Motivation!!

NLuvWithCurlz · 03-10-2011, 12:37 PM

Okay so I really felt the need to write this for all my ladies out there who are transitioning because I know it gets hard sometimes. I hope this helps to give you at least a little encouragement to know that there is someone who is cheering for you to keep on going and keep on growing...........

Well this is my second time transitioning and I never thought that I would be able to find products that actually work for me!

When I first decided to transition the only thing I knew to use was the Care Free Curl Gold line because that was the only thing that I had seen another girl with curly hair use, and even though it made my skin break out like crazy and my hair was a greasy hot mess I kept using it because I really thought that this was what I was supposed to be using. I used this stuff for 5 years and then I also started texturizing

. Well in 2009 it finally stopped working for me and I tried so hard to find something to supplement it, but I could find nothing. It was horrible! I had a ton of new growth and nasty, dried, frizzy ends and could find nothing to moisturize it!

Then one day (I think a year or 2 later) while looking in the mirror at my wet, partly natural, partly texturized, conditioner soaked hair, that the natural part was soaking in the conditioner while the conditioner just sat on top of the texturized hair. At that moment I realized that I would no longer allow any chemicals to ever touch my hair again. Shortly after this I decided I to get braids because I was tired of looking at my hair. That was a mistake! My hair got braided wayyyy to tight and I had alot of breakage. It was terrible.

Anywho, while still in braids I found Youtube and Naturally Curly.com, which also means I found out about all the products that all you natural ladies have been using and that had been working on you and I thought I had struck gold! KCCC, KCKT, Mixed Chicks, Qhmet, KBB, Oyin, Miss Jessies, CurlJunkie, Giovanni, Wen, Co washing, no cones,protein treatments, DC, CG.............you name it I bought and did it in hopes that I had finally found something that worked for me. However, most of the time time I ended up with dry crunchy ends, stiff roots and a sore and itch, dry scalf. Just awful. I mean I hated it. HATED IT. I was so depressed over my hair I didn't know what to do. I even tried to use some of the things that I used back in the day (silicone and sulfates and all)....and that made it even worse.

Then the light got brighter and I realized that the reason that nothing was working because I still had the dead texturizied hair attached to my head! I realized that my hair was never going to benefit from anything that I did to my hair unless of all the processed crap that was holding to all the beautiful new natural hair that I had accumulated and nourished. So I did the only thing I could do............I GOT A TRIM!!! And I was so glad! It was like getting microdermabrasion for my hair

. At this point I didnt even care about length, I just wanted my hair to finally be healthy and even thought she didn't cut all the deadness of it still felt really good. I had about 4 or 5 inches of dead stuff left and I didn't feel like looking at it and so I decided to wear it straight for awhile. And thats when I met Shea Moisture and Garnier Triple Nutrition. My soul mates. I went from wearing it straight to doing braid outs because I got tired of the heat and this also allowed me to be able to play around with products.

In January of this year I got 3 more inches trimmed off and continued to play with the shea moisture and garnier triple nutrition. I was also finding other things that I had hidden away and added couple of other things to my arsnal (like coconut oil and tea tree oil) and I gotta tell ya, my hair gets healthier and healthier every day! I've finally found a products and a routine that works for me! And its sooo simple. And theres no crunch, no dry sore and itchy scalp, no breakage and shedding when shampooing, and I even think I've had some growth. Its soft and not over oily.........It's finally on the way to becoming that hair I had when I was a kid (or maybe better).

With about a half an inch or so more to get trimmed before I am 100% natural, I am trying to hold off until June or July just to give my hair a chance to grow. I am so excited to see what my hair will look like. If it feels and looks this good now and and there is still a wee bit of texturized hair left, I'm sure it will look even better when its gone.

So to all you transitioners out there, I know it is a struggle. But I just wanted you to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and it does get better. Be patient, Be strong, and dont give up. You can do it!

FIERCE LOVE AND CURLS

Sydney23 · 03-10-2011, 07:19 PM

Oooo!! Thanks I really needed that!

NLuvWithCurlz · 03-11-2011, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney23

Oooo!! Thanks I really needed that!

Welcome! I know it gets ruff. Just last september I was at the point where I was embarrassed because of the relaxed part my hair. It was just.....there. If I did a ponytail thats all you would see. I tell you relaxers and texturizers really is creamy "crack"...........my hair honestly looked like it was on drugs (compared to all my new growth).

Anyways now its taking everything in me to not go on a search and destroy mission with the scissors and cut off all the relaxed stuff thats left.

July is so far away......

NLuvWithCurlz · 03-11-2011, 01:08 PM

now c'mon yawl don't make me bump my bump

share! encourage! inspire!

nakka89 · 03-16-2011, 05:42 PM

omg i am new to naturallycurly.com (just joined today!! lol) and also a fairly new transitioner. i've ben going at this transition for about 7months now!! and im so excited and so anxious to see what my natural hair looks like!! i've had relaxed hair since i was a child...so long ago that i dont even remember what my real hair looks like!! relaxed hair is what was natural to me because ive never known anything other than that. my family decided to put a perm in my hair to make it easier for them to manage it. but now that i am in control and old enough to choose...bye, bye straight hair...hello curls!!

so thats my inspiration to go natural. i want to see my real hair!!
my hair has always been at least shoulder length so a BC scares me, but im also getting impatient with this transition. but i have been researching A LOT!! and experimenting with products to find what works for me.
the thing that really gets to me is how expensive the products are that are good for your hair (im a college student, so every dime nickel and penny are precious lol), and how inexpensive the toxins are. but its so great to have people who are going through or have been through this transition that i can relate to and talk to and ask advice from. thank you for the encouragement and thank you for sharing your story!! &good luck with your hair journey as well!!
LET'S GO CURLS!!

Naturemademe · 03-18-2011, 11:48 AM

My last relaxer was in October 2010. I like hearing about fellow transitioners. It keeps me motivated. Thank you

free_beauty29 · 04-05-2011, 04:19 PM

This has given me so much motivation I am going through this now... My ends are so dry I have all this healthy new growth... I am trying to hold off until June but dnt know if I can..

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Amazinnatural · 04-05-2011, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by free_beauty29

This has given me so much motivation I am going through this now... My ends are so dry I have all this healthy new growth... I am trying to hold off until June but dnt know if I can..

Sent from my SGH-T959 using CurlTalk App

Be patient!!! I know June seems like its far away but it's only 2months away, you can hold out that long can't you? I've been transitioning since Oct. '09 so I know and understand your struggle, but all it takes is patience and staying motivated. Last July I chopped 75% or my relaxed ends off, then I got a few more ends chopped in Dec. now I only have an inch or two left of relaxed ends. I happy with my beautiful curls and how healthy my hair is now! I love the whole experience of going/being natural. So ladies just stay motivated and love your hair, you'll see it grow and transform in no time!

lesliegonnacurl · 04-06-2011, 04:55 PM

Might sound horrible, but one thing is that I just got tired of going to the salon where I had my hair relaxed. No temperature control, people coming in trying to sell me expired baked goods, never really sanitizing the combs, every other woman in the salon looking at me like I was a freak when I told my stylist I was ready to get home and watch Hell's Kitchen because I think Chef Ramsey is so hot!, my hairline being a little eroded at the end of each appointment, seeing other customers give me a dirty look when I'd be disappointed with my flat, thin, straight (yet long) hair that smelled horrible at the end of an appointment, having to have my hair washed in a poorly placed chair/common sink with other people's residue splashing all over me, making an "appointment" (the word appointment doesn't apply at a lot of these neighborhood salons) a week in advance and alotting OVER THREE HOURS to have my hair done before I had to drive out of town that evening for a surprise party AT MILLER PARK (I'm from Chicago so I had to drive to Milwaukee)--yet having to wait over an hour because someone else "called at the last minute" and being nearly late to the party and not having my hair done the way I wanted because I was short on time, etc.

Need I say more?

I would have loved to find a more "professional" salon, (I'm sorry but I feel that most salons that cater to black women do not give a quality experience), but the lady who relaxed my hair was my neighbor. She began doing it after the tendinitis in my mom's arm got so painful that she couldn't do it anymore.

It was sometimes fun to pick the "perm crusties" off my scalp a few days after though.

DulceBrandi · 04-08-2011, 03:06 AM

I got my last relaxer in December. I also decided to ditch all heat. So, this hasn't been that easy. All of your posts are motivating to me! I'm learning so much here and on Youtube. I'm glad to have found this site because I have a long exciting road ahead of me and everyone here seems so helpful.

icerockz · 04-11-2011, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesliegonnacurl

Might sound horrible, but one thing is that I just got tired of going to the salon where I had my hair relaxed. No temperature control, people coming in trying to sell me expired baked goods, never really sanitizing the combs, every other woman in the salon looking at me like I was a freak when I told my stylist I was ready to get home and watch Hell's Kitchen because I think Chef Ramsey is so hot!, my hairline being a little eroded at the end of each appointment, seeing other customers give me a dirty look when I'd be disappointed with my flat, thin, straight (yet long) hair that smelled horrible at the end of an appointment, having to have my hair washed in a poorly placed chair/common sink with other people's residue splashing all over me, making an "appointment" (the word appointment doesn't apply at a lot of these neighborhood salons) a week in advance and alotting OVER THREE HOURS to have my hair done before I had to drive out of town that evening for a surprise party AT MILLER PARK (I'm from Chicago so I had to drive to Milwaukee)--yet having to wait over an hour because someone else "called at the last minute" and being nearly late to the party and not having my hair done the way I wanted because I was short on time, etc.

Need I say more?

I would have loved to find a more "professional" salon, (I'm sorry but I feel that most salons that cater to black women do not give a quality experience), but the lady who relaxed my hair was my neighbor. She began doing it after the tendinitis in my mom's arm got so painful that she couldn't do it anymore.

It was sometimes fun to pick the "perm crusties" off my scalp a few days after though.

OMG this souded just like my USE to be salon! haha
I always got the dirty looks and using the same combs as the other costumers used EW!

That why I stoped going there after 3 visits!=)
and at that salon they dont lik natural hair at all,only relaxed hair, most of there hair in there was THIN hair lol

icerockz · 04-11-2011, 08:10 PM

Thanks so much for this motivation!

I cant wait till im all naturelle

-------------------------------------------------------

4a hair
Suave Naturals Juicy Green Apple Conditioner
Follow the CG (curly Girl) Method =)
Still Transitioning!

jillian93 · 05-04-2011, 04:12 PM

Thank you for the motivation, I needed that today!

CurlyCaliCombs13 · 05-06-2011, 04:14 AM

Perm crusties!!! How u will b missed!! Lol

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NLuvWithCurlz · 06-22-2011, 08:16 AM

I just wanted to say that all you ladies are so encouraging to me! I know transitioning is not easy, but you CAN do it.

Oh and .......picking at the perm crusties.............really?

curledlove · 06-22-2011, 09:40 AM

Ladies you can all do it! I've been there too. The first time I tried transitioning I let my creamy crack addicted mom and aunt get to me. After 6 months I had the sh*t in my hair again. Two years later I decided that would be the end of the WL thinned out tresses. Here I am almost 4 years later with beautiful, healthy, WL hair again. It shrinks like its no one's business and it looks like APL or SL but its mine, its natural and its what the One up above intended me to have. Its an accessory and I would NEVER go back! Happy growing yall!!!

Mimi2010 · 06-22-2011, 10:41 AM

I have been transitioning since sept/oct 2010. I never had a perm but I got my hair pressed religiously every two weeks for the 20+ years. I have some much heat damage. But this Saturday I'm going to a salon to do the BC. I am so excited and nervous at the same time. I've never had short hair and don't kno how I would look. I don't wear make-up to make up for the short hair (pun intended). Anyways I've been doing braid outs. To me they look a bit crazy cuz the ends are straight. But I'm ready wish me luck my transitioning/natural sisters.

NLuvWithCurlz · 06-22-2011, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mimi2010

I have been transitioning since sept/oct 2010. I never had a perm but I got my hair pressed religiously every two weeks for the 20+ years. I have some much heat damage. But this Saturday I'm going to a salon to do the BC. I am so excited and nervous at the same time. I've never had short hair and don't kno how I would look. I don't wear make-up to make up for the short hair (pun intended). Anyways I've been doing braid outs. To me they look a bit crazy cuz the ends are straight. But I'm ready wish me luck my transitioning/natural sisters.

You can do it girl!!!!! You rock that short hair like its never been rock before!!!!! I'm waiting until the end of the month the get the rest of my straight ends cut off. I CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!! I'm shedding like crazy and the straight hair feels soooo much different from my natural hair...........CRAZINESS!!!!!!!!!! but you can do it. Please post pics