Meet Nicole… she intended to be a long term transitioner but chopped last weekend!
CN: Are you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
I plan on being a long term transitioner. I started transitioning in May 2010. I didn’t know I was going to transition until I did. I plan on transitioning until May 2011, but I am having a really hard time containing my need to BC after looking at this site! Since I’m transitioning, I am loving the fact that I can actually see my own natural hair! It’s amazing how we have been conditioned to see our new growth as something bad, when in actuality, it is absolutely gorgeous!
CN: How do you think family and friends will react to the new you? How will you respond?
I have told my friends that I am doing it and I think they are just thinking, “there she goes again… changing her hair!” LOL!! I am known to become bored with my hairstyle. I honestly do not care if people like it or hate it. It is for me and this is just another part of my life journey. The hubby on the other hand, his opinions and concerns always matter to me. He has been honest with me from day one and I think he is a appreciating the fact that his wife has learned to accept herself and her hair… he’s awesome!
CN: What is your transition routine?
I am currently wearing a curly weave. This allows me to leave some of my hair out and prevents me from using a relaxer or flat iron on the portion that is left out. I LOVE IT! I am a CurlyNikki stalker, so I have been using some of the products that others have suggested; Herbal Essence Hello Hydration and Giovanni Direct Leave-In among others. I make sure to co-wash at least once a week and I have been using Olive oil, coconut oil, and Shea butter as a sealer.
CN: What is your staple hair style during the transition?
Basically letting the weave do its thang! LOL!! I really just let it hang or put a scarf around it when I am feeling like my own hair is not responding well to me that day!! It’s kinda stylish! LOL!!
CN: How do you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
I use leave in conditioners and oils. I just really want to chop off my straight hair and not worry about breakage, but I must be patient!!
CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
That’s a very interesting question. I chose to go natural for many reasons. I think my initial reason was for health benefits. I have transitioned into a healthier lifestyle with my husband and I just felt that this was the last step. NO MORE CREAMY CRACK!!! I also started thinking “why don’t I like my natural hair?” That question started to bother me. It made me realize that I was programmed not to like it and that scared me and pissed me off! I also started to think about having a child one day. What if I had a daughter? Would I be teaching her not to fully love who she is too? This terrified me so I decided to be free of what others thought as beauty, what I thought was beauty and actually embrace all of me. I wanted to stop covering up my new growth with chemicals. I wanted to stop covering up my beauty with other people’s idea of beauty.
Relaxed Hair
Update! Nicole Big Chopped on 10/23/10!
Bargain Clipper, sorry for the LATE response! LOL!! My friend who is a natural, cut my hair. We had some Ms. Badu playing and we just went for it!! My husband was SHOCKED………he didn't like it so short, but after a few days he got comfortable with it and now he loves it! My family hasn't really seen it………except for FB, but I am always changing my hair, so it was really no big deal. I have to say I feel amazing! I am no longer a slave to my hair. Even though I touch it A LOT more!!!
CONGRATULATIONS, Nicole on completely unleashing your curls; you look lovely! I could tell that you were ready to do the BC and it comes at a different time for everyone. I transitioned for seven months before I took the hair plunge. Often, I find myself wondering if I would have just BC'd from the jump (second BC'ing does cross my mind sometimes). I'm curious about your "BC moment". Who cut your relaxed ends? What was your husband's, family, and friends reactions to your new 'do? How do you feel about your hair now that it's out of the weave and your natural tresses are on display? You get a "You Go, Girl" and welcome to being a fully naturally curly head LOL!
At 9:57, no problem! I know how it is. 🙂 Jay-Jay, you have to be mentally prepared…….I was just so over the whole transitioning thing. My mind was made up!
GOOD FOR YOU!!! I wish I had the guts to big chop. I'm 16 months within my transition and have my moments but my head is TOO BIG!!…LOL!! I love how your husband stands by your decision. You look cute both ways!!!
Thanks for the reply on what kind of hair you used. I've been transitioning with sew-ins for about 6 months and I'm looking for a different style to try.
Thank you everyone!!! Your support means a lot……trust me! 😉 At 10:35 I had a mix in…..Dominican Wave and Somolian. It worked really well with my natural curls. I will keep everyone update…….I must say, I BC'd 5 days ago and I SWEAR my hair has grown 2 more inches! LOL!!
Yay! Congrats on taking the leap and BCing. You look great! 🙂 ~KF519
One of my biggest concerns was for my future children if I have sons or daughters they all get affected by how the parents think of themselves, so I see exactly what Nicole's thought pattern is, and that was my prime motivation. Also, I've done my research on beauty in America I watched a documentary called "America the Beautiful" and in this documentary the directors research showed the average American woman loses self-esteem everytime they open a magazine and see a super thin woman or whatever another attribute would be that they wanted. So even those women that follow society's standard of beauty has fallen victim to not liking what she sees in the mirror. I no longer have any respect for what society wants a woman to look like let another a black woman, it is unrealistic for us just like if afros were the ideal hair to have it would be very unrealistic for women who have straight to wavy hair to go spastic over achieving an afro. Happy Journey it really is freeing.
Congratulations on doing the big chop! You are so pretty and the cut looks great on you!
Congrats Nicole!!! It is absolutely beautiful. Keep us posted with your journey.
Gorgeous! I love the TWA
Wow, Congrats on your BC! I am currently transitioning, and its funny because I started transitioning in May 2010 and I am going to transition for a year. I am happy that you have the guts to do your BC. Everytime I wash my hair, I look at the scissors and my relaxed ends and thought of BC-ing but I panic. So I am gonna wait until my fear goes away. I am really happy for you and I hope that you are happy for yourself as well. Love the TWA on you. It looks great!
I'm just curious about what kind of weave you were rocking in the first picture as a transition style. It looked really good.
Fab!!! Your TWA is cute!!
So cute with your TWA! Good luck on your journey.
i love the bc! it looks amazing on you! =]
So pretty!! It definitely fits your face!!
You look marvelous. I love it! Congradulations. I did the BC on the same day and I feel free too.
Hi Nicole! You look beautiful! My relaxed hair was a tad shorter than yours and I big chopped on June 23, 2010 to less than 1 inch. Four months later, I now have about 5 inches of natural hair. I do not regret my decision and LOVE my natural curls/kinks. Yes, I experienced so many comments, negative and positive, but you have to do what is best for you:) Congrats!
CONGRATS on your BC !!! you look gorgeous 🙂
Thanks everyone!! I suspect there will be negative comments and thoughts, but I know what I did was for me and I feel so FREE!!!!
Yay Nicole you look beautiful, congrats on ur bc!!! – Onebydesign
I BC'd a year ago, my name is Nicole too. Congrats to you.
You are so adorable, your hair looks cute either way. I hope you read all the comments people left on the previous post on how to ignore the haters. Trust me they will come, but I love what you say about only the hubby's opinion matters.
It's so interesting how many CG's report how supportive their honies are with the decision to rock a fro, twist out, etc. Can't wait to see more pics of your journey.
Way to go!!! It looks awesome! I just BC'd welcome to the natural world!
so cute! it's crazy, you look JUST like my mom's friend Nikki, twinsies!!
Vonnie
http://www.socialitedreams.com/
Wowwww! What a difference! She doesn't look like the same person! Kudos to her for taking a huge leap!