Went from natural to relaxed?

taisha.perez · 02-05-2012, 09:59 AM

I'm curious as to whether any of you have gone from natural to relaxed and why you did it or do you regret it?

Sent from my PC36100 using CurlTalk App

anonymous_103081 · 03-13-2012, 11:28 AM

I started relaxing my hair when I was fifteen or so,and stopped back in December, and last week decided to start again and I don't regret it at all. The main reason I decided to go back was because it was taking me way more time than I wanted just to detangle because my roots get so tightly curled. I'll only do it once a month,and just the roots so I can detangle in less time.

dedede · 03-29-2012, 05:05 AM

I want to go back to relaxed too. How long is 4-5 inches straight?

BellaCaramella · 03-29-2012, 07:18 AM

With the recent popularity of the natural hair movement, but the struggle many have with hair type/texture that I've read so much about, I've wondered this exact thing myself.....

Emprezz · 05-09-2012, 01:49 PM

it's a matter of choice so if you choose to do it, be sure you are making yourself happy!

MIA1487 · 05-13-2012, 10:48 AM

Honestly i think that many women either dont have time to deal with their natural hair or dont know how to manage it..so they may go back to relaxed..i dont think it's because they like straight hair(in some cases it may be the that they like straight hair) though in others i think it's the fact that they cant manage it well or they dont have the time.

I know that when i become more busy im going back to braids(protective hair style) because i dont have time to deal with my hair like that. And i dont have short hair..it's like a little past my shoulders (and VERY VERY THICK<<people comment about my thick hair ALL THE TIME) and of course natural(i dont use relaxers) and my texture is 4b.

I like braids because they last longer and i can just get up and go..it only takes me about 5min to refresh them in the morning.

So i understand when women say "it's difficult to manage", or "It is time consuming"<<<my main concern btw
I've been natural for over 12yrs now..and honestly i was thinking about getting a relaxer(more like a slight texturizer..just to make my curls a little more loose and easier to just get up and go)

I have never desired straight hair..NEVER ..it is so boring..but i admit that yes i want to manage my hair easier..and i LOVE LOVE my braids..but ive been wearing braids, twist and blow outs for a LONG TIME..so i want a bit of change sometimes

africana · 05-14-2012, 08:05 AM

I started inadvertently transitioning in late 1999/early 2000. Once natural, I would dye my hair, grow it out, cut it, and repeat. In 2007 I relaxed my hair on a whim.

Pros:
FINALLY seeing my length. I went from 2 inch TWA to shoulder length hair. I was like OMG, amazing!

Ease of styling: I could wake up, gather my hair in a a ponytail and go

Variety of styling: I'm not the most eye-hand coordinated person, so with relaxed hair it was easier for me to try new styles. (now as a natural I literally do wng, 50 medium twists/braids, or head wrap ONLY)

Healthier edges: Since I'm not good at styling natural hair, I wear a lot of head wraps, which caused some issues with edges. When I relaxed, my edges grew back in.

Cons:
Dryness: When I became natural I learned better hair care techniques, but still, my hair became dry as hell

Breakage: Aside from edges, my hair began to break off even though I babied my hair

Naturalistas: Got a lot of ish by natural friends. However, I dare them to say the ish they said to me to Maya Angelou who sports a relaxer.

Ultimately, the dryness/damage was just too much. I have baby fine hair that is very fragile. I did not touch up the relaxer, and after a year cut it all off.

I think even if you have excellent hair care techniques, your hair will not be as healthy as your natural hair. However, you may be able to maintain hair health. Ultimately, it's up to you. Do what you like. It's your hair. Worst case scenario, it gets damaged and then you grow it back.

hippiedoll · 05-14-2012, 05:16 PM

I don't want to go back to relaxers but I would like to wear my hair straight every now and then as a natural. I like to switch things up sometimes. I'm currently growing out my relaxer. I haven't had natural hair since I was 14 and I'm in my early 20s now.

sweetmx85 · 05-20-2012, 10:45 PM

i was natural for a good 6 yrs my hair was the longest it had been since i was a little girl, but when id try to flat iron it it would take hours! i had a convention to be at and was trying to flat iron it for that and my comb attachment kept breakin off my blow dryer every few min. i was so upset w how hard it was to get anything through it i relaxed it that night. i regretted it. almost instantly. my hair didnt feel the same. it was hard, breaking off, just not the same. i went from bsl to a twa a few months later. lesson learned though. even though my natural hair takes more times tobme its worth it.

sweetmx85 · 05-20-2012, 10:47 PM

plus i can get my hair just as straight with a flat iron if im just patient and its much softer than relaxed hair.

sweetmx85 · 05-20-2012, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoCoLoCks

I started relaxing my hair when I was fifteen or so,and stopped back in December, and last week decided to start again and I don't regret it at all. The main reason I decided to go back was because it was taking me way more time than I wanted just to detangle because my roots get so tightly curled. I'll only do it once a month,and just the roots so I can detangle in less time.

i have a feeling your gonna save yourself a lot of time and no detangling needed at all if you relax once a month. even if it is just roots. if it breaks that high up your gonna be rockin a vin diesel look haha. bald. i get keepin your roots straight but once a month is a LOT. be careful w that.

passionatepr · 06-11-2013, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taisha.perez

I'm curious as to whether any of you have gone from natural to relaxed and why you did it or do you regret it?

Sent from my PC36100 using CurlTalk App

Dec 2010, a relative was going through last bout of chemo and as support a few of us decided to cut our hair; I cut it all off and allowed it to grow naturally. I loved my hair until January 2013, I noticed it was getting harder to manage. Simply combing took hours. So I decided last week (June 2013) I was going to relax my hair. I used an olive olive lye relaxer and just did it. Hair came out straight, easier to manage but still heavy in the top. My partner and mom have been asking me to relax my hair for a year both were surprised and beyond pleased with results.

I woke up this morning missing my red curls but I guess it takes getting use to. I have pros and cons about either, but one thing in common no matter what you have to moisturize and maintain either way. I have pics from a year after cut to now.

lisawillson · 06-12-2013, 04:46 PM

I had curl earlier. Few months I go for relaxing and I never feel regret of this.