Anyone transitioning their hair or have experience with it?

[Wonderwalk]

Hi, I started transitioning my hair in June and I’ve already lost motivation. I haven’t even ever really seen my natural hair as I’ve been relaxing since I was a child. I’m excited to be natural and see what it like but I’ve realised I’m just not patient. Any words of wisdom? Was it worth it if you’ve done it and how long did it take? My hairs quite long so don’t have the confidence to chop it until I can at least tie it up.

Currently transitioning from a relaxed pixie cut because I want to start locs. I feel the same, the transition is a bit dry as I'm unable to tie it up all I can really do is braids. I am getting tired though and wonder if i can stick this out!!!

I suppose things about your long term goal of being natural and as your hair is long look in to styles that could work during the transition. Braid outs maybe?

I transitioned from having Sisterlocks so I just let them grow out for over a year, and just wore headbands. I know that growing it out when relaxed is different. In my case I did not have to worry about combing the hair! I washed my hair about once a month, and rubbed some oil on it when damp.

It took time, but is so worth it. My hair now is chemical free, I am not spending an arm and leg on it. I can choose if I want to sit in a salon now, instead of having too spend sooo much time in them. I follow a simple hair routine. I am in love with my hair now. I am a 4c girl and I wear my hair with pride. There is a wealth of knowledge out there now. I wish I knew what I know now, when I was a teenager. I would have saved myself £££. But the default was just to relax the hair, which truth be told is so damaging to us, our hair and our pockets. Look up how to care for twa (teeny weeny afro) or hairstyles for short natural hair. Some of the girls on youtube are amazing, and sharing what they do.

Currently transitioning from relaxed to natural. Partly because of Covid, and partly because my hair is so damaged from years of relaxing. I had a texture release treatment in July, which my hair seems to like. Not many salons do it, but it's ideal for me as I can actually now get a comb through my 4c regrowth!

Skippy what is a texture release treatment? I have not heard of this before.

Could you bypass the awkward stage with braided styles, wigs or weaves?

I transitioned fully. It took about 2ish years. lived with it for a couple of years years and relaxed it again about 2 months ago

like yourself, I had been using relaxers since childhood and never really knew my natural hair texture. Turns out I'm far to lazy to deal with my natural texture unfortunately.

Maybe I'll go back natural in a few years.

I stopped relaxing my hair in 2017. Just couldn't be bothered to get another hair appointment.

So one day, I cut off the relaxed part which was so thin and stringy. I had protective styles on and off for a year - cornrows, weaves and crochet braids.

I’m fed up with my hair. It’s thin and limp and has always been. I had a short cut for 10yrs then got tired of it and started plaiting it again, I’ve now got to the stage where I’m fed up with it again. I tried to transition to e.g locks but apparently my hair is too straight and doesn’t curl well I’m not mixed race or anything, typical west African kinky hair. Anyway nothing seems to work. I’m thinking of transitioning to just shaving the whole damn thing off! I’ve currently got a short weave on (first time in about 15yrs) and tried to undo it 3 days ago and can’t! It just won’t come undone .

I don't think I'll go back to a relaxer. My 4c hair isn't particularly thick or long, but I can't face dealing with the natural regrowth/relaxed ends again.

It's described as a chemical free treatment that loosens your natural curl pattern. I thought it sounded like a relaxer, but it isn't. It's hard to describe, but if you Google avlon texture release, you'll find loads of info on it.

Thanks Skippy.

I stopped relaxing my hair in 2017 after relaxing it since I was 13. It was so damaged, I had lots of breakage and I’d had enough of the faff. The first 6 months was really tough seeing my regrowth and hair gel was my best friend! Eventually I decided to big chop as I was sick of holding on to the dead hair.

It felt really liberating to do so! I rocked it for a few weeks, really making extra effort with my make up but was missing my hair so started wearing wigs. I really enjoyed it and found a wig style/colour that I loved and literally kept buying them very 3 months or so and kept my hair protected.

I was weary about wigs and (white) people questioning my hair and having to think about if I should humour them by saying it was my real hair or not (I had a blonde wig which I loved) until I decided - fuck it! I wear wigs and I like them and sometimes I have a wrap and sometimes I have an afro!

But fast forward to now and I have invested in some really good quality wigs and my hair has grown way past my shoulders, I sometimes where it as an Afro, try new styles and still occasionally where wigs when I feel like it. I feel like I’ve finally got to a comfortable place to say this is my hair and it’s beautiful in its natural state, it’s so versatile too, I’d never relax it again.

Sorry I’m rambling now! I’d say keep at it and if you are not comfortable with your natural hair for now then defo look at some protective styles it is worth it in the long run

I started transitioning a few years ago, I have a really sensitive scalp and it was destroying my hair too. I was sick of burning my scalp to a crisp for thin, whispy crappy looking hair. I does take a while but when my natural hair started growing through I was amazed how lovely my natural curls were and much more manageable.

I've started locs during lockdown and thats its own challenge, I need more patience lol!!!

I transitioned for 8 months in 2017 before the big chop. My relaxed hair was shoulder length and I just stopped relaxing it and started plaiting at night so the two textures kind of blended when taken down during the day.
Around 5 months in, it got hard to look after both textures so I got a weave for about three months then big chopped.
Rocked my TWA, let it grow and still mostly flat twist at night and take it down in the morning. Mine is 4a/b I think and thick. After watching some Youtubers recently, I have learnt how to gel it down into a smooth puff or two flat twists so enjoying these styles right now.

Love my fro.

I also find my natural hair suits my features much more than when it was a poker straight bob.

I'm transitioning to natural. The pandemic has been great for me since I work from home. If I have to get on camera I put on the wig.

The trouble is I have so many greys now at 41 so when I do wear my hair out I'll be conscious of the greys

I’ve transitioned, I’ve chopped my hair off, chemo has taken my hair off...every time I grew my hair back I have had zero desire to relax it, aside from the harmful chemicals involved, flat hair doesn’t suit me at all.

That said, I am not against using a hair straightening equipment because one thing I learned when my hair grew back after chemo was, everybody’s hair on this planet starts out the same way, straight.

So don’t stress about it, the best advice I can give is eat healthy, use chemical free products on your hair and body ( Shea butter, plant oils, essential oils etc )