caramelpoof- A Story of Transition

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
I was a long term transitioner (if that is what you would call about 11 months), it all started my first year of college 2002, I dyed my hair for my senior prom and had done a strong perm on my hair. I had been getting perms for 5 years at that point, but usually it was mild. Anyway my first year of college the dye and the strong perm took its toll on my hair and my hair was literally falling out of my scalp in large patches, I had to hide large amounts of my hair in the trash can so my roommate wouldn’t think I was sick. Since then I’ve had to transition again which I did for about a year with a weave this past year from January 08-09. Since I grew my hair out from 02-08 doing all sorts of crazy things to it from dying dark black to stripping that and dying my hair light brown and bleaching with blonde streaks, and lastly flat ironing (in particular chi’ing my hair).

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
I big chopped the first time my sophomore year of school after wearing my hair in braids and kinky twists consistently, I saw the relaxed straight strands one day in the mirror and I couldn’t take it anymore, I just chopped them off I was too through that was Dec of 2003, I also did the same thing in April of 2009, when I saw all the straight strands. I am here to help women learn that flat ironing is not the solution I straightened my hair everyday at least the front to keep my edges straight and every two weeks, went through my hair with my handy chi and it was not good for my poor hair. My hair became permanently straight on the ends and caused me to constantly trim my hair. It got so bad I had to BC my hair again… it looked like I had a perm again.

CN: What was your transition routine (products included)?
My transition routine consisted of mainly things that people say are bad for your hair (chuckles) but for me it was good because it was low manipulation. I used mainly braids and twists, I also did leave my hair out for days without combing, I used headbands a lot and just got used to my hair being big. Then, for a very long time I wore buns, it got so bad my friends called me Peggy Bundy.

CN: What was your staple hair style during the transition?
Buns aka the nickname Peggy Bundy.

CN: How did you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
I used to use cholesterol to wash my hair, just being a poor college student I didn’t have the money to be a product junkie, but now I have gained some knowledge from this website and other people’s fotki pages. I use shea butter, aloe gel, hello hydration conditioner and for deep conditions Nexus humectress. I have yet to henna but that will soon be my next step of action. My hair is braided up right now in a curly weave for low manipulation ( never do straight if you are going to leave some out because you will have to consistently straighten and damage that part of your hair to get it to “match”). I am sure to condition in between the tracks I use an oil mix, half grapeseed and half olive oil. I also use a apple cider vinegar wash to cleanse my scalp and restore my hairs Ph.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural? It’s much more healthy for me, my hair is a great indicator of my overall health and it will allow my hair to grow much thicker, and longer. Now I have just started to get into a new plan of taking biotin daily and hopefully that will strengthen my hair even more. I’m even looking into taking the b complex just to get an extra dosage of my hair growth Vits!!