It really is, but I'm happy that I decided to stop relaxing. I can't wait to get over this awkward stage so I can have more options for styling. This is the first winter I'm going through with my natural hair and it's been so hard trying to figure out what to do because the cold leaves my hair dry and stiff. I don't like wearing braids, but I got crochet ones that i'll rock until the weather picks up.
Me too!! You couldn't even pay me to relax my hair ever again. Partially because I'm afraid of damaging my scalp. I had brain surgery and I'm really not trying to do anything to my body that could hurt me... Even though I have survivor friends who have relaxers done. Nah, not for me. I remember the awkward stage, and now I miss it because at least I could get my fro to stay compact and a "real" afro!! Winter is more difficult than summer in terms of managing hair, I hear you. I try to leave mine twisted up in the winter. It's just difficult trying to figure out how to use which products and when! The crochet braids sound like a safe bet though!! I think as long as you keep your ends protected, proper moisture-protein balance, and keep your hands out (my biggest struggle) of your hair, you should be okay!!
u ladies are awesome, ur journey is not going unnoticed..dnt hesitate for support from yo black men
Thank you!
I don't have tight curls in any case but even then with relaxer it would dry wavy. I guess it was my hair just less frizz which is why I'd relaxed it.
When I went natural and washed my hair for the first time after my big chop I was surprised to find curly hair (very curly well defined each bit just beautifully bouncy. That was an emotional high, like I was rediscovering a part of my body I'd never really met)
But anyway to answer your question never bone straight. I wonder if it's to do with the strength of the relaxer? Also is there a correlation with straightness and damage?
Hmm... You know what, I have a biracial friend (not saying you are) who relaxed her hair to make it less frizzy. Which, her curl natural curl pattern is so loose... But if that's what she felt she had to do, more power to her. It's funny because we became friends after she kept staring at me in history lecture. I asked her what's up, and she said "I just love your hair. It always looks great, I'm sorry... But how do you do it?" So I talked to her about twists (I almost always have my hair in twists and twist outs) and some products I used. Then as we got to know each other, I found out she's half Kenyan, half white (not sure what race her mother is) but that she also felt the pressure to have "manageable" hair, so she relaxed it. She hasn't relaxed it at all since we've been friends in 2 years, but I have flat ironed it for her, because we both go to the same stylist (one of my good friends) for trims! But I do remember her saying that when she relaxed hers, it was just to make it less frizzy. What you said reminded me of that.
I went natural after having the front part of my head shaved for emergency brain surgery. The next month, my mom cut off the rest of my hair, which was about to the middle of my back. That was March 2012. I absolutely loved (I mean LOVED) having my hair in a fade. Loved it so much. It grew in very wavy, then as it's gotten longer, the front is waves while the back is little ringlet curls! It's all so interesting to me. My hair doesn't even respond the same to the products I could use early on in my journey, but I'm enjoying learning and tending to its needs. I remember the first time I did a wash n go after my hair had grown out to more of a TWA and seeing the definition of the waves and curls. It was gorgeous. It feels good to feel good, you know? I hear you 100% about the emotional high!
Possibly the strength. My mom always used whatever the salon would use, but maybe she didn't let it process as long as they would at the salon?! I don't know, I just know my hair was never bone straight but some of my girlfriends' hair would be bone straight when wet. About a correlation between straightness and heat damage, I know with having natural hair, if I flat iron it too much (using too much heat too often does it as well) then some of it will stay straighter than usual. I know then it's time for a protein treatment. I use Aphogee 2 minute keratin reconstructor and then a deep condtioning treatment, lay off the heat for a while! I do not want to have to cut my hair again, although I deeply miss my tapered fade days because it was so easy.
