The "Super Long Transitioners" Thread!

Okay ladies...here it is! The place for us who are transitioning for at least a yr or longer. A place where we can post our struggles, excitements, questions, pics,etc. all related to our long term hair journeys.
I actually just did my hair & finished like 20mins before I got online so I will take a texture/length pic next week & post. Thanks to you ladies in the other thread for the 'official name' of our new thread!
Can't wait to see how far we all go!
I actually just did my hair & finished like 20mins before I got online so I will take a texture/length pic next week & post. Thanks to you ladies in the other thread for the 'official name' of our new thread!
Can't wait to see how far we all go!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Hair Type: A head full of THICK, normal porosity curls/coils that I am TOTALLY in LUV with!
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's


(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's


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This phone makes accurate punctuation unnecessarily difficult.
BC: 9.6.11
when will your favs?
Hopefully some of the other ladies from the other thread will join as well.
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's
Hey how much relaxed hair do you have left? Like in inches? I'm behind on the trimming so I have more than necessary lol
This phone makes accurate punctuation unnecessarily difficult.
BC: 9.6.11
when will your favs?
Sent from my DROIDX using CurlTalk App
My hair loves: Vatika and Bhringraj oils, adores henna.
My HGs: Bobeam's shampoo bars, CJAO, CJRM, Original Moxie's Hair Bling, Terressentials,
:wav:
Let's hear it for beautiful curls!!!
It's different depending upon where in my head you are looking. Lol. In the very middle of my head its all completely natural, in the very front bang area its like a half inch of permed ends left, in the rest of my head it varies as well...some parts there are like 2 & 3 inches left.
My hair just grows unevenly (the rt grows slower than the left) & then you take shrinkage into account, its no wonder I have different lengths all over my head!
However I really don't think it matters so much about the trimming of your hair. If you are taking really good care of your hair then you won't need to dust/trim alot, so then you would be hanging onto your relaxed ends a little longer anyway. I used to dust on a set schedule (which was a bad idea) however now I just dust my ends whenever I see they need to be done.
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's
Wow. Congrats on a successful long term transition! Your hair looks beautiful btw. Even though you are no longer transitioning please keep checking in & posting. We can all learn from those who came before us & I'm sure the other ladies would also love to hear your opinions/advice!
I am past shoulder length now & about 1 to 2inches from apl. I am hoping to either get to full apl or reach bsl (by January at the latest) & then maintain my hair at that length until my natural hair reaches either apl or bsl. However we all know how unpredictable this journey can be so I'm trying to focus on maintaining the health of my hair vs gaining length.
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's
Lol. Yes I know! I get the urge pretty often now to just chop but then when I think about not being able to put my hair into a bun I quickly change my mind.
Sometimes I would chop (& I do mean chop) out of frustration (not due to my hair not cooperating but emotional frustration) & now I'm mad bc I think about where I would have been if I had never done it. No point in crying over spilled milk, however I still dream! Lol.
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's
The not being able to put my hair up, specially now that it's hot it's exactly what's keeping me from cutting my hair. My new growth is about 4 inches but it looks much shorter than that because it is sooo curly. So I know that if I cut a lot of hair it'll take me forever to grow it to where I have it now. I'll probably just cut big chunks several times instead of doing one big chop. I have a dilemma between my curls and my length. I either cut it really short now and rock my very beautiful but very short curls or I keep my long hair with two very different textures...
My hair loves: Vatika and Bhringraj oils, adores henna.
My HGs: Bobeam's shampoo bars, CJAO, CJRM, Original Moxie's Hair Bling, Terressentials,
:wav:
Let's hear it for beautiful curls!!!
The not being able to put my hair up, specially now that it's hot it's exactly what's keeping me from cutting my hair. My new growth is about 4 inches but it looks much shorter than that because it is sooo curly. So I know that if I cut a lot of hair it'll take me forever to grow it to where I have it now. I'll probably just cut big chunks several times instead of doing one big chop. I have a dilemma between my curls and my length. I either cut it really short now and rock my very beautiful but very short curls or I keep my long hair with two very different textures...[/QUOTE]
Why is it that every dang time I write a long, detailed response & go to submit it this website always kicks me off?! Its beyond annoying!
Anyway I believe we all have that dilemna when it comes to transitioning long term. Everytime I wash my hair I look at all those beautiful curls/coils & I think 'I wanna be natural rt now'! LOL in full tantrum mode! LOL.
However I KNOW I would not be happy w/the current length I'm at now. I really believe that people underestimate the power of shrinkage. I have not had a perm in a yr & if my natural hair were permed it would be at/a little past my shoulders. However w/the shrinkage it sits well above my shoulders. Since I will be wearing my hair 'curly' the majority of the time I need to be at a length that I am comfortable with before I completely let go of the permed ends.
At the end of the day we all have to do whats best for us. If you decide you want to chop go ahead. If not we will still be here as a support. I do know that when I really get the urge to chop I just dust my ends. That way I satisfy the urge to cut w/out sacrifcing my length. Then when its all said & done I'm always happy that I just dusted my ends instead of cutting my hair!
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's
I'm 10 months in and I'm starting to have a difficult time handling my hair. I'd probably get a relaxer if I hadn't come so far already.
I've always had long hair, and I'm not interested in short hair at all. The tangles are out of control! I can pass the comb thru, grab a clip, change the channel, do anything really, I go back to it and it's tangled again! So frustrating!
I don't know if the tangling is b/c of the relaxed ends or what. But I don't really see how that can be the case.
I'm brushing BSL straightened, and I plan to cut 3-4 inches as soon as I get the cajones.
Dunno what to do abt it being so difficult to handle tho. :thumbdown:
Natural since May 18, 2012
I just wanted to offer my words of encouragement to all the long-term transitioners. I transitioned for about 18 months and I wish I had seen a thread like this during that time. I also wish I had taken more pics so I could look back on the progress I had made. I'm taking pics now tho...I have a long way to go before I reach the length that I'm comfortable with.
@ RealChic:
I'd say most of my tangles/knots are due to dead hair falling out and tangling with the surrounding hairs. I could easily rock a twist out for over a week without detangling my hair...but on wash day, I pay for it. So, I try not to go more than 5 days w/o detangling.
I have found that detangling dry relaxed hair is fine, but doing the same to natural hair is :thumbdown: To avoid some (but not all
Also, your hair might be craving moisture...you might want to try a deep conditioning treatment and see if that has an impact on the number of tangles you get.
Thanks for the suggestions. I deep condition every wash, but I don't sit under a hooded dryer. Maybe that would help out too.
And since you mentioned twist-outs, I'd love to wear that style, but it looks like garbage when I do it. I need to find something with hold that's not a gel.
I'll probably go to the BSS today to look around. When I do them, they are fat at the roots and crinkly at the ends. The different textures kill it imo. But I still try it. Will likely attempt some kind of twist out tonight...just to end up with a loose bun tomorrow. smh
Natural since May 18, 2012
Ladies, what are your methods when it comes to trimming your relaxed ends? I want to try and trim in twisted sections, but I am nervous. I really can't afford to go to stylist, and I rather not straighten my hair for it.
•BC'ed after 22 months of transitioning (May 2012)
Every week I wash my hair I style it into bantu knots to stay in until the next wash day. Like this week I dusted my ends. So since I do everything in small sections (wash, detangle & style) I just twisted each piece & then lightly dusted each end before I made each bantu knot. Very simple & effective.
I don't believe you really need to trim your hair unless you want to, you're in a rush to get rid of the relaxed ends or they are very damaged (well I can't even say that. My hair was badly damaged when I started & I never did a dust or trim until 4months in & there were no major issues). However I would not necessarily recommend doing the same to others.
Some people swear by cutting straight, others wet & curly. You will just have to experiment & see what works best for you and your hair. However I would really suggest only dusting if your apprensive about cutting your own hair. When you dust you cut soooo little off anyway it really won't effect your length anyway.
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's
This phone makes accurate punctuation unnecessarily difficult.
BC: 9.6.11
when will your favs?
Are you trimming on that schedule just because or another reason?
I'm just curious bc initially I too had a 'trim every 3months schedule' until I realized it really wasn't working for me. Sometimes I would see a raggedy end & be like do I cut or wait it out... however now I only dust on an as needed basis, thats it. If I see my ends looking ruff I dust no matter what time frame has gone by since my last dusting. By doing it this way it saves me the trouble of having to 'cut' bc I eliminated a major split issue before it could even begin.
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's
This phone makes accurate punctuation unnecessarily difficult.
BC: 9.6.11
when will your favs?
Lol. I hear u. However w/the way I do mine I just make it a part of the styling process. I pull my shears out along w/my water bottle, whipped shea butter, clips, etc & have them handy so that as soon as I finish twisting I examine the ends and if I need to snip a little I do so and move on.
Once you get the hang of it, it really only adds maybe another 5mins to my total styling time. This is my lazy girl routine! Lol.
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's
So now I am super apprehensive about doing it myself so I wimp out and go to the salon.
This phone makes accurate punctuation unnecessarily difficult.
BC: 9.6.11
when will your favs?
So trust me I completely understand the apprehension. However for me this journey is not only about getting healthier hair but becoming more independent in regards to my hair care needs/maintainence instead of relying on a hair dresser/salon.
That being said, I researched & researched about self trimming, cutting,etc. I invested in a pair of hair shears & went at it. As time went along & I dusted more & more the apprehension went away & now dusting doesn't phase me at all.
However if the thought of doing it yourself really bothers you that much, I would just try to save up my money so that when your 3month time period comes around you have enough $ to go to the salon.
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's
Sent from my iPad using CurlTalk
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's
My favorite style really is a flat-twist out with the ends wrapped around flexi rods. I get a really cute curly style to play with all day. Too bad it doesn't last more than two days =/ . I've never been good at maintaining styles more than two days.
Anywhoooo, I don't know when I'll cut the relaxed ends off; maybe when I get tired of the relaxed hair ruining hair styles. Haha
Sent from mah Droid. Oh yeah...HU! You know!
BC: April 2012
Staple Products: (Anything Shea Moisture) African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo, Organix Coconut Milk and Cherry Blossom conditioners, Shea Moisture Curl and Style Milk/ Curl Enhancing Smoothie/ Curling Souffle.:blob7:
It's fine. It's divine. It's all mine
I really need to learn some new styles. I really wanna learn how to flat twist/cornrow too. I've seen some really cute styles that came from flat twists but everytime I even attempt to do one it looks a hot a*s mess! Lol.
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's
The sections for braids are like 1.5 inches. And French braids are loose enough not to cause much tension.
This phone makes accurate punctuation unnecessarily difficult.
BC: 9.6.11
when will your favs?
Yes that makes sense, however I can't french braid either! Lol. The most I can do is plait...thats it! I really need 2practice & up my hair styling game before I have another child & I can't do her hair! Lol.
(Transitioned for 16 & 1/2 months)
Loving:love10:: MC LI Condish, Raw shea butter, Coconut & Grapeseed Oil, SM raw shea butter shampoo,HEHH Conditioner, Braggs ACV & Egg, Mayo & EVOO PT's
Sent from my PC36100 using CurlTalk App
This phone makes accurate punctuation unnecessarily difficult.
BC: 9.6.11
when will your favs?
Why differentiate? IMO its a matter of over a period of time having to deal with (and discuss) the needs of 2 different hair textures on ones head.
Funny thing is once folks have completed their transition it then becomes a matter of differentiating the different curl types and the needs associated with those.
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