I'm happy to have yet another natural hair forum where I can learn all I can, ask questions, be encouraged by other natural journey and share my own ups and downs and travel down this new and exciting path.
Well, I would like to welcome you and tell you that as you know - you are surely "not alone'. I too - did not want to do the "big chop" - so I transitioned - first by going to the Dominican's and still washing, setting, and blow drying - but that was expensive and frustrating too - cause my hair would not stay straight - and that HEAT - is destructive!!! Then I did the Senagalese twists and kept them in for about six months (of course, re-touching and washing after 2.5 mos.) - after about a year of transitioning I was ready to take twists out and finally embrace what I had. I had about 6 - 8 inches (maybe 10 stretched out) of new growth and was able to slowly clip off the relaxed ends - btw - I did that myself. Once I took out the twists - I felt soooo free!!! I love my hair now - I do it all myself - I love washing my hair and feeling "my real" hair instead of that processed stuff.
I also - like you - have been reading, reading, reading - but I also have been trying alot of products too. I like Carol's Daughter (caught a good Black Friday sale); Shea Moisture Products; Rosewater (healthfood store); olive oil; almond oil. I still want to try Original Moxie Products and Tresemme has a Curly line I have heard good things about.
So welcome ... don't be afraid to try new things - experiment, investigate, save $$$ - cause you are a "Natural Woman"!!!!
Be Encouraged!!!!!
Did you twist your own hair or did you add hair to it to twist, or idk. I'm just curious how it lasted so long.
Quoting Myboysmom08:Well, I would like to welcome you and tell you that as you know - you are surely "not alone'. I too - did not want to do the "big chop" - so I transitioned - first by going to the Dominican's and still washing, setting, and blow drying - but that was expensive and frustrating too - cause my hair would not stay straight - and that HEAT - is destructive!!! Then I did the Senagalese twists and kept them in for about six months (of course, re-touching and washing after 2.5 mos.) - after about a year of transitioning I was ready to take twists out and finally embrace what I had. I had about 6 - 8 inches (maybe 10 stretched out) of new growth and was able to slowly clip off the relaxed ends - btw - I did that myself. Once I took out the twists - I felt soooo free!!! I love my hair now - I do it all myself - I love washing my hair and feeling "my real" hair instead of that processed stuff.
I also - like you - have been reading, reading, reading - but I also have been trying alot of products too. I like Carol's Daughter (caught a good Black Friday sale); Shea Moisture Products; Rosewater (healthfood store); olive oil; almond oil. I still want to try Original Moxie Products and Tresemme has a Curly line I have heard good things about.
So welcome ... don't be afraid to try new things - experiment, investigate, save $$$ - cause you are a "Natural Woman"!!!!
Be Encouraged!!!!!
Those twists - I had done first by Africans (in New York) and yes - I did add human wavy hair (this was my transitional style). When I had it redone by another stylist in MD - the same thing - she used human hair to add - in.
Now - I do twist-outs with my own hair and I generally re-twist everynite and detangle at least 2xs a week - I have been shampooing every other week - but I wet my hair daily.
If you are not ready to do your "big reveal" yet - try the senagalese twists - they're pricey - I paid $180 - but they are attractive and a nice transitional style.
Welcome to the group! I transitioned too. I started my natural hair journey almost 3 yrs. ago. I'll never go back to relaxers.
Quoting mamachickx4:
I must say since starting my journey, I have enjoyed cold rod setting my hair and having a head full of tight curls and going about my day. I stay glued to youtube learning. Any channels you guys recommend.
I looooove Naptural85. She has what ppl call "unicorn" hair....lol the type of hair that always comes out perfect no matter what...lol. She's very articulate and informative.
Breakage.
- mamachickx4
on Feb. 26, 2012 at 8:50 AM