would take a lot more!! I struggled with the detangling process more than anything. I had to (and still now) work on being patient and gentle with my hair, especially focusing on my ends. I cannot just comb my hair any kind of way without the risk of breaking my hair. Natural hair is fragile, but being 4c (kinkiest of all, coily hair texture) is even more fragile. Trying to accommodate both the natural and relaxed hair is not an easy job! Thanks to YT I was able to find a lot of videos on people transitioning. I found out the right styles to accommodate the two and things began to get a little better. 

Luckily, I have found a few people on YT that are 4c and now can experiment with some styles that I never knew I could do. 


[To Be Honest] Big Chop may be a better solution for many reasons: 

  1. You get to know how to manage the new texture at the beginning while it is short.
    1. Otherwise, you have to understand two textures and then once you are completely natural, you now have to deal with getting to know natural hair with long hair (this is actual difficult than it seems).
  2. You get a little break with managing your hair because it is shorter. Can you say 'WASH & GO'!!
  3. Dealing with all natural hair is easier [PERIOD]
    1. Transitioning hair is prone to 1 strand knots. YIKES. 
  4. You are certain that all damaged hair is cut and starting off fresh!
I could go on...and on! You get the point.

Either way, it is your decision on what works for you and your journey! Not one will be easier, but the managing process could be a lesser load. I do not really regret transitioning, I just had to really learn how to manage and research how to maintain my hair. You will need to do this either way.... 

I will do another trim to and then I think most of my relaxed will be cut. I hope to go to a Natural Hair salon to get consulting on the health of my hair. 

I am more excited about my journey now that I am seeing GROWTH. I am confident than ever before and I am loving the natural me! People may look at me funny or weird but I do not care- seriously! People may think that this is not professional or not appropriate for 'certain' things, but I do not let them define me nor my style. 

I will be making a video of my failures v. triumphs...this should be pretty interesting! 

Peace~Love~Nappiness

 

Categories: Hair

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