30 Month (2.5 Years) Transition From Relaxed To Natural Hair Is Over

Happy Valentine’s Day… a day later And I’m just about a year late with this update, lol. This post is going to be long and pic heavy. I ended my 30 month transition from relaxed to natural hair on March 26, 2011. Going natural was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve made. There were ups and downs, and a few times when I was ready to just shave it all off… But I made it to my goal of 2.5 years before trimming the last relaxed ends off. Thanks to all my readers, e-buddies, LHCF forum girls, family and friends for the support and encouragement during and after my transition. I really appreciate it! Below I’ve posted pictures of my hair natural, relaxed, and while transitioning. I’ll likely do a “reflections” type post and include my updated regimen and product staple in a later update. Promise I won’t go over a year w/o posting again, lol.

Natural Hair

I’ve pretty much been wearing my hair in a fro and a pony puff mainly because it’s easy and I don’t have a lot of time to spend doing my hair. Once in a while I’ll straighten it, pin it or style it with flexi rods. I’ve never been so in love with my hair and it always seem so cool that I can float between straight and natural hair so easily. It did take me some time to perfect my flatiron process… But I have it down to a science now. POW! When people ask you did you relax your hair every time you straighten, you know you’re doing a good job, lol.

The only issue I have with my natural hair (that I didn’t have when I was relaxed) is detangling. It takes forever and since I love simple styles like fros and puffs… my detangling sessions are usually exhausting because my hair tends to matt and lock easily. Patience is the only advice I can give because I’m not going to lie and tell you it’s easy detangling my hair. But that’s the only issue I have and I just learned to deal with it.

Below is a current picture of my hair length. It was reverting after 2 weeks of being straightened so I was going to wash it before I took this picture. My hair is mid-back length right now. I don’t have any real hair goals… I’m just letting it do whatever. But the line marks my waist and I guess my hair is about 2.5-3 inches away.

Relaxed Hair

Really not much to say about my relaxed hair. I wore my hair down, with curls or in a ponytail pretty much everyday. My relaxed hair was APL (armpit length) before I started my transition. It would not grow past that length before I went natural. And trust, I was protective styling and following all the prescribed Black Hair Care regimens to no avail. I know women online and in real life with beautiful relaxed hair, but I realized that it just doesn’t work for me.

Transitioning Hair

I had the most fun with my hair when I was transitioning to natural. If you have followed my blog over the last few years, you know I tried pretty much every style when I was transitioning… Many are included in older posts within my Hair Transition Diary. And I’m going to need to revisit wearing wigs because I was in love with that half wig!!! Called her Beyonce, lol. That half wig got so much attention in person… I have no clue where I put my wig. SMH.

Anyway, the long transition to natural was perfect for me. I didn’t want to do a Big Chop also known as a BC. I’ve cut my hair short before and it was not fun growing it out so I chose the long transition and I’m glad I did. My longest layers were BSL (Bra Length) when I trimmed the last relaxed ends off. Waiting 2.5 years was totally worth it and I encourage anyone who wants to do a long transition to natural hair to go for it. Yes, it’s hard at times but the best decision I could have made. Thanks for reading and visiting my blog. I’ll try my best to not go forever without and update. Thanks for emailing to check up on me and for all the well wishes

XOXO,
Dani

Tagged as: going natural, Hair Transition Diary, long transition, long transition to natural hair, My Hair Care, natural hair transition