Long term transitioning, will this work?

dcm91

I started getting straighteners done about a year ago after my stylist said that it would be easier for me since I spent so much time flat ironing my hair. I last got one done about 6 months ago. Once I started getting regrowth I decided I hated having super straight hair and I wouldn't get the process done again, and found different websites about transitioning.

After finding a lot of information i've noticed that everyone eventually does a big chop, but I know that I wouldn't like having short hair (i've been growing my hair out since getting a cut that was between chin and shoulder length with tons of layers for 2-3 years now). I was hoping that as my hair continued to grow I would get bits of the straightened parts of my hair cut off at time keeping it fairly long, but not reading about anyone else having done this i'm wondering if it's possible?

pprMACHEheart

Check some of the other long term transitioning threads in this section . . stories about people transitioning for a year, 2 years or more. Here are a few threads from other people that transitioned for a long time.

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/111539-100%25-natural-after.html
^ this is my long term transitioning post . . I transitioned for almost two years before I did the BC . . I had enough length at that point to feel comfortable cutting off the rest of my permed ends.

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/118089-20-month-transition-over.html

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/114489-100%25-natural.html

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/114374-totally-just-bcd-after-1-yr-transition.html

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/111929-long-term-transitioner-did-big-chop.html

dcm91

pprMACHEheart wrote: »

Check some of the other long term transitioning threads in this section . . stories about people transitioning for a year, 2 years or more. Here are a few threads from other people that transitioned for a long time.

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/111539-100%25-natural-after.html
^ this is my long term transitioning post . . I transitioned for almost two years before I did the BC . . I had enough length at that point to feel comfortable cutting off the rest of my permed ends.

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/118089-20-month-transition-over.html

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/114489-100%25-natural.html

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/114374-totally-just-bcd-after-1-yr-transition.html

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/111929-long-term-transitioner-did-big-chop.html

I've read just about every thing that went about 15 pages or so back including those, but I was wondering if it's possible to avoid a big chop altogether and just trim it over time and if anyone had done that/heard of that since I haven't found anything about someone transitioning that way, or if that's unrealistic

curlyclo89

That's kind of how I transitioned and it worked well for me. I grew out my natural hair and kept it blow-dried straight while it was growing out, and little by little cut away the relaxed ends. I cut the rest of my relaxed ends off when my natural hair was about ear-lobe length curly.

I understand that you want to keep it as long as possible, but trust me, when you reach a certain length in your natural hair (about when 40-50% of your length is natural) it will start looking really funky at the ends unless you keep it straight, and you will probably just want to cut that part off. I don't consider that a "big chop," but it seems like you do? Like I said, when I did that, what I had left was about shoulder length straight, and ear-lobe length curly.

Brownsugababe

dcm91 wrote: »

pprMACHEheart wrote: »

Check some of the other long term transitioning threads in this section . . stories about people transitioning for a year, 2 years or more. Here are a few threads from other people that transitioned for a long time.

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/111539-100%25-natural-after.html
^ this is my long term transitioning post . . I transitioned for almost two years before I did the BC . . I had enough length at that point to feel comfortable cutting off the rest of my permed ends.

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/118089-20-month-transition-over.html

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/114489-100%25-natural.html

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/114374-totally-just-bcd-after-1-yr-transition.html

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/transitioning/111929-long-term-transitioner-did-big-chop.html

I've read just about every thing that went about 15 pages or so back including those, but I was wondering if it's possible to avoid a big chop altogether and just trim it over time and if anyone had done that/heard of that since I haven't found anything about someone transitioning that way, or if that's unrealistic

I believe avoiding the big chop is possible with trimming over time. Question is, whether you can/ want to maintain the 2 textures. It is totally up to you

annabananalise

I'm doing a long-term transition, too. I just get a trim every few months. I'm so used to longer hair that I don't feel confident enough to rock short hair :sad11:

I think it's possible. I follow this blog: Black Hair Care Blog --she's been doing a long term transition for over two years, or close to it, and still going. Check her out!

dcm91

wherethebeaverlive wrote: »

I'm doing a long-term transition, too. I just get a trim every few months. I'm so used to longer hair that I don't feel confident enough to rock short hair :sad11:

I think it's possible. I follow this blog: Black Hair Care Blog --she's been doing a long term transition for over two years, or close to it, and still going. Check her out!

Thanks for the link!

Amazinnatural

Hey ladies,
So I guess I'm a long term transitioner bc I never did the big chop and at the current state my hair is 90% natural. I only have a few straight ends at the front of my head but everywhere is is very curly/kinky. I did a pre-chop back in July and I have not cut my hair since then. I'm thinking about cuting my remaining straight end off in April though so I can say I'm 100% natural. Hopefully by then my hair well have grown 2 inches or so. But that's pretty much my story, I didn't believe in cutting my hair off so I chose an alternative route, like they say different strokes for different folks!:glasses1:

LaCurlyMariposa

I'm doing a long term transition too! :blob4:

I'm about 5 months into it and I'm nervous about having short hair. Soooo I'ma wait until my natural hair grows to a comfortable length, like everyone else has said. Handling the two textures is somewhat difficult, but imagine once I'm a year post!

It's up to you what you wanna do. It is YOUR hair. :thumbup:

Amazinnatural

Mariposa_Musicale wrote: »

I'm doing a long term transition too! :blob4:

I'm about 5 months into it and I'm nervous about having short hair. Soooo I'ma wait until my natural hair grows to a comfortable length, like everyone else has said. Handling the two textures is somewhat difficult, but imagine once I'm a year post!

It's up to you what you wanna do. It is YOUR hair. :thumbup:

I'll be 24 month post come October, I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. Hopefully bout time October roles around my severe breakage (bald spot in middle of my scalp due to a sew it) will have grown back (hoping with all my might) and I may do a BC then, who knows, I may just wait until the end of the year!!!:thumbleft:

KileysMom09

I have a girlfriend who done a really long transition. It took her 3 years to be completely natural. She never done a big chop. Her hair was mid back length when she began to transition. She would go to her stylist every 6 to 8 weeks and get her hair washed, conditioned, trimmed, and silked out. She would maitain her hair in between salon visits at home. She wore long layers the entire time. Her longest layer was never above bra strap during her entire transition. So yes it is very possible to transiton with out the big chop. Good Luck!

GuyanaGal718

I actually transitioned for almost 2 years before I did the big chop. It wasn't really a big chop at all.

I too have always had long hair and didn't feel comfortable chopping it all off. So, what I did I went once every six weeks to get my hair braided in the front, and flat ironed in the back, and I would get about two inches cut off every time, so I would retain my length. So every time I went, I would have more about 2 inches worth of new-growth and I would cut off 2 inches of relax ends. My hair was the same length my entire transition.

After about a year and a half I had about 6 inches left of relaxed ends, but I had plenty of new growth, so my final trim was 6 inches. So my hair was about 4 inches shorter than normal, but I was all natural. I got that length back in no time.

So yes, long transitioning is possible. I did it once, and I'm doing it again (made the mistake of getting a Brazillian Keratin Treament). You just have to be patient and understand that your hair will have two very different textures for a while. Keep it healthy and moisturized and find a transitioning style that works for you.