CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
Long term, I started my journey in Nov. of 2009 and I am still transitioning almost a year later. I’ve always loved the idea of having long hair, short hair isn’t for me. So instead of cutting off all my damaged ends I cut off about 2-3 inches every 3-4 months. In April I cut off about 5 inches of hair, my hair was at it’s shortest state ever. At this length I could really start to see my natural curls. I was shocked by the new length and the new curl pattern I was seeing.
CN: How have family and friends reacted to your decision? What was your response to them?
My family and friends knew that I was going natural, but a lot of people didn’t understand why. Since I never had a relaxer some people didn’t understand why I would cut my long hair. I had to explain to them that the flat iron had damaged my hair and if I ever wanted to see natural curls again I had to grow it out and cut off the ends. They were shocked when I cut off so much hair at one time. Some of my friends called me crazy, but after a while they began to accept it.
CN:What is your transition routine?
-wash once a week(any shampoo)
-co wash once a week depending on style( any cheap conditioner)
-deep condition once a week(ORS hair mayo)
-moisturize daily with jojoba oil, any leave in conditioner and olive oil
-Style hair in a braid-out/twist-out
CN: What is your staple hair style during the transition?
I live by Braid-outs and Twist-outs. They are easy to do and if I take care of them, I can wear them for an entire week. I love high buns as well.
CN: How do you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
I use oils (jojoba and EVOO) daily on my ends, I only detangle on wet hair, and I minimized how often I style my hair.
CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
I wore my hair straight for about 7 years. I was bored with straight hair. I hated flat ironing my hair every two weeks. I was fed up with avoiding rain, mist, snow (any form of perception) just to keep my hair straight, maintaining straight hair without a relaxer was too much work for me. Aside from all of the that, the main reason was I missed my natural curls and I was determined to get them back. After about a year of transitioning I am almost there and I love my hair more than I ever have.
*I document my hair journey on my blog sewingstardom.blogspot.com*
Kudos to you for being able to transition for so long. 🙂
wow congrads on that beverly. Do you have fotki, fb, something I'd like to keep in touch.
Hi Erika, Thanks and yes that is my hair in all the pictures.
Is that your real hair Fatima in the 1st picture or a wig? either way it looks so healthy and thick love the rich blackness of it. I have some Clairol in Midnight Black 36 that I am going to use on my hair. I'm so tired of having to dye my roots with an temp. rinse. COngrats on doing the transition of becoming natural.
i LOVE her blog!
yup since May! transitioned for 1 1/2 years and now I love it! Everything is much easier for me now!
thanks ladies, Hi beverly! I read your story a few weeks ago, I had no idea you were natural!
Aww Fatima nice to see you on here too 🙂 Love the pics! the fro looks cute on you!
love her hair and her blog! Very chic
That bun is too cute! I'm gonna have to try that you and your hair are georgous!
Thanks for the warning. Very Pretty.
Love her blog and her hair!
thanks same to you and thanks for featuring me Nikki!
i recently transitioned from heat damage too, although i have been natural for 7 years. i had to cut off 5 inches that were thin and split 5 inches up the shaft. I have been sooo bad to my hair.
its nice to hear other people's stories that are going through the same thing. Good luck with your transition to healthy hair!