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transitioning and patience go hand in hand. Her hair is constantly
changing throughout the process to natural hair, and it can take a full
tank to get through that detangling session that awaits her each time
she washes her flourishing mane. So yes – a Transitioner may moan about
her matting incidents occasionally, but she never gives up the fight for
her emerging curls, kinks or coils!
Read On>>>
A dedicated Transitioner takes the time to learn whether her hair
favours Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil or maybe one of those beautiful butters
she has the pleasure of choosing from. She doesn’t resent her new growth
but, loves it no matter what texture it is, giving it the love and
affection it desires.
Having to deal with people trying to ‘keep it real’ about how they feel about her
new hair is not rare for the Transitioner. They may catch her of guard
at times, but she remains composed and lifts her head high because she
is confident in her decision to go natural – this isn’t a fad, to please
the next person, and definitely not a cry for help (I hope!).
‘Natural Hair Nazi’ when all she wants to do is shout from the rooftops
all the reasons why she gave up the relaxers. Seriously, transitioners
are generous creatures who only want to share their happiness with you –
they mean no harm!
A transitioner knows what she wants to achieve, and even though that
anticipated day when she cuts all ties with her relaxed hair can
sometimes seem so far away – she keeps on going.
Why?
Because she knows that good things come to those who wait!
There are upsides and downsides to transitioning; just like anything
else in this world. It is how you deal with those bad times that matter.
So…three cheers to every transitioner who triumphs on
with perseverance!
absolutely what i needed this morning !!!! this lifted my spirit and gave me renewed drive YAY!
I truly did love EVERY step of my journey. Yes natural hair, like permed hair, has its good days and bad. My good days were more frequent and on bad days, I had options: scarves, hats and hair pins that would help me to shape my style to my liking. Some opt to wear wigs but not me. I am natural all the way! If anyone has questions, post on http://www.facebook.com/theprincipalthing?ref=hl.
Congratulations to us all!!!! I am on week 19, or 4 months. I feel like starting off I'm so excited for myself and I wanna tell everyone i know that "I'M GOING NATURAL"(and most the time I do tell). But I feel like "in the natural hair world" month one, two, three aren't celebrated that much. So I just wanted to say to the newbies (myself included) "we have made a big decision and you have to start somewhere so good job with making the decision. And also for those of us that will give up and go back to chemicals "It's ok" it's your decision. The good thing is that if you want you can always try again. For the first time in my life, I am starting to see my actual hair. (I got so s like curls in the middle and some soft cotton along the edges) I can't wait to be like some of you ladies at month 9 and 10. Peace Love and Bullet Proof Marshmallows.
Congratulations!! A.J.
almost through my first month!!! 🙂
Hip HIp Hooray!! Its been 5 long months but wouldn't change my decision
I am in month 3 of my transition. For the first time I can see the damage relaxing has done to my hairline. The new growth is amazing! I have to buckle down for the long haul, but deep conditioning and moisturizing (I use UBH products) have worked out great for me. Keep up the inspirational site.
I have been transitioning since Jan 2012. So far I haven't had any matting issues and I pray I don't. This is my 3rd time trying this and this is the longest I have gone. I am planning to attempt the twist out or the twisted corn rows in the front with a rod set in the back. It's too hot to wear so much hair out. I'm also grateful that I have others to speak with about my transition. I look forward to keeping in touch and blogging about my experience. Thanks for the support and I wish everyone the best. Robin.
Since my mama never made trips to the hair salons my weekly regime, I learned very early how to take care of and style my own hair. Those skills have made for an easy 11 month transitioning (and still transitioning) period. I've had a ball creating natural hairstyles that even has the veteran naturals in my life asking me, the newbie, for advice…
Love this post, I'm almost 12 months into my transition and I plan on going for as long as it takes. I was loving mt summer hairstyle cornrows in front, box braids in back until I took them down. I had to work a little hard because at the beginning of each box braid. It was matted! Uuugh, I found that it cam down better without the conditioner that most suggested. Always learning….
Thanx again!
Love this post, I'm almost 12 months into my transition and I plan on going for as long as it takes. I was loving mt summer hairstyle cornrows in front, box braids in back until I took them down. I had to work a little hard because at the beginning of each box braid. It was matted! Uuugh, I found that it cam down better without the conditioner that most suggested. Always learning….
Thanx again!
Great post! I'm 4 months into my transition and I plan on transitioning for a year. It's so much harder since I'm 6 months pregnant! My hormones are all out of whack and my hair is EXTREMELY DRY! I've tried so many things to moisturize and it not work but I'm not giving up! I know it's the hormones and Louisiana heat! Good luck everyone!
Bless you for this post! I had a bit of a transitioner's meltdown yesterday. I was so certain that I was going to go back to the white stuff, but I'm feeling reinvigorated today. I'm going to get a blow out to remind myself of the versatility… and then braid it back up to leave it alone for a while 🙂 Thanks!
Great post! So motivating and inspiring! Lord knows it is a struggle. Every time wash day comes around I think to myself, "Oh Lord, here we go!" There is a roller coaster of emotions that go along with transitioning. Anxiety on wash day, frustration with detangling, excitement and curiosity watching your natural texture reveal itself. I am 17 months into my transition and it is has been such a journey! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with a newbie like me!
This post means soooo much to me cuz it has cames times that I "almost" gave up but I'm on my 4th month going on 5th I'm so excited about the current outcomes and I'm happy to have someone like you to CHEER us transitioners on, thank you!!
Great post! I transitioned for about a year and a half until I had to chop chop the straight ends. Kudos to all the transitioners who are hanging in there…. Rock on! 🙂
Great story, I have been transitioning for 10 months now and I have to pat myself on the back. I cant believe I made it this far. I agree with Sawah, by not big chopping I have really learned a lot about my hair and the whole natural process and I learn something new everyday. Now, that its Summer time now Im learning on how to do to control the humditiy and frizz on my hair. Im just going to continue to let my 4a curls and waves to grow in and never big chop!
Needed motivation I have a friend that I will tell her to read this that is struggling with her transition to natural, but she says she is jealous of me because I have 3c/4a hair and she has 4b hair. She told me my hair is always pretty my twistouts and braid out. I told her that everyone just about goes through the curl envy I did my self I wished I was all 3c instead of 4a too. It took me sometime to learn to love my curls that everyone is different that wishing is only going to make me hate myself and hate others. Hope this article helps her and encourage her to not give up and love her natural curls.
Megan Montgomery
I just completed a 21 month transition. I had planned on doing a 24 month transition but decided to chop off the last few inches last week. I have no regrets about my long term transition because it was a mental transition as well as physical and it was a good learning process. Anyone planning to do this keep the faith, its worth it in the end.
I planned on transitioning for a year–I had kinky twists done every 3 months for a 10 month period. After I took down the last set of kinky twists, my hair became so matted after I washed it that I ended up big chopping. This was in September of 2011, and I ended up cutting off about 10-11 inches of relaxed hair, I was beside myself! lol I put in kinky twists again and by December my hair had grown out to a length that I was comfortable with, since then it has been fabulous!!! I have some frustrating days, but I can truly say I love my hair and that going natural has been a great decision for me. As of now, my hair is about neck length in a twist out and should length when stretched all the way out. It grows back fast! The most difficult part IS the transition, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, but it is totally worth it in the end.
~caramelcurls
This post is right on time! Today marks 1 year since my last relaxer and I'm sooo happy to have hit this mark! This time next year I can cut off these scraggly ends. I think being a long term transitioner is hardest because everyone that has transitioned for less time is alway saying "just cut it" when i'm talking about an issue I'm having… NO, I don't want to cut it. Not until I'm ready. And I'm sure my hair will tell me when. Hopefully she'll cooperate up to the 2 yr mark l0l
Thank you for this . . . Since returning back to my natural hair journey I appreciate my hair a lot more. I did the big chop last year but went back to texturizers and this time I've decided to transition to grow out the texturized hair and I can honestly say I'm enjoying my hair so much more . . .
My 12 year old is transitioning now and I explained to her that it is a long process. She is good as long as she can get it braided.
Thanks for the encouragement!
I like this post also. It makes me feel better about the transitioning. I just have to stay strong because my husband doesnt approve so it will be a rough journey just on tht point alone.
I enjoyed reading this post! I have been transitioning for 7 months now, and was breezing through my transition until about 6 months post, when I hit a wall!! My natural hair suddenly became super dry (and frizzy), while my relaxed hair was moisturized! It took me almost a month to figure out what my hair needed, and now I am doing much better, but I learned that your hair really does change, even with a good regimen, and you have to discover what your hair needs.
I am aiming to be 100% natural somewhere between 12 months to 18 months post. Either way, patience is a virtue with long-term transitioning, but the common vision is that it will be all worth it in the end…and it IS!!
I agree with everyone; this is a great post. I'm also happy to hear from other transitioners. I've been transitioning for 16 months so far. My plan is to transition for 24 months, but I don't know if I'll make it that far. The urge to chop is strong! I just cut more inches last week, so I only have about 2-3 inches of relaxed ends left. I had a matting incident about a year ago after going swimming. It was scary, but I a whole bottle of conditioner in my hair and was able to make it through. LOL! A good conditioner and lots of patience are very important to a successful transition. I wish the best of luck to all of my fellow transitioners.
Great post. I transitioned for a little over a year and a half, and didn't regret it for a second. The thought of not having enough hair to put into a ponytail frightened me, so that was my main goal before chopping off the last two inches or so. My hair grows slooooowly, so the first 3 months were pretty uneventful, lol! The only time I ran into a matting incident was when I tried to straighten it for a wedding. Needless to say, I never tried that again!
Great Post! I have been transitioning since November and luckily haven't had any issues to date.
Low manipulation and patience on wash days have been a life saver.
My hair is the healthiest it's been my whole journey. I have made BSL during this transition with healthy relaxed ends, so it's motivating me to keep going for the next 19 months.
Hey Ladies!
I'm glad that so many of you feel motivated to carry on with your journey transitioning!
I had my first matting incident a few weeks ago, and I SWEAR I was ready to reach for the scissors and chop off everything in sight! That has been my most testing moment so far, but reminding myself of my goals is always a comfort!
@CandyChelle Your right; everyone's experience is different and I hope that others feel encouraged to not give up with their journey, and recognise that there will be good and bad times. I'm glad that you made it through your transition and that you are happy with your decision to go natural!
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!
Bonnie =)
What a great post!
I have been transitioning for nearly 8 months now, and my plan is to do so for a total of 24 months. That all depends on our fast my new growth grows.
I have learn so much so far and I am so glad I decided to transition rather than do a BC immediately. I needed this time to learn and get familiar with the whole process.
Blogging about my "ups" and "downs" and different techniques and "what nots" makes the experience good for me. I love to share what I have learnt and also help others going through similar issues. I am grateful for this post.
– discoveringnatural.blogspot.com
@ Anonymous 10:42,
Hang in there. I have been transitioning since early September and I feel your pain. I too experienced my first matting incident about 3 months in and I tell you I thought I was having a nervous breakdown. It wasn't the last as I've since had one more major one and one minor one. Some of this I feel is self imposed as a result of trying new products when I already had something I was fairly happy with. So…stick with what you know and be patient with your hair. We will all have ups and downs but I think the end result will be worth the hassle. I am almost ten months in! Stay strong!
I remembered when I transitioned I was still caught up in the salon world so I would still go once a month to have a straw set done. As I began to notice curls forming I began doing my own her because I wanted to be the one nourishing them. So when I started doing my hair I did flat twist w/spiral curls to help keep the hair stretched in between washes & it helped a lot & having the right conditioner. Loved this post it took me back to the beginning of my journey, thank you.
Brooke B.
Lol I transitioned for three months and then was like forget this and BCed … no patience what so ever.
I started transitioning about a year and a half ago. It was definitely a rollar coster, but one of the fun ones that you want to ride over and over again. Some turns were really scary, and others were a blast. I little BC'ed about two weeks ago. I only had about 1-2 inches to cut, and I felt so liberated. Now I am learning my hair all over again it seems like, but not without way more pros, than cons! It seems like my mane is getting bigger by the day and I LOVE IT! Thank you CurlyNikki, and all the other natural hair blogs that have helped me and my baby girl along the way!
I have been transitioning for the past three months, and last night/today is the first time that I've had to deal with a major tangling/matting issue after washing my hair. My hair still looks like someone glued Mekhi Pfeiffer's "8 Mile" wig to my head, but made sure to also glue the "locs" flat against my head. I am not ashamed to admit that I shed quite a few tears and panicked when I realized what was going on. My work outfit today is being accessorized by a fabulous scarf, though, which makes it a little better. Last night, I questioned whether or not transitioning to natural was really the best idea for me. But seeing this post has given me a new firm resolve. I can do it. I have a goal, and I will achieve it!
This sounds good and all…and it's very uplifting, I'm sure…but this wasn't me during my transition! I did a long transition (exactly one year and seven days) and the time was fraught with frustration and apprehension over what my natural hair was going to look like! I can't say I knew what I was trying to achieve…it was more like going into the great unknown. And I never considered perms the enemy, just thought it would be nice to try something different after all these years.
I won't lie, I've had some of my lowest points (feeling totally ugly!) and my highest points (when that twist out was ROCKIN!) during my transitioning period. I don't regret it, but the time was extremely tough. I don't regret it for a moment though! I love my natural hair (usually) now since my BC, and I'm here to say for the transitioners that don't feel like the article above, stick in there! The end will justify the means. And if not…you can always perm it again! Lol hey, every style ain't for everybody.
I love it. I really needed to hear this, my transitioning goal is 12 months and I am 5 months in, so this is really on time… Thanks so much!!!
Yes, yes! 🙂 This made me smile…saving it!
I absolutely love this post. Transitioning hasn't always been easy but I have my goal in sight and I'm focused and determined. Yay for all transitioners!!! #fistpump!