New *2010* Transitioners Support Thread!

[MummysGirl]

You're almost one year post

Yes I use Ecostyler all the time in combination with curl activator gel. Normally if I'm going for the wavy look, I use the curl activator first and then put eco on top. This keeps my hair moisturized and soft yet with a good hold. I have the Eco with olive oil but I haven't used it much. I mostly use the clear and it works just fine. I've also used Elasta QP Mango butter moisturizer underneath the Eco and that worked fine too. Just know that some moisturizers do not play well with gel such as Cantu shea Butter.

 

[MzK]

It will be one year of transitioning Mar. 14th, but I plan to go a little longer.

Getting cornrows (I'd like the 'feed-in' kind) this weekend.

 

[mrsjohnson75]

Have any of you ladies had luck using Ecostyler gel and still moisturizing?

I'm coming up on 7months post and everything seems to not be working anymore. I have the green one with the max hold, but I'm thinking of ditching it for the brown one. Any input is appreciated!

I used the clear Ecostyler gel a couple of times to bun. This is what I do, moisturize my hair with scurl or water and shea butter, then I apply a generous amount of Ecostyler gel to my hair and brush my hair back into a bun. I tie a silk scarf around my head and in the morning my hair is smoothed down with waves. This last for 2-3 days..I just spray scurl on my hands at night and smooth my hair back and tie down with a scarf again....I don't reapply the gel.

The only problem I have is that after a couple of days, my hair is flaky . So I need to figure that out...

mrsjohnson and Ekaette (foxglove) should know...

I don't use gel (I have a small tub of ecostyler) often but when I do, I apply leave in, airdry, moisturise, seal and then apply a small amount of gel... I haven't applied enough to get those nice waves that mrsjohnson and Ekaette get.

Thanks

 

[mrsjohnson75]

So I'm 8 months into my transition. Week 36.

I'm still learning a lot about my hair. Its growing, thick, and strong. I love it. It seems to be getting darker...maybe the relaxer was making it light? No one has said anything about my hair except "girl you got some thick hair". I think that since I have always worn braidouts, bantu knots, and buns....its nothing different to them. I also think that's why this transition is so easy for me. I rarely straighten my hair when I was relaxed and I'm sure it will be the same once I'm natural.

I added some texture pics in my month 7 album. I'll add more month 8 pics soon.

Keep up all the good work ladies!

 

[andromeda]

Andromeda, you look like you're APL.

Thanks!

I'm feeling you on the BC dreams! I'm going to try and hold out until APL also or at least SL.

I started my S&D mission but my strands are so fine that it's tedious and the length of my hair only makes it moreso. I haven't found any splits so far and I don't plan on trimming any good ends just for the sake of trimming. I've been taking care of my ends and now that I'm sort of over treating my relaxed ends like the debil and a red-headed step child , there's no need to hack them off.

For the first time since starting my transition, the thought of relaxing floated across my mind - not a serious consideration, just a fleeting moment of ":scratchch I wonder how my hair would look now, a year into my hhj, if I had never stop relaxing, just how much it would it be swangin'? just how long would it be?". Actually, that was the second time I'd thought about relaxing. The first was when I started lurking on this site and traycee's blog and saw that it was possible to have long, healthy, relaxed 4b hair. Anyways, I'm in love with the idea of having a huge nappy puff, kinky braid-outs, a long braid a la Mwedzi. I'm in love with the idea of not having to get a touch up. I'm in love with the versatility and hope that one day my flat-ironing skills will be good enough to achieve swang. I owe it to myself to spend some time with my natural hair, even if it doesn't last forever.

 

[andromeda]

So I'm 8 months into my transition. Week 36.

I'm still learning a lot about my hair. Its growing, thick, and strong. I love it. It seems to be getting darker...maybe the relaxer was making it light? No one has said anything about my hair except "girl you got some thick hair". I think that since I have always worn braidouts, bantu knots, and buns....its nothing different to them. I also think that's why this transition is so easy for me. I rarely straighten my hair when I was relaxed and I'm sure it will be the same once I'm natural.

I added some texture pics in my month 7 album. I'll add more month 8 pics soon.

Keep up all the good work ladies!

Congrats on your progress and continued success in your transition! I noticed the bolded too. I've seen it mentioned in several threads that the lighter color is a symptom of relaxing (and perhaps over processing/weakening of the hair).

 

[pookaloo83]

Have any of you ladies had luck using Ecostyler gel and still moisturizing?

I'm coming up on 7months post and everything seems to not be working anymore. I have the green one with the max hold, but I'm thinking of ditching it for the brown one. Any input is appreciated!

I have Ecostyler gel, but I have only used it once. I will have to revisit it once my Ampro gel runs out. I think this gel gives me a better hold than the Ecostyler. I cowash, and then after that I add my Aphogee green tea. Once that is sprayed in, I use HE LTR and the use my denman brush to put it back in a bun. I put the gel in and a silk scarf afterwards. My hair is flat and wavy. In the morning I will put castor oil in to give it shine and softness. This will last me about 3 days without reapplying the gel. Then I do it all over again.


I use this gel

 

[dr.j]

Now I have to airdry my hair stretched out e.g.


Before doing flat twists/cornrows for twistouts/braidouts.

This method shows more length



It does get easier... hang in there

MG, I love your two buns! Very cute. And you ng is getting so long - is it long enough to pull into a tiny ponytail?

 

[Foxglove]

Have any of you ladies had luck using Ecostyler gel and still moisturizing?

I'm coming up on 7months post and everything seems to not be working anymore. I have the green one with the max hold, but I'm thinking of ditching it for the brown one. Any input is appreciated!

TBH I don't moisturize my Ecostyler buns all that often. On day 1 I DC, use leave in, and seal with oil before using the gel. I always sleep with my scarf to preserve the style. If I haven't washed by day 3 I'll wet it a little and use some coconut oil (even though it isn't technically a moisturizer) then scarf it but it's usually a little frizzy by then. I've never gone more than 4 days with the Ecostyler. I've only gotten 4+ days with KCCC

ETA the flakiness is never an issue for me with the ecostyler. The leave ins I use are Trader Joe Nourish spa condish and/or KBBB hair milk

 

[MummysGirl]

Thank you dr.j

No all my hair isn't long enough for a tiny ponytail. Maybe the back 1/2... but my hair in front doesn't get to the back to fit into a ponytail. I hope by 20 months, it'll all fit in

MG, I love your two buns! Very cute. And you ng is getting so long - is it long enough to pull into a tiny ponytail?

 

[luvn_life]

Hey MummysGirl, my fellow CurlMeleon! I am now at 11 months post next week. I have about 4-5 inches of new growth all over. Since I cut my hair short the back is completely natural and it is so curly and STRRROOOONGG!! I cant wait for my hair to grow out completely... But i probably won't be transitioning until some time next year. We'll see how everything goes. Could be less if I fall to much in love with my natural hair.

 

[divinefavor]

Since we're talking about camera phone pics, thought I would throw these in just because my hair was behaving for a few days.

Pulled back with a simple headband from what else, ....a bantu knot out!!

I just checked out your fotki and your 4 Banut Knot out video. Thank you so much!!! I'm only 3 months into my transition...I was hoping to find fotki someone who's transitioning with fine hair like mine. When I try out the bantu knots. I'll come back and report. Oh and BTW you have beautiful skin!

 

[LoveCraze]

I just checked out your fotki and your 4 Banut Knot out video. Thank you so much!!! I'm only 3 months into my transition...I was hoping to find fotki someone who's transitioning with fine hair like mine. When I try out the bantu knots. I'll come back and report. Oh and BTW you have beautiful skin!

Oh thanks so much!! Yes us fine haired sistas have to do things a little different to get desirable results. Please do report back and with pictures!!
And thanks for the skin compliment. You wouldn't be saying that if you saw this big red pimple that popped out on my cheek out of nowhere.

 

[MissYocairis]

I totally agree with MummysGirl on this. Months 6-8 so far have been . I'm only doing my hair 1x/wk right now. I will start cowashing once spring arrives but still just slap it into a wet bun.



This makes alot of sense! My hair has looked the same length for 8 months. I'm texlaxed and a no heat user so that adds to that too.

OMG! I'm so glad to hear you say these things. That means I'm not missing the mark somewhere and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks Shay.

I can hang if I know it's gonna end eventually. My hair looks soooo WEIRD right now. LOL. My plaits on day 2 look like Miss Celie and I just......I'm not sessy without my wig, y'know? I cannot wait to make it through the next 2-3 months.

I'm so glad this thread is here. :luv2:

 

[Shay72]

OMG! I'm so glad to hear you say these things. That means I'm not missing the mark somewhere and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks Shay.

I can hang if I know it's gonna end eventually. My hair looks soooo WEIRD right now. LOL. My plaits on day 2 look like Miss Celie and I just......I'm not sessy without my wig, y'know? I cannot wait to make it through the next 2-3 months.

I'm so glad this thread is here. :luv2:

Honestly some days I just suck it up and don't look in the mirror too often. It is a means to an end and I know I will be so happy once I'm natural. In a couple weeks I will be a cowashing fool and that will help also.

 

[Foxglove]

Completely forgot I'm at 15 months now :reddancer:

 

[andromeda]

Completely forgot I'm at 15 months now :reddancer:

Congrats!!! Does it feel like your transition is flying by?

 

[Foxglove]

Congrats!!! Does it feel like your transition is flying by?

It really does. I didn't even realize I was transitioning this time last year lol

 

[pookaloo83]

How often are you guys co washing? I have been doing it every 2 days, and I thought that may be too much.

 

[♦K.O♦]

My hair has been so well behaved lately.

I cant wait to have all natural hair. My twist-outs on the new growth look so fly... the relaxed hair, I have to tweak it to match the way the natural hair holds it.

 

[Ltown]

Everyone doing good, hang it there!

 

[divinefavor]

Oh thanks so much!! Yes us fine haired sistas have to do things a little different to get desirable results. Please do report back and with pictures!!
And thanks for the skin compliment. You wouldn't be saying that if you saw this big red pimple that popped out on my cheek out of nowhere.

LOL!!! You're welcome!!! Girl, make a little paste out of some baking soda, put it on that pimple and it'll be gone before you know it!

I was going to try the bantu knots the other day, but realize that I couldn't find my little satin ponytail holders. I'll purchase some this weekend.

 

[Platinum]

Happy Friday Ladies! I'm 45 week post! Still wearing Senegalese Twists and will stay in them for the next few weeks. Time flies! I can't believe that I've been transitioning for almost a year now! It has also occured to me that my nape is 100%. I kept hanging setbacks and severe breakage from relaxing my nape. I decided to stop relaxing it but I decided to relax the rest of my hair in April. If I had not relaxed in April, I would be 15 months post now.

Keep up the good work everyone!

 

[Dee_33]

^^^my nape is 100% natural too and I love the thickness and curlies.

 

[msbettyboop]

I took out my braids and washed, DCd, etc to my hair last night. I'm almost 6 months post and the NG is THICK and very difficult to get a comb through even with water and conditioner but that's the least of my problems. I don't plan to BC until the end of the year but the relaxed ends look so straggly and ugly compared to the NG. I've been trying to blend them together since last night with conditioner, blow drying, drying flat with a scarf, etc but that doesn't help. The relaxed ends still looks startlingly different from the NG. I am about ready to reach for the scissors at this time. Does anyone know any other method I can use to blend them together please? I don't wish to flat iron.

 

[moriahar]

My last relaxer was for Easter so I think that I am 7 months into my transition. I was just talking to the hussy this morning about doing the BC as soon as I take out my twists extensions (which he did for me) in December - even though I'm also thinking about transitioning for a year before cutting.

We should be hair buddies. My last relaxer was Easter 2009 as well.

 

[LoveCraze]

WHOOOOO HOOOOO!!! I'M A WHOLE YEAR POST YA'LL!!!


Never thought I'd be able to do it. Wasn't always "Good " hair days but I made it. Through this long process I have learned so much about my hair!! Stick in there ladies, you can do it too! Once you find your staple styles and go to styles (when the others don't work out just right), your hair life will be much less stressful!
Now to reevaluate my hair length and BC plans. No BC for me just yet MG LOL.

 

[Foxglove]

WHOOOOO HOOOOO!!! I'M A WHOLE YEAR POST YA'LL!!!


Never thought I'd be able to do it. Wasn't always "Good " hair days but I made it. Through this long process I have learned so much about my hair!! Stick in there ladies, you can do it too! Once you find your staple styles and go to styles (when the others don't work out just right), your hair life will be much less stressful!
Now to reevaluate my hair length and BC plans. No BC for me just yet MG LOL.

Congratulations for coming so far!!

 

[Trini_Chutney]

CONGRATS to Stephelise and Platinum!!!!!!!

 

[Platinum]

WHOOOOO HOOOOO!!! I'M A WHOLE YEAR POST YA'LL!!!


Never thought I'd be able to do it. Wasn't always "Good " hair days but I made it. Through this long process I have learned so much about my hair!! Stick in there ladies, you can do it too! Once you find your staple styles and go to styles (when the others don't work out just right), your hair life will be much less stressful!
Now to reevaluate my hair length and BC plans. No BC for me just yet MG LOL.

Congratulations, StephElise!:woohoo: