CN: Are you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
I am a long term transitioner. My last relaxer was in December or January of ’09/’10, I can’t really remember. I just can’t cut it- – I haven’t trimmed in over a year! I always had long thick hair and I know this is sad but, I identify with it. Two things I can’t live without are my long hair and my trademark sideburns, LOL!
CN: When are you going to BC?
I will BC when my new growth reaches the length my hair was when I had my last touch up.
CN: How have family and friends reacted to the new you? What was your response to them?
Oy Vey!!! I’ve had all kinds of mixed reactions. As for the people who knew me when I was relaxed, most of them got all their questions and uninvited comments out of the way. People that met me after, ask questions like…”why don’t you cut your hair it’s so WILD?” (duh it’s supposed to be) or “You should straighten your hair it would look nice…” (did I ask you?!). Mostly I just get the bug eyes from strangers.
CN: What is your transition routine?
So lately I’ve been extra lazy (I mean I’ve gone more than 2 weeks without washing my hair before) but my routine is supposed to go as follows:
-Wash: My Honey Child Olive You shampoo (sometimes co-wash depending on how dirty) every week, usually Sunday
-Condition: Trader Joes Tea Tree Tingle conditioner and My Honey Child Olive You conditioner every week
-Deep Condition: My Honey Child Olive you deep conditioner (Love it) every 2 weeks.
-Leave-in: Kinky Curly Knot today (it’s like conditioner crack)
-Styling: Aubrey Organics Hair Moisturizing Jelly or Beautiful Curls Shea butter curl enhancing cream. My honey child Sophia’s old fashioned hair grease.
-Curl refresher: in no particular order…Water, EVOO, Shea Butter, Motions Salon Herbals rosemary spray.
CN: What is your staple hair style during the transition?
For about 6 months I only did Twist n Curls. But since this past summer, I’ve been sporting Wash n Go’s. I also had my cousin cornrow my hair this summer… it was a killer and I took them out after one week.
CN: How do you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
I seal with shea butter and extra virgin olive oil and haven’t experienced any more breakage than normal. I do need some type of moisturizing cream (water based) or something though but, I’m trying my hardest not to spend any more money on products.
CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
I didn’t have an epiphany but I missed my real texture a lot. Those days of me crying in my mothers lap and hours of combing, braiding, and tugging didn’t seem so bad. To be honest, I don’t even remember my initial reasons. All I know is I kept going to the salon seeing all these women with 3 strands of hair on their heads getting touch-ups, it was crazy. Then overtime I started realizing, hey I don’t need to do this and spend my hard earned money. Also almost every time I got a touch up I endured burns and would have to nurse that part of my scalp back to health.
Thanks for sharing your transitioning journey, Jazrin. I wonder if I would have been a long-term transitioner (I went seven months since my last relaxer before I BC'd), if I had a hair routine like you. It seems like it would work too once you are fully natural. It's good that you have goals set for your hair and I'm sure you are helping out a lot of transitioners and some fully natural "curlies" too. Keep it up and I hope that you reach all of your hair goals!
Thank goodness! I have an example of a long transitioner as myself. I started my transition from Dec 09..so almost a year and counting.. and have no intention of doing the BC..My hair is now a quarter past arm pit length(sorry! don’t know the language yet)To tell you the truth I have been searching for this kind of story w/o the BC. Hopefully more people with the same experience will share their experience also
Another long-term transitioner here! About 6 months in… YAY lol!! My hair wasn't relaxed "bone straight", so I've always had to deal with SOME texture. I think transitioning helps in getting to know your hair and how to take care of it. It may sound weird, but it's kind of fun for me.
I don't really feel any pressure to BC, but if I did, it wouldn't influence my decision either way. I think everyone else is either confused to why I'm doing this or just waiting to see how huge my hair is going to be after the relaxer is all gone LOL.
Is there anywhere for long term transitioners to share successes and horror stories?
I'm a long term transitioner too! I've always wondered if I needed to get the big chop to be considered natural, but I found my answer! So happy to see this story. 🙂 Your hair looks beautiful! I stopped getting perms about a half year ago, but I have a lot of new growth. I get the "when are you getting a perm" look all the time. I don't care. It's my hair. 🙂
Yay Jazzy! This is my homie right here! Jaz I love your hair and always did :). I'm so happy that you are caring for the health of your hair, have fun hun and enjoy the ride!
Nikki
"All I know is I kept going to the salon seeing all these women with 3 strands of hair on their heads getting touch-ups, it was crazy." This is the statement that I identify with the most… I see alot of women with mild to severe alopecia getting relaxers! It really amazes me that people are so desperate to adapt to a 'standard', but won't do what is best for their hair… appalling!
I'm 19 mths post and I'd love to see how you style your hair! It's so tough dealing with these 2 textures so you are def an inspiration!!
Yes, u should def have a blog/youtube! I'm a long-term transitioner (17 mths) so it's great to see someone else in it for the long haul!!
Your hair was beautiful relaxed and it looks great now! Keep up the good work. ~KF519
Your hair is beautiful but you have a very beautiful face and will pull off the short hair look quite well. Remember you are not your hair.
Your hair is lovely! Good luck on transitioning too. Your hair is soooo long and healthy!
YEEEEEES another long term transitioner like ME :0) My hair is a little past middle of my back and i do NOT plan to BC and we also have the sideburns in common. I was always teased about them when i was young, i must admit i get them threaded cuz they grow thick and long!
Anyway we alllllllso started transitioning around the same time…Dec09 for me, braidouts and spirals are my saviors. Thanx for sharing! We'll be transitioning for like 2 more years LOL
@anon yea it isnt very clear ill post more pics on the forum for u if u want are u a member?
@anonymous 11:17 owwwww strong island lol im from hempstead
…i never thought about hairdressers chargin those women full price for jacking their hair up
more! … Jazrin
Hey Jazrin:
Greetings form LI too (Elmont). Agreeing and laughing at the 3 strand comment, and what I consider to be the callousness of the hairdressers to still take their money and charge them full price.
Anyway, good for you and continued success! H
Ermm, at the risk of all the red arrows coming my way, that relaxed hair looks really strong and healthy to me. So does the natural (not very clear-the styled one). Happy styling.
OH WOW GIRL!!!!!! YOU SOUND JUST LIKE ME!! My hair was MBL all during high school and then before college I cut it to BSL. I was a long term transitioner not looking to cut my ends off until it reached the length of my last touch up. I transitioned for about 1.5years. But I finally gave in and did a final chop because I was anxious to be done. Now my hair is SL.
You have beautiful hair. And it looks so healthy! Continue to keep up the good work. Long term transitioning can become overwhelming sometimes but its sooooo worth it… as you probably already know because its been almost a year for you.
Loveliness!!!
I want more stories of long-term transitioners as I am one myself!! I would love some tips.
Your hair is gorgeous and I don't blame you for not cutting it. Keep it up!! I am bra-strap length now (I was just about below shoulder-blades when I started in May. I'm two weeks away from half a year!). I'm transitioning for two years at least. I won't bc at all.
Good luck ladies!!
hey guys thanks for all the lovely compliments i really appreciate it!
@anonymous 4:21 on my dads side we all have these sideburns! lol and no my routine has not changed since the winter i guess ill just apply a little bit more of the shea butter..thanks
@roseofsharon i want to try curlformers so bad they seem so easy however when u see the rollers for 2.99 underneath them theyre easy to pass up lol maybe that will be my christmas gift to myself i plan to bun more this winter but im sure ill be lazy lol
@diimplez as far as my two diff textures my relaxed hair curls up pretty easily i used to do wash n gos when i was relaxed but i really didnt know that was a natural style lol i just scrunch away and i plop until all the curls are basically uniform.
@THE GLAM GARAGE no i dont have a blog or a youtube i was thinking about it should I? lol im so happy i inspired you thanks!
thanks again ladies for the love…JAZRIN
Your hair is beautiful, and I, like you, love my hairy side burns! 🙂
Just the inspiration I needed for today, do you have a blog/youtube?
Wow I really like both the relax and transitional looks on you. Actually in the 2nd picture you remind me of the late singer Aliyah. But if having all of that hair is to much in the end I wouldn't mind having it j/k lol..lol. Keep up the good work.
Jazrin, ok, you didn't ask but let me say your hair is great! Keep on, don't BC 😉
I wish I knew there was the transitioning option when I BC'ed 4 years ago.
I'm a long-term transitioner as well. I can totally relate to you realizing you couldn't even remember why you kept going in to get touch-ups anymore. I reached that point to. Of..why am I doing this again?
Anyway, Your hair has got a lot of new growth! Your texture looks similar to mine. My go-to styles right now are braid outs. How are you sporting wash n gos with the two different textures? I'd like to do that too!
Jazrin, I love your hair! It's gorgeous…. keep up the good work with growing it out. I didnt BC either. I let my hair grow out and trimmed my ends every couple months. How do you plan on styling it? I love my natural hair because I've experimented with tons of styles! My staple style right now is with curlformers. (I have pics of my results at www.sharronsguide.blogspot.com.)
Go, natural ladies!!! 🙂
lol@All I know is I kept going to the salon seeing all these women with 3 strands of hair on their heads getting touch-ups!! That is so true I see alot of women with very very thin hair yet still getting relaxers.(not hating on relaxers) its just that if your hair is thin all over the place, how come they wont give the relaxers a rest and let their hair grow back?
I love reading about long-term transitioners because I am one myself!!! I have just over a week until I'm relaxer free for a year! And I don't plan to big chop at all. My hair is not as long as Jazrin's– it was about APL length when I first started transitioning, it got to bra-strap length over the summer, and I recently trimmed off three inches so it's now between SL and APL. Jazrin, your hair is gorgeous and I wish you the best!!!
Jazrin,
You have beautiful hair! I can relate with a few things you said, "my trademark sideburns" – I have them too! I inherited it from my mother, we're the only two females in our family with these sideburns and though my mom shaves/waxes hers, I've never wanted to! lol
I, too, used to get burns every time I got a touch-up. Hated it and it frankly hurt like the devil! I've been relaxer free since the end of Feb. '10. I still haven't BC, I'm waiting to do so by year-mark…
Question, has your routine changed for the coming winter? (I'm still trying to come up with something. I have very fine, overly porous hair that soaks up a lot of moisture. I'm currently working on correcting the overly porous issue, but still not sure of what my winter routine will be.)
As for the people who dare give you the stink eye, just raise your eyebrow back at them and strut your stuff – like I said, you have beautiful hair and they should mind their biz!
-ARE