Mellow One- A Story of Transition

Meet Mellow One… she teaches transitioners to only Big Chop when YOU are ready.

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?

I was a short term transitioner. I transitioned from the middle of Nov ’09 to March 13th, 2010 (I will never forget that day). I started transitioning for so many reasons. I had just had a baby in Sept of ’09 and had thoughts of transitioning. Well it didn’t last because in November, I went and bought a relaxer and applied it to my head. I think the combo of a bad relaxer (or maybe too strong), birth control, and the post partum shedding, it was just too much on my hair. All of my edges fell out. Not only had I decided to not get a relaxer anymore, but my edges couldn’t take it anymore.

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?

I did the BC on March 13, 2010. My husband cut it for me and he was shaking… I was shaking, and we didn’t know what it was going to look like. When he finished, we were shocked but in a good way because we both thought it looked great. My daughter who is 5 said that I looked like a boy and she was disappointed in me. After I talked to her about why I did it she said that she liked my hair. She was always told by her father and myself that girls shouldn’t cut their hair. Of course we were speaking of little girls, but that just goes to show what influence we have on our children, lol.

CN: How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?

Well, I got some good response and some not so good. My mom was upset at first then she said she liked it once she saw it in person (we are still working on her though). My sister who is like my best friend loved it, and that meant the world. The CN ladies helped me alot and showed lots of love 🙂

CN: What was your transition routine?
When I was transitioning the most important things to do was deep conditioning and keeping both texture hair moisturized. I would co wash once a week with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose and wash with no sulfate shampoo like Giovanni Tea Tree as needed (usually every two to three weeks). I used coconut oil to seal in moisture. At that time I thought that the coconut oil was moisturizing my hair also but later I learned that oil only seals in moisture and you still need to use a moisturizer. I now use BB oil moisturizer with aloe and castor oil. I would style my hair in protective styles like flat twist outs and roller sets.

CN: What was your staple hair style during the transition?

My staple style was definitely the flat twist out.

CN: How did you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?

Deep conditioning and using Coconut oil. At the end of my transition I started using Jamaican Black Castor Oil (this stuff is great). Had I known that the oils were not moisturizing, I would have used the BB oil moisturizer in the begining. That’s what transitioning is, a learning process. You have to be ever so patient with your hair and have fun doing it.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?

I went natural to get the health of my hair back. I am staying natural because I see that my hair is healthier and its fun.

CN: What is your routine now (after the BC)?

Well after I BC’d, my hair was super dry. I was co washing everyday (for three days lol) until someone suggested that it may help if I stretched my washes out. My current regimine is to

co wash once a week with the Aubrey Organics. I deep conditon once a week with my own mix of 2tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1tsp Honey, and 1 egg yolk ( let it sit covered with a shower cap for 30 mins). After the DC, I wash with Giovanni Tea Tree and follow with AOHR conditioner.

For styling I always use the JBCO on my scalp, apply the BB moisturizer on my hair, and seal with either the JBCO or Coconut Oil. Twice a day I spritz with water and seal with an oil or the BB moisturizer. I use Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel if want my hair to hold curls ( I love this stuff).

The best advice given to me while I was transitioning was to be patient with my hair and only BC if you are ready. For anyone thinking of going natural I would say you never know if you will like it unless you try it as with any other hair style and its healthier for your hair.

BC!