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Questions for Naturals

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Qualitee

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Why did you go natural?

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?

Did you BC (bald) or transition?

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?
 
Why did you go natural?
I went natural because I was growing my hair back out. I said whenever I got tired of my "Halle Berry" style that I would go back natural.

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much because your hair will lose its natural curl?
It has nothing to do with too much straightening, but more to do with technique, products, and maintenance. I never had problems with heat damage until I started getting Dominican Blowouts. Before that I got my hair (either by me or my stylist at the time) flat ironed every two weeks with full reversion.

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
I did BC to about 1 inch on the top & 1/2 inch on the sides and back.


If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?
N/A
__________________
 
Why did you go natural?
One day the question popped into my head (it went something like this), "Why am I thinking about relaxing my hair again when I don't like doing it?" That was the moment I decided to become natural.
Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?
I shouldn't answer
I have never straightened my hair because I am currently too afraid of possible heat damage and losing my natural curl.
Did you BC (bald) or transition?
transitioned; this was before I knew what the term meant or that there was a term for it
I was stupidly listening to the braiders about when I could cut off my relaxed hair. They kept telling me to wait. They just wanted my money.
If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?
a little over a year
I don't know how many inches. It never occurred to me to measure my hair. I measure it now, though!
 
Why did you go natural?
Couple of reasons. I could not keep my hair healthy with a relaxer whenever I had a stressful time the hair in the back of my head would fall out. EVERY SINGLE TIME, but my main reason was I wanted to see if I could have healthy long natural hair or determine that was a fantasy for black women?

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?

I don't know about that, but I do know you run the risk of damaging the hair where it stays straight, particularly if you do not cover it well with certain protective products before using the pressing comb and/or curling iron

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
Transitioned then had it cut short for a makeover. Big mistake, but I have gotten back all that I cut.


If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?
It was a few years before I had the makeover. I think about 4 or 5 years?
 
Why did you go natural?

My hair and skin did not like relaxers and partially for political reasons.


Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?

You can use heat on too high a setting and it end up straightening your hair. The affects can also be cumulative over time. This happened to me when I used to press my hair, but I think it was the high heat not the frequency.


Did you BC (bald) or transition?

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?

I wore braids for about 6 months then BC'd. My hair grew kind of slow so I only had a couple of inches of hair.
 
These don't apply to me, but I'mma give them a shot :lachen:Never relaxed, but I'm going to go with "hair color is not natural"

Why did you go natural?
I decided that I preferred my natural color better.

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?
Nope. At least not in my case, I've never had that happen

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
I've chopped into some longish pixies a few times. Other times I trimmed gradually.

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?
I waited about a year and a half with faded two-toned hair :nono: trimming the ends here and there, and then big chopped to just below ear.
 
Why did you go natural?

I began really missing my curlies- it was kinda a trademark of mine. On top of that, it was really annoying having to get touch ups all the time and back then, it felt like my hair grew really fast

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?

I think there's alot of fear and paranoia that you'll mess up your curls. Tbh, though I think it really depends on your technique. I've had it where I never straightened my hair for a couple years, then went to the salon to get it pressed and got heat damage. So, it really depends and there's ways to minimize damage to your hair/curls. However, if you're straightening ALL the time- yes, I believe your curls will be affected no matter what preventative measures or techniques you use. But I will say that if you want your hair to be healthy, moisturized, curls hydrated and popping- you need to stay away from heat as much as possible.

Did you BC (bald) or transition?

BC'd bald
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why did you go natural?
the domincans fried my hair that was btw shoulder and apl in 3 months time, caused my hair to thin in the crown area and the texture went from being soft to like brillo, i went to a stylist who had to cut off about 6 inches because with the damage gradual trimming wasn't an option. i would touch my hair and it would snap :( thank goodness i never got i was going once a week and bringing my own products but any chemicals form them! i found a stylist walking around BK at Time salon and they dumped me on her cause they thought i would be a difficult client....i ended up being one of her most loyal. she explained that i didn't need a relaxer and if i really wanted one she would texturize,she now owns her own salon i visit her 2-5 times a year and my hair is the longest its ever been, she dusts about 2-3 times a year. too bad i didn't know about lchf then cause i'd be waist length or longer by now, i'm still learning about how to detangle, wash in braids, protein treatments,moisturize/seal, and pre-pooing and its been wonderful

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?
you become heat damaged yes but otherwise it should snap right back

Did you BC (bald) or transition? transition

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?
i never bc'd i already had a short choppy bob some pieces were an 1/2 inch long while others were btw 4-7 inches long
__________________
 
Why did you go natural?
I went natural because I didn't like the way my relaxed hair behaved, I noticed my hair was thinning and breaking off and I knew I had naturally coarse thick strong resillient strands and decided to stop weakening them with chemicals, the result was hair that is longer and thicker then ever.

Also I think it was so easy for me to go natural because i grew up in a household where my mom was always praising my natural hair and encouraging me to love my natural texture and thickness and I also grew up in a very natural friendly liberal state, so it was not a problem at all for me to decide to transition.


Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?
Um there was a period where I straightened for 3 years straight no breaks:look: I eventually learned to do natural styles and started using heat a little less often but I pretty much straighten when I want to (I wouldn't recommend that for everyone I have very strong thick coarse resilient strands) I did experience a loosening of my texture on the bottom half of my strands you can see the difference in my twists it starts of as 4a coils and ends up a 3c curls:lol: I don't mind, just got a fresh trim so my ends are healthy, my hair is still strong, I'm still retaining length and I can still rock a fierce fro:cool2: it does alter your curl pattern if you do it really frequently but you can minimize that with good technique....luckily for me, the curl pattern loosening toward my ends has been really uniform so I just work with it.

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
I did a long term transition with occasional trims.

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?
I never BC'd
 
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Why did you go natural?

1.Because relaxers are not for me!! I didnt know my hair, so i basically was relaxing for nothing and just because thats what i thought i " had" to do.. 2. imy relaxed hair was damaged and thin, i didnt know hair to take care it, so i neglected it for yrs... decided to start fresh.

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?
well, i cant say, because i havent straightened my hair yet, and will prolly only due so once a year for length checks... if i want straight i will wear a wig.... but anyway, i do have a cousin who just had a major set back from heat damage..she had to cut about 4 inches of the top, where she left it out during a partial sew in and was using a chi iron to get her natraul hair to blend with the stiaght weave.
Did you BC (bald) or transition?
transtioned

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?

i waited about 4 1/2 months... i had about 2.5 inches
 
Why did you go natural?
Cause I had already achieved a decent length of relaxed hair, and wanted something different..plus I dont ever remember my natural hair


Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?

honestly dont know, and I've never tried..since i've been natural i've straightened my hair once..

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
transition

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?[/QUOTE]

I transitioned for 8 months.. and I had a good maybe 3 inches on my head.. don'tttt really know.. there's a pic in my album on here..
 
Why did you go natural?
For thicker healthier hair.

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much because your hair will lose its natural curl?
It depends on how you treat your hair before, after, and during.

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
I transitioned

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?
6 months & 1 week. 3 inches after the cut from between APL - BSL.
 
Why did you go natural?
I never went natural... I never had a relaxer to begin with. :)

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?
Heat damage will make your hair lose its natural curl, yes. When I was in jr. high, my aunt would press my hair once a week (sometimes 2x) sans any kind of heat protectant whatsoever. Eventually, I noticed that the portions of hair that reverted were no longer curly, but had this weird wave pattern.

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
N/A

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?
N/A
 
Why did you go natural? -Wanted something different - potential to eliminate or reduce seborrheic dermatitis - wash & gos after workouts


Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl? I think your hair could become looser from direct heat. However, one of my siblings stopped her frequent straightening and after several months her hair was back to the original curl pattern. Her hair is BSL stretched. When she initially went back to a wash & go, her curls were looser.


Did you BC (bald) or transition? I transitioned


If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you? over 3 years with some mini chops and trims in between. Post transition I was was bsl and I grew to layered wsl before cutting back to shoulder for aesthetics and maintenance. The texture differences made the wash & go look awful due to the layers and length of the back.

Hope that helps.
 
Thanks so much ladies!!!!!:kiss:

Is once everyother week too much for natural hair?

dymanic1 I have seborrheic dermatitis too :yep: Has going natural helped you with it?
 

Why did you go natural?


I went natural the 2nd time because I wanted my natural curls back.
Looking back, I feel like the first time I went natural was just because I wanted to do something different with my hair (short/tighter curls)

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?


I'm not so sure it's straightening your hair too much, I FEEL it's DAMAGING your hair too much that'll make you lose your curl. Heat damage is a b i t c h.

Did you BC (bald) or transition?


I did a 22 month transition this time. The first time I did a 6 month transition.

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?


I waited 22 months and when I BCed I dont know how many inches, i didn't count, but I was APL in the back, and collarbone in the front.
 
Why did you go natural?

i was never able to maintain long, thick, healthy relaxed hair. it would start off nice, but over the course of time (years) growing it out, i'd always end up with thinnning, limp, stringy hair. (relaxer run-off, over/underprocessing, breakage) :sad::nono::sad:

i tried ammonium thioglycolate (curls), lye, no-lye, stretching, naturalaxer, bodiphier, texturizing, i finally had to accept that doing the same thing, and expecting a different result was insanity :wallbash::wallbash::wallbash:

... no touch-ups ... i loved the idea of not having to do touch ups :drunk::drunk::drunk: -- the freedom of just letting my hair grow, & grow, & grow unincumbered ... my natural hair does present it own set of challenges :grin::perplexed:nono::yep::grin: -- dryness, tangles, long-detangling-sessions, single-strand-knots, shrinkage/slow-growth, :spinning::grin::drunk: -- but over time, i've learned how to address/manage & minimize these, and my hair has thanked me for my efforts.

it is the healthiest, & thickest it's ever been, not the longest, but i'm on my way to accomplishing that as well. :drunk::drunk::drunk:

also i wanted to see/prove it was possible to grow long, healthy, tightly-coiled, nappy, kinky, afro hair.

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?

the short answer is yes. heat, especially with no protectant, can damage your hair permanently -- but so can a lot of things: air/wind, water/over conditioning, combing/mechanical damage, braids, buns, twists -- can all be damaging if not done with the proper technique & care ... so i've learned that you don't have to be afraid of styling -- heat or otherwise. read, ask, absorb all that you can.

with heat, as long as you have the proper technique, products, & temperature, you can still have healthy, natural hair that reverts to it's coily-goodness. :drunk::yep::grin:

some people can get away with doing practically anything to their hair & still keep it healthy :lachen::look::lachen:, but as a general practice, i do think it's a good idea to keep heat to a minimum -- & your strand integrity will be the healthier for it.

Did you BC (bald) or transition?

bc'd (bald)

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?

n/a
 
Thanks so much ladies!!!!!:kiss:

Is once everyother week too much for natural hair?


dymanic1 I have seborrheic dermatitis too :yep: Has going natural helped you with it?

what is your hair type - fine, coarse?
how would you be straightening it?
would you ever be wearing it natural? (like would you need to preserve your texture for wash n go's, etc)
 
Why did you go natural? I wanted to convince myself that I believed natural hair was beautiful...

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl? I don't know if it is true or not but I believe it to be true

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
I transitioned...

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you? IDK how many inches but my hair was between NL and SL
 
Thanks so much ladies!!!!!:kiss:

Is once everyother week too much for natural hair?

dymanic1 I have seborrheic dermatitis too :yep: Has going natural helped you with it?

Definitely! My dermatologist suggested it woud help a few years before I decided to grow out my relaxer. Setting lotions and blow drying still irritate my scalp and I haven't figured out why. I couldn't get past 5 days without washing my hair as a relaxed head (major inconvenience while wearing it straight). So as a natural, I am able to rinse more frequently without too much inconvenience. But having seborrheic helped me realize why people have success with miconazole. My script is ketoconazole (Nizoral) which helps decrease shedding.
 
Why did you go natural?
I never liked how my hair looked when I relaxed it. It was very flat. I missed my natural hair and the last time I remember having it was back in 1981 when I was 10. I remembered that my hair was long and thick so I just wanted that back. I was also tired of going to the salon.

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much because your hair will lose its natural curl?
It might be true for some people, definitely not for me. I go back and forth with no problem.

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
I transitioned for 10 months and then did the BC.

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?
I waited 10 months and I believe I had about 5 inches of hair. It wasn't even nape length LOL but I was happy as hell. That was a little over 2 years ago and I'm now reaching WSL so it was well worth it.
 
what is your hair type - fine, coarse?
how would you be straightening it?
would you ever be wearing it natural? (like would you need to preserve your texture for wash n go's, etc)
I have fine hair. I would use a flat iron to straighten it. Ofcourse! I would wear it natural most of the time.:grin::grin:
 
Is once every other week too much for natural hair?
Are you asking about keeping your hair straight? If you are then my answer is I straighten my hair once a week in the winter time. I rollerset and just flatiron the front edges and the rest I put up in a ponytail or bun. In the summer time I don't bother trying to keep it straight because my hair reverts very easily. When I wear it down straight it just looks so lush and pretty. I can also retain more length this way. Again this is just my experience, can't speak for all naturals.

No offense to the ladies with relaxed hair on the forum, but my natural hair straighted is the bizness :lick: LOL
Here is a VERY visible difference. At least for ME.

Me at 32 yrs old (2002) with relaxed hair


Me at 38 yrs old (2009) with flatironed natural hair
 
Why did you go natural?
Because straight hair doesn't suit me. I had had texlaxed hair for some years, and I wanted to know how it would be with my own natural texture.

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?
I don't straighten, just the very occasional roller set.

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
I've BC'd down to a TWA several times through the years, but this last time I did 3 little chops over 14 months to get rid of the chemically treated hair.

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?

At the last cut, I was around 4-5 inches unstretched.
 
Why did you go natural?
I was curious about my natural texture. I didnt like the way my relaxed hair looked when wet. I didn't like being dependent on relaxers.

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?
I think its possible to lose your natural curl pattern if you abuse heat and dont use proper techniques.

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
I transitioned.

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?
I went 8 months and I had about 3-4 inches.
 
Why did you go natural? I'd been wanting to for years. I would look at my new growth and say "I miss my natural hair". In addition, my hair seemed to be getting thinner and flatter with each touch-up (which were normally spaced about 3 months at least). I couldn't deal with the flat look.

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl? I haven't had any experience with this, but I have read countless stories from naturals who had heat damage. One in particular that stands out in my mind ended up having to do a second big chop because of the damage. Her TWA was so pretty too.

Did you BC (bald) or transition? Transition

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you? I transitioned for almost 9 months. My last relaxer was around 1/19/09 and I did the BC 10/11/09. I had about 5 inches or so.
 
Why did you go natural?
Relaxers gave me dandruff. I was tired of the whole process of getting one, and I like big hair!

Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl?
If you use too much high heat and straighten constantly, you have a high chance. Everyone's hair is different. Some is stronger than the other.

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
I transitioned. And wasn't even aware that I was. I just knew I wanted the relaxer out.

If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? How many inches were you?
I transitioned for 10 months.
 
Why did you go natural?
I've only had a relaxer 2x in life and i didnt like it enough to continue doing it either time. 1x in h.s. and 1x in college to copy the halle berry cut :) Both times i just never went back to get it done again.
Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much because your hair will lose its natural curl? For me this is VERY true. I have medium to fine stands and my 3c hair was like 2a from flat ironing to frequently. My hair reverts just fine with blow-outs though

Did you BC (bald) or transition?
Nope. Both times i just sort of let my hair grow out. In HS my hair was fairly long (between APL and BSL) i cut it to shoulder and would scrunch it with gel or mousse or whatever to get the textures to sort of match. In college it was already super short (like 2 inches long) so i just let it grow out. Along the way i braids and weaves and stuff but not to grow it out (mostly because i cant keep fake hair in for more that 2 weeks) just for a change in style. my fave style back then was just tons of gel and either slicked down hair or curly little fro. I never did a "BC"
 
Why did you go natural? My hair was becoming thin and see through.


Is it true you can't straighten your hair too much becuase your hair will lose its natural curl? I don't straighten simply because my hair doesn't really like it, after one week I start noticing broken pieces so I just don't do it anymore. :nono:


Did you BC (bald) or transition? I transitioned in braids back in the late 90's (altho I didn't realize that was what I was doing...didn't discover hair boards til 2005 and didn't join here til Feb 2006)


If you transitioned, how long did you wait to BC? I never BC'ed I just regularly clip the ends til there was no more permed hair left.

How many inches were you? Maybe 6 inches


My answers are in black.
 
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