Naturals - how many years did you relax your hair?

[BostonMaria]

I read so many different threads about doing the BC and not really knowing what to do with your natural hair because you haven't seen it in a while. For me, I relaxed my hair from 1981 through 2006 so that's 25 years. I did the BC when I was 36 years old and I didn't have a clue how to do my hair. It was fun learning and being a PJ! But to me its a darn shame I didn't even know what my natural hair looked like for so long. My DD's had to teach ME how to use gel the right way and how to apply conditioner if I want to jump in a pool... just random stuff that just comes natural to my DD's (no pun intended )

So now I'm just curious to see how many years did you relax before you finally did the Big Chop.

 

[vivEz daNs lamouR]

I relaxed from around... I'd say 1995 to 2008. So 13 years.

 

[oooop2]

1984 (age 9)- Feb 9,1998...Dang, just now realized I had a perm for 14yrs...

 

[msa]

Everyone always forgets about the lifetime naturals...I know the question isn't directed at us but we like to be included .

 

[BostonMaria]

Everyone always forgets about the lifetime naturals...I know the question isn't directed at us but we like to be included .

Oops! I was going to include "never" but then thought it would be silly to add it. Guess not! LOL Sawee

 

[Neala21]

I was relaxed since about age 2 so 1988 to 2005 until i went natural for 2 yrs then went back relaxed in 2008 to 2009 and now back natural for life.

 

[msa]

Oops! I was going to include "never" but then thought it would be silly to add it. Guess not! LOL Sawee

It's ok. There's only like 5 of us active on lhcf so it's not really a big deal.

 

[keepithealthy]

I've been relaxed on and off from 1994 till 2009 maybe 4 years spread out in between with no relaxer...and I had no idea what I was doing when it was natural lol....It looked crAzy! lol

 

[Forever in Bloom]

I relaxed from around... I'd say 1995 to 2008. So 13 years.

Same here. 13 years (1994-2007)

 

[Fhrizzball]

I was relaxed since about age 2 so 1988 to 2005 until i went natural for 2 yrs then went back relaxed in 2008 to 2009 and now back natural for life.

Wow that's really something.

I truly don't remember mine so but I'm guessing anywhere from 8-12 years.

 

[BostonMaria]

I was relaxed since about age 2 so 1988 to 2005 until i went natural for 2 yrs then went back relaxed in 2008 to 2009 and now back natural for life.

My goodness that's so young! I can't imagine putting a relaxer on a baby like that. How can you get a 2 year old to even stand still for that long?

I was 10 years old. I'll never forget that dreaded day. There's nothing more traumatizing than going from long hair to neck length in less than a year due to people messing with your hair.

 

[MizzBrit]

from when i was about 8 years old to 16 years old

 

[PerplexingComplex]

I think I average out to about a year. When I got relaxed at 8, my relaxing routine lasted for almost an entire school year. Then I relaxed twice after that when I was 12.

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

I was relaxed only about four years out of my life, and that was four years too long

I have no one to blame but myself. My mom NEVER wanted me to get a relaxer but I wanted to be "down" and "fit in" the kids in HS. They told me my hair was too thick, too nappy, too everything and I let my aunt get a hold of my head *sighs* she meant well but I could kick myself for ever putting my hair thru that harsh chemical exposure. I didn't fully love myself back then but thats why we grow up.

I'm thrilled with the progress I've made over the years especially considering I didn't have any outside help whatsoever. But sometimes I could kick myself for ever allowing anyone to put those caustic chemicals on my head, ya know, near my brain??

I've made amazing progress since then so I don't dwell on regret much.

 

[Oasis]

I'm not sure of the exact age I got my first relaxer but I stopped at 18. So I was relaxed for 8-12 years.

I was never consistent though. Since I stayed in braids mostly, I went up to 1-2 years without a relaxer.

 

[Victorian]

I don't actually remember my first relaxer. My hair is natural in my preschool pic and relaxed in my kindergarten pic so...So I must have been relaxed about 14-15 years. My last relaxer was about 6 years ago (I can't believe it's been that long! The time has flown!)

 

[Pandora1975]

Off and on for over 20 years. More on than off. I don't remember exact ages, but wow! I can't believe I did it for so long.

 

[Lita]

5-10 years off & on.4 or 5 bc...

N A T U R A L for life.......

GOOD THREAD BostonMaria!

Happy Hair Growing!

 

[mj11051]

I got my first relaxer when in 1971 and I went natural in 2006. I relaxed for 35yrs WOW.

 

[BlkOnyx488]

Off and on for 30 years, More on than off
I attempted to go Natural in College, because I noticed the natural heading girls had longer hair.

I don't think I made it 3 months after my BC because I had no clue what to do with my hair, oh and my best friend Started calling me Nipsy Russell LOL

 

[loulou82]

Same here. 13 years (1994-2007)

This looks like an obituary...R.I.P

 

[my-my]

I was relaxed for 14 years.

 

[Vonnieluvs08]

I got my 1st relaxer at 15 and like everyone else I did it to fit in with the high school crowd. I got my last relaxer 6months after my 25th birthday. So for a total of 10yrs I was relaxed. Funny thing is I never meant for it to be that long. I wanted to grow my hair out in vet school but I got lazy and decided to keep relaxing even though I was going 3-6mos without a relaxer. My plan is to stay natural for the rest of my life.

 

[Lyoness]

I relaxed for roughly 7 years

 

[Cali*Rocks]

I relaxed from around... I'd say 1995 to 2008. So 13 years.

Me Too The same exact years erplexed Well technically I stopped relaxing Dec of 2007 but I was already 25.. so thirteen years

Same here. 13 years (1994-2007)

Thirteen is such an ominous (sp?) number

 

[Addy3010]

I relaxed when i was in middle school until my big chop this aug. So for 8-9 yrs

 

[Nouvelle]

I was around eight or nine when I got my first relaxer, and fifteen when I transitioned. I just big chopped last year.

 

[Natural Glow]

I got my first relaxer in 5th grade around '92 Got my last relaxer in early 2006. So about 13-14years. I didn't big chop though.

I first got a relaxer because I lived with my dad and he had no idea what to do w/my hair so of course the hairdresser said perm it up and that's what we did.

 

[ladytee2]

I was relaxed for about 14 years. I relaxed at 13 and at 27 when I was pregnant with my first son my stylist told me I didn't need a relaxer. I said it's your world do your thing. RIP (1986 - 2000)

 

[Priss Pot]

I was first relaxed when I was about 6. Stopped relaxing at age 20, so that's about 14 years of relaxing.