CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
My intentions were to be a long term transitioner, but alas, I only hung in there for a short while. The 9 month goal was cut short at 5– my last relaxer was Sept. 17, 2009 and I BC’ed on Feb. 10, 2010. Since I am a kindergarten teacher, I wanted to wait for the school year to end before I did my BC, that way I would have the summer to learn how to take care of my natural hair. However, as time went on, I grew tired of having to deal with two different textures and having to do roller sets as my transitioning style. Plus my friend Cassandra and my boyfriend encouraged and motivated me to chop sooner.
CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
I BC’ed on Feb. 10, 2010. I was somewhat anxious and nervous about what I would look like with short hair and how short it would be w/ the relaxed ends cut off, but when I saw my TWA, I was happy with my decision and happy to be free of relaxers!
CN: How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?
My friends were very supportive of my choice and new look. Four of my friends were already natural and have been for a while. My coworkers have nothing but compliments for me. My boyfriend at first wasn’t so sure, but he said that he likes it and that I am his beautiful African queen. My mom and I were transitioning together, before I decided to BC. She likes it and looks forward to when she is ready to BC. My younger sisters aren’t ready to embrace it, but that’s okay, maybe they will come to like it and understand it later.
CN: What was your transition routine?
At the beginning stages of transitioning I would go to my stylist every two weeks to get it washed and conditioned with regular shampoo and conditioner along with a trim to slowly cut out the relaxed ends. At that time, I was getting it flat ironed. As the transitioning process got further along, I started to do research on how to take care of natural hair and found CurlyNikki’s wonderful website. This and other websites made me aware that flat ironing the hair can cause damage and that it is better to have a transitioning style, so I started co-washing every week w/ Giovanni 50-50 conditioner and started doing roller sets. I also purchased Burt’s Bees shampoo and conditioner to clean my hair for the times I wanted a deep cleaning.
CN: How did you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
I moisturized my hair w/ conditioners, olive oil, and hot six oils.
CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
I chose to go natural for several reasons, one being that I wanted fuller hair. My hair always looked thin especially after a fresh relaxer. I also wanted healthy hair and with my workout regimen, my hair would be very dry especially in the winter and was prone to breaking off in the middle section in the back of my head. Plus, I can’t lie, the Chris Rock documentary “Good Hair” definitely made me think and reevaluate what I was putting on my hair and scalp.
Transitioning- Flat Ironed
Roller- Set Transition
Thanks Jaime…most of my free time lately has been dedicated to how to treat and style my new natural hair…I have scheduled to do my BC on March 16th, so I'm just trying to prepare myself before then…I just dont know how much of my hair will have to get cut off. MC's youtube links were some of the first I had seen, she just posted a two part youtube clip but they both had been removed before I could get a chance to see em.
To Anonymous….I was wondering if have you had a chance to check MahoganyCurls youtube links on TWA ~ on this webiste. She was quite helpful and inspiring 🙂 The BC is truly a time where you can study as well as learn to appreciate your various kinks, curls, n coils~continue to use this blog n others as a guide or inspiration ~ you'll be surprise of what you may come up with. 😀
Stacey C, Thank You…I guess my idea of a TWA is less than an inch or so…but thank you for the clarification. I wish I could do the transition styles, once reason why I want to do the BC is because my hair is badly damaged and I feel the only way to get it healthy is do go ahead and do the BC. I guess my main fair is not the actual BC itself, but what I will be able to do with my hair once the BC is done. I feel like it will just be way too short to style it in any way.
To Anonymous…My hair stylist did take a picture soon after I chopped off the ends, but she haven't sent the pictures to me yet. I guess my question to you is, what size do you think a TWA has to be? I think that teeny weeny afro ranges from very little hair to having few inches of hair (1-3).There are some examples of people who BC'ed early, you just have to search around to find them. Don't be afraid to do the BC, you'll be happy with your decision just knowing that you are in the next phase of the journey and that relaxed hair is finally gone. If you are't comfortable with the idea, then continue to do transition styles. I transitioned for five months and tried rollers sets. You can also do braids. How this helps?!
Stacey C…Congrats on going Natural!!!!!!!!I read your interview and I feel like my hair situation is the same…but most of the stories I read the women that do the BC, dont really have a TWA..do you have any pictures of your hair as a TWA??? Im sorry if I sound mean, I just want some help, I wanna go natural but im really scared of the BC because my hair will almost be completely gone…I guess I just wanna know that there are people out there with a TWA…again Im sorry, but do you have any suggestions..BTW I'm also in the education field
Thanks everyone for your wonderful compliments! 🙂
To Anonymous….The set was a roller set. It's one way to get the straw set look w/out having to use actual straws. We used gray and blue rollers.
Welcome to the natural world my fellow Kindergarten teacher…. 🙂
I was debating about the same thing…doing my BC at the end of the school year but went ahead and did it at the beginning of Nov & haven't looked back since. And by the way I just wanted to add simply lovely your pics.
Beautiful!
Hi.
I also like that last pic. What kind of set was that?
I love that last pic of you. Simply beautiful!
Love it!
looking great!!!!
I love it! You look great!