Anyone on a natural hair jouney?

[WellWellWellifitisntyou]

Just wondering whether anyone would respond to a natural hair thread on here.
I'm in a couple of FB groups and I think I have watched every Natural Hair Journey and Big Chop video on YouTube!
I have type 3b hair and have just finished growing out heat damage, cutting an inch bit by bit. It's shoulder length now and I'm trying to perfect a wash and go with much failure and much shrinkage.
DH is 6 years in with 4b hair and has grown long locs which seem to be about 3 ft longer every time they're twisted (not jealous)!!

Yes, me - hello! My 'journey' started inadvertently about 5 years ago when I was pregnant and didn't want any nasty chemicals near me. I had braids in for a while, and watched loooaads of YouTube videos until I felt ready to look after my own hair on its own. I think I'm 4a with some 4b mixed in there. Not sure about** porosity, that still confuses me a bit.

I love my hair but I do find the maintenance tiresome - I wash it twice a week and it takes a while if I take the time to detangle and deep condition properly. I'm at the gym lots though, so wouldn't want to leave it any longer between washes.

I'm very much still learning, but I know that the whole 'wash and go' thing doesn't work for me. I often braid or twist my hair at night and try to moisturise lots - for work it's generally in some kind of updo / bun or something, to stop the strands from tangling round each other.

What do you tend to do styling-wise WellWell?

Oopsie, weird bold bit there...

Bumping as I stopped relaxing last July, now braided but bored and just don't know how to look after/wear my natural hair.

Hi there, am watching this thread as I'm thinking of going natural (I have relaxed mix race hair - am not sure of the curl number as its been YEARS since I had it natural!). I have recently stopped straightening it every day and the condition is already much better and it has actually started to grow - which is a first! However, I am still clinging to the relaxer as it is like a safety net. Have been watching lots of videos but am still scared to go for the full deal as I have no idea what it will look like or how to look after it.

Namedy Thanks so much for replying. Are you doing the whole no sulphate thing considering that you're washing twice a week? I wash a couple of x a wk too and like you wish it could be more frequent. I do try to use shampoos recommended by the CG method but sometimes I just grab anything, dont even look at the ingredients. Braids were my go-to style before i started wearing tracks and using GHDs in my twenties. That's what caused the heat damage. I went back to braids for most of last year. Usually only 5 weeks at a time with a treatment in between. I was doing them myself, taking about 7 hours at a time so used to do them over the course of 2 nights. I now cannot face putting braids in and out, my arms need a break. I have been alternating between a puff and a bun. Im considering cornrows but maybe with bulk braiding hair added. My wash and gos arent looking too good, im seeing growth and have grown out the heat damage and I thought that would solve everything but it hasnt

Gladstone I'm mixed race too. My parents didnt let me relax my hair because it's quite fine and they thought even with the kids one id get too much breakage. But my dsis did for a few years. She grew hers out and honestly, I'm sure you've seen similar online, her hair is amazing now. Its in good condition and she's now in a position where she can blow dry and straighten it (carefully) when she really wants to and its long and shiny. (Making her sound like my pet dog) But mainly she wears wash and gos and has this big amazing 3c/4a hair and everyone compliments her. She didn't big chop but cut it to a bob length and then she wore all kinds of braids and cornrows, had a weave a couple of times, just had fun with loads of different styles whilst her relaxer grew out.

Itellyou what's your hair type? (Im not obsessed with hair type, I always just try to picture people's hair.)
Right now mine looks like a haystack

Hey guys

I'm mixed race, hair is about a 3C. Used to be down to my waist when I was a child, and then I started chopping/colouring and relaxing etc.
Grew out the relaxer a few times, then got really serious about 18 months to 2 years ago. I had L'Oréal Extenso in at the time so chopped about half out and had half curly half wavy/straight for a while.
It's finally all curly (no colour either) and completely natural.
I follow a plant based diet and take vitamins and eat healthily 80% or the time. I've noticed in the last few months that my hair has grown quite rapidly.
Planning to grow it as long as it will go - have had box braids a few times but they only last a few weeks as the itch is unbearable so I don't bother anymore.

I wash my hair once or twice a week. I use a mixture of products: shea moisture, aunt Jackie, palmers, Cantu, mixed chicks.

Damp hair at night, put in two plaits, rub organic coconut oil into the ends and cover with satin cap. In the morning just comb out gently, add some product and leave to dry naturally.

Will never use relaxer again!

WellWell I'm still experimenting with products - my bathroom looks like a branch of Superdrug most of the time! My favourites at the moment are Cantu (like their sulfate-free conditioner / leave-in conditioner), and ORS (their jojoba oil and an olive-oil lotion I've just discovered). I tend to like things with a slightly heavier texture, but smelling nice is my main criteria!

I just bought the Mixed Chicks shea butter leave-in last weekend, but I've only used it once so haven't decided whether I like it or not.

I can't believe you would spend 7 hours doing your hair - goodness, my arms would have fallen off!! I'm also nowhere near skilled enough - my braids are never neat enough, but I'm trying to practice. I've found a lady who lives quite close by, who I always go to if I'm having braids done. She's super-quick and doesn't pull too tight either.

Itellyou I know what you mean - it's harder than you'd think to get used to your own hair texture if you're not used to it. I think seeing people with a range of textures really helps - YouTube will be your friend!!

Hi Nubian - sounds like a great, minimalist routine! Congratulations on growing it out too, same here re. relaxer, the mere thought of it makes me cringe now.

Hello Afro sisters!

I stopped relaxing about ten years ago. I cracked and had one in 2011 but I've been natural since. I tend to wear wigs and keep my hair canerowed down underneath.

In summer and on holiday I get box braids or Senagalese twists. I like how these look, but they take hours to do and my edges really suffer when I get them.

I try and wash my hair weekly. I use a sulphate Free shampoo and I like the ORD olive oil conditioner mixed with Roux Porosity control. I use a Creme of nature leave in spray fail, T44Z oil and I'm currently in love with RnB hair moisturiser from Lush of all places. Castor oil is great too.

Forgot to mention I'm a 4c. I'm trying to grow my hair as I want a huge Afro. Just need to get the routine perfected.

I stopped using relaxer almost 20 years ago. I burnt my fingers doing my sisters and just thought im sick of this.
I had it really short for a long time. Then grew it out. About 8 years ago i discivered cg method and since then have big bouncy curls. Its easy and low maintenance too

I also ditched the creamy crack, it will be two years this April since my last relaxer. Mine is 4A I think. I flat twist it at night using Shea Moisture, water and olive oil and have a twist out during the day. I follow the CG method so co-wash. I dust it myself, yet to find a hairdresser I trust to cut it! I have colour on the ends.

My hair is so much healthier since I ditched the relaxer. I don't miss the scabs on my scalp!

I have 3b hair which I've never relaxed but spent years straightening the life out of it with ghd's!

Currently struggling with it as I'm going increasingly grey, the texture is changing and it's becoming much more coarse and dry. Have tried Cantu but it didn't seem to help much with nourishing my hair.

Youngest DS has hair in between 3c/4a and is desperate for long hair but it's a struggle to keep on top of combing it and keeping it looking tidy!

I have 4c hair and haven't relaxed since maybe 2008. I've grown to have a better relationship with it as time has gone on tbh. It was really time consuming at the beginning but now at about shoulder length I can wash , condition and seal then plait/ style within about 1 hr. my only disclaimer is that the styling is large. I've learnt that my hair can't manage the small or tight plaits or cornrows for too many days.

I'm probably breaking form, but Pantene hair masks have been my hair saviour for about 4 years now. I can't fully go 'cone free as my hair still gets dry and brittle regardless of how much coconut oil i use during the week or shea butter to seal. The garnier products are also good for general cowashes.

Another 4c mixed-race naturalista, Watched loads of big chop videos and went for the big shave about 8 years ago. Stopped relaxing because I was hating the chemicals and trying to get pregnant. I tried to grow out the shave a couple of years ago but had no patience for the maintenance and had all taken off again. The shaved look is easy, cheap and did I mention cheap?

I love that look @Velocity, is it a very close or low shave? The hair and scalp always looks good and healthy like that! I admire it so much. I'd love a low side and heavy on the top. I'd probably dye it red too it's such a sleek style.

How often do you have to have it trimmed? Or do you do it yourself?

@Velocity I love that look too!

My DH sometimes gets the clippers out but otherwise I go to the male barbershop -20 mins in and out for about 10 quid. I tend to have it very short. Need to invest in some statement earrings though! I have a couple of wigs for days when I feel like having party hair

Wow, just popping in to say hello. It's wonderful to see a space for black/mixed race women. Sometimes I feel we can be a little forgotten on MN!

Project I had to grow out heat damage and never thought I'd get my hair back to how it used to be no matter what product I tried. Anything to keep the moisture in was good but in the end I think it was time that was most important.

Great thread. I've been relaxing my hair for over 30 years, but I've decided at 50 to go natural. Have no idea where to start though, so will be watching lots of YouTube vids in the coming months! I'm excited

Agree Margery, we are forgotten about

Agree with Margery too. Skippy you'll love it. Good luck with the chop!

Congratulations skippy, hope you enjoy it. You'll fall back in love with your hair in no time!