OnyxCabelo

...how did you know what hair to cut?

I haven't had a retouch since March 12th of this year, and I've got alot of new growth, but since I had a texturizer and not a relaxer, it's a little difficult to tell what hair is my natural hair and what ha is just the texlax'd hair- is there anything I can do or put on it to help me decipher the difference? By the way, I'm not quite ready to BC yet, but I'm very tempted, so if the urge hits me, I just want to be prepared.

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Currently:Alaffia Shea & Coconut Enriching Shampoo, Alaffia Virgin Coconut & Shea Enriching Hair Lotion, Qhemet Amla Olive Heavy Cream, Qhemet Honeybush Tea Gel.

Last Texturizer: March 12, 2008
BC: July 21, 2008
Hair: Coarse, low porosity, iii.

Certified Denirophile

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different outcome". ~ Albert Einstein

mozeke

Well, that's may be a bit difficult. I used conditioner on my hair to BC b/c even though I had a relaxer I still found it hard to tell. The conditioner should show a difference but that also depends on your hair's natural curl pattern. Next time you co-wash (if you do that) section off some hair in the front and load up with condish to see if there is a change in curl pattern. HTH

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Last relaxer: 12/10/07
BC date: 5/2/08
It's your hair...do what you wanna do

mariag002

My relaxed ends were straighter than straight so I had no problems cutting my own hair. The texture was so obvious to see. I would suggest you go to a reliable hair stylist so they can cut your hair. You don't want to cut too much, but you definitely don't want to cut too little. That happened to me on the sides and when I would gel it up it didn't look right.

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- Maria

Big Chop: 9/23/07
Relaxer free for almost 5 years!

Twingirl80

My sister and I have been transitioning since the new year and we are so tired of cornrows. It is getting harder for the braider to braid them because of the knots and breakage. Other styles are more expensive. We are considering the BC but do not trust anyone in town. We have been to several stylist in town when we were wearing our hair relaxed.

We want to cut our own but can't tell either what is relaxed and new growth. When my hair is wet, I cannot tell where they meet. When it is dry I think I can tell more. But I know that it is no more than 2 inches so either way it is going to be short.

I received advice from "Webjockey" here on NC and she is inspiring. I emailed her b/c she lives in my city. She said she cut her own and advised me to go for it.
http://www.naturallycurly.com/super-...the-transition (Article over "Webjockey")

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Kinky 4a/4b
Last relaxer Dec. 07;
Transitioned Feb. 08-July 08, BC in July 08.

Hair style: Sisterlocks - October 2009
I am no longer wearing my loose natural hair.
You may still contact me with questions regarding transitioning and natural hair.

Recommended Reads:
Hair Story : Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America by Ayana Byrd and Lori L. Tharps (Must Read)

That Hair Thing: And the Sisterlocks Approach by JoAnne Cornwell

OnyxCabelo

Thank you everyone!! Mozeke, I'll give the conditioner a go, I think it's just tougher because, as I mentioned I used a texturizer and the line of demarcation is a bit fuzzy. I think if I just can't figure it out, I'll take Mariag002 advice, just bite the bullet and go to a stylist. Twingirl80 - thanks for the link, I'll check it out!!

__________________
Currently:Alaffia Shea & Coconut Enriching Shampoo, Alaffia Virgin Coconut & Shea Enriching Hair Lotion, Qhemet Amla Olive Heavy Cream, Qhemet Honeybush Tea Gel.

Last Texturizer: March 12, 2008
BC: July 21, 2008
Hair: Coarse, low porosity, iii.

Certified Denirophile

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different outcome". ~ Albert Einstein