Robyn’s Nest- A Story of Transition

CN: Do you plan to be a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
Currently, I plan to be a long term transitioner (at least 12 months). I am almost 5 months in transition right now and I still consider myself brand new. I want to make sure I do as much research as possible, try as many styling products as I can (in order to find the products my hair loves), and have enough hair to slick back in a pony tail (pony puff) on those “my hair is doing its own thing” days!

CN: How have your family and friends reacted to you deciding to go natural?
My family has been extremely supportive, I think everyone is just anxious to see my natural texture! The majority of my friends are natural, so they are definitely on board with my decision! Most importantly, my husband (my #1 fan), has been my rock! As my hair grows, we are both in the mirror (after I wash and deep condition) trying to see if we can make out the natural texture of my hair…is it curly (nope!), is it wavy (nope!), is it kinky (yup!) and we just bust out laughing…It is pretty cute!!!

CN: What is your transition routine?
I am shampooing with the products I have left from my relaxed days (KeraCare, Mizani, etc…). I’m just trying to clear up some space under my sink…I am truly a product junkie! My conditioner of choice has been the Jessie Curl Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment (thank you so much for the recommendation CurlyNikki). I absolutely love the way it makes my hair feel…so soft and manageable!

CN: What is your staple hair style during your transition?
Right now, I am all about the flexi-rod set! I use about 20-30 rods and pretty much keep them in all night! The dryer and I don’t get along, so I have mastered a way to sleep in flexi-rods and by the morning they are all dry and ready to take out! If by chance the roots are still wet in the morning, I will sit under the dryer for 30 minutes max, then I am out…I just can’t take it any longer than that!

CN:How do you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
I have fallen completely in love with shea butter!!! I use a combination of shea butter and coconut oil and my hair is soft, shiny and best of all it smells so good!

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
I relaxed my own hair every 4 weeks…faithfully! If I saw any new growth anywhere, I was slapping a relaxer on my entire head!!! I’m sure many of you are reading this with your mouth wide open…Yes, I said every 4 weeks!!!! I loved my sleek tresses!!! I wore my hair bone straight with hardly any curl for many years. I would wrap it at night with a silk scarf and never put heat on it at home. I didn’t have to, the more I wore it wrapped the straighter it fell and I LOVED it!!!

So, now you are probably wondering what in the world could have this woman, who obviously loves her straight hair, going natural! Well, I was diagnosed with a rare medical condition, Intercranial Hypertension , in 2004 and I was married in 2009. My husband and I really want to have children, but because of my medical condition we are going to be a high risk pregnancy and there are no guarantees for successful childbirth. In preparation, I have already lost 40 pounds, taken off my acrylic nails and now…no more relaxers! This was a personal decision and I just wanted to eliminate any of the self-inflicted chemical influences to my body. I have no idea if acrylic fumes or relaxers will cause any harm to your baby in utero, I just figured it can’t hurt to eliminate them…right?!?!

Hair We Grow…Here’s To Natural Hair and Successful Pregnancies!!!

blog: www.robynsnestblog.com

PICTURES
Pic 1 – Press-n-curl (4 months in transition)
Pic 2 – Pony Puff
Pic 3 – Flexi-rod Set w/ Flat Twists In Front