Thanks to Michelle of Radiant Brown Beauty  for sharing her natural journey with us.  I have to say: Lovely hair and lots of great styles! See even more on her Facebook!

How long have you been natural?

I’ve been natural almost 6 years.  Unfortunately, I didn’t keep track of the exact date.

How long did you transition?

I started out transitioning for about 2 months then I caved and relaxed LOL.  I was determined though to get the chemicals out of my head.  I knew that relaxing was thinning my tresses so I had to keep trying to get past the blockage of how to care for the two textures of hair.

When my hair got to about 6 inches of new growth and about 4 inches relaxed, I went to a stylist and had him cut it all out.  It was not as liberating for me as others have mentioned when they did a big chop.  Still, I just washed and flat ironed my hair to keep it straight.  I didn’t really know how to take care of my newly natural hair so that’s what I did up until about May of this year.

What have been your biggest obstacles to overcome?

My biggest obstacle is the fact that my hair is so many different lengths now.  Because I was flat ironing, I incurred a lot of breakage on the sides and at the crown. My hair in those areas is about 5-6 inches long while the front and bottom of my hair is closer to 13/14 inches long.

What are your favorite styles to wear?

I’m protective styling like crazy because I truly want to reach my hair goals which is bust length hair all around by end of 2011.  While I’ve reached it at the bottom, my crown and sides have a little ways to go still.

Therefore, I either wear my hair in a bun, double bun or banded up and pin curled. Also, I typically bun my hair using a banana clip more than an elastic band. I have literally no breakage with the banana clip and with an elastic band I tend to get a few broken hairs at times.

What are your favorite products?

Now, how are you gonna ask a PJ that question LOL. Ok I’m stepping out of that mentality by refusing to buy another product until I’m near empty.

My favorite product lines are currently As I Am Naturally and Shea Moisture.  I still aspire to use some other lines that I hear people rave about though: Oyin Handmade, DevaCare and Quemet Biologics

Frohawk

Frohawk (back)

For individual products I love and use on a regular: Jojoba Oil, Henna, Kimmaytube Leave In Conditioner, Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration/Totally Twisted, Aloe Vera Gel and Nourish and Shine by Jane Carter.  These products are my staples along with the products in the As I Am Naturally and Shea Moisture lines.

I shampoo with either As I Am Naturally Curl Clarity Shampoo or Shea Moisture Hair Thickening Shampoo.

Any advice for the newly natural ladies out there?

Sure, I got lots of advice but I’ll stick with three points:

#1- Don’t base your results on that of other ladies.  Everyone’s hair is different, grows at different rates and the curls define differently.

#2 – While transitioning be careful to keep the two textures blended or you risk breakage. BUT, remember that just because someone else big chopped doesn’t mean you have to.  As long as you keep your hair conditioned and moisturized, you can transition and trim out the relaxer over time.

Twistout

#3 – Going natural can be fun but costly if you allow yourself to get out of control. If you have products that you like and find working for your hair, stick with them.  You don’t have to use everything everyone else is using to be successful with caring for your hair.  I know this sounds funny coming from someone who just called themselves a PJ. I like to try new things but for my staples, they shall remain because they work for me. Find what works for you.

Thanks for sharing your story girl! You are a beautiful young lady and I’m so proud of you for breaking the cycle of bad relaxers to transition to natural. Good luck in cosmetology school!

How long do you plan to transition?

I plan to transition until I feel like it’s time to cut the rest of the relaxed ends off.

What styles are helping you through transitioning?

I’m wearing tree braids with human wavy hair. I make sure to take care of my hair by oiling it & making sure it’s not braided too tight.

What styles make it harder for you, if any?

Ponytails b/c I have a TWA

What are your favorite transitioning products?

Agadir Argan Oil shampoo(Sulfate Free), Yes to Carrots cond., Tea Tree oil, Olive oil, & Organics Hair Mayo.

Do you have support in your life concerning your going natural?

I have the people on Natural hair websites, my friends & the my followers on my blog

If not, how are you handling any criticism?

My family does not understand natural hair & doesn’t like it, they keep telling me to relax it even after they saw it was growing. I just tell them NO, I’m NATURAL & gonna STAY that way. Or just ignore it & try to walk/get away if I can.

 MY STORY:

I got my 1st relaxer when I was in 7th grade, I’ve NEVER liked them but my mom MADE me get them b/c to her, they make your hair more “manageable”. I accidentally cut my hair when I was in 8th grade while I was taking out my braids & it went from being bellow my shoulders, to the top of my ears.

Near the end of 9th grade it grew to my shoulders & it didn’t grow any farther then that b/c of breakage from the relaxers. Summer 2009 my hair got REALLY healthy b/c I hadn’t gotten a relaxer in a LONG time & I was LOVING it!!~♥

But in Jan. 2011 my mom gave me a REALLY bad relaxer & my hair was falling out!! So March 10th, 2011 I got my hair chopped to chin length & decided on that day that I was going Natural & I’d never get a relaxer EVER again. May 18th I did a mini chop & now my hair is in a 3inch TWA.

I plan to go to Cosmetology school in August & become a stylist that can do ALL types of hair & textures.

Thanks so much to Robyn for sharing the story of her current transition with us! Robyn, kudos to you for looking ahead for the health of your family and yourself! You look like you’ve gotten into a good routine, which I think is crucial for low stress during transition. That flexi rod set is on fire, girl!

Hopefully she will let us know when she is all natural! Visit her at her blog.

Press and Curl

I never knew my hair without a relaxer.  I started doing my own hair at a very early age…relaxers and all!!!  As I got older, I discovered a close family friend and stylist and was in her chair every week!  I still did my own relaxers or gave her my “box perm” to put on my hair, because anything professional grade would burn my scalp so bad and chemical burns are the absolute worst!!!

My stylist and I had our hair routine down…every 4 weeks – relaxer and trim, every week wash and roller set, and every 6 weeks protein treatment/deep conditioner!  We didn’t put any direct heat on my hair at all!  My hair grew so long (past bra strap length at its longest!) and it was thick and healthy (if relaxing your hair every 4 weeks can still be considered healthy!)

When I was diagnosed with a rare medical condition my “natural” journey began without me even knowing it!  My hair fell out in the back and on the sides due to the many medications I was taking and all that hard work went down the drain (literally)…  It’s funny because I had so much hair, you really couldn’t see the breakage, I hid it well (for years) until so much fell out I had to cut it off to match the short strands underneath!!!  I was so upset!  I remember crying for weeks (not days…weeks!)

Surprisingly, my hair grew back really fast!  So, now since I have this condition that unfortunately, does not have a cure (yet!), I am forced to make a decision…my hair or my health!?!?  NOT a difficult decision to make!!!

Press and Curl

After my wedding, I decided…no more relaxers!!!  My husband and I want to start a family and I vow to be in the best health I can possibly be for myself and our family!!!

I am in my 5th month of transition and I am completely embracing the entire process!  The first 2 months of transition I wore micro braids, which worked well, but I wanted to start playing with my hair (especially my new growth!).  The last three months I have tried twist outs, braid outs, buns, flexi-rod sets, pony tails and pony puffs!  I have to say my hair really loves the flexi rod set the best!  It is a great hairstyle to hide my two textures and I can make this style last for at least 5 days!  I love it!

I am always on the hunt for products, but right now I am loving Miss Jessie’s Curly Meringue and a mixture of Shea Butter and Coconut Oil for my flexi-rod sets.  If it starts to look dry through the week, I just rub more of my butter/oil mix on my hair and I am good to go!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to share my story!

Flexi Rod Set with Flat Twists

Take a look at a long term transitioning expert. You’ve seen me mention Mook before when referring to her wonderful video on kinky twists, but lucky for us she has agreed to be interviewed!! Thanks Mook, you are such an inspiration!!

Kcurly: What were the factors in your decision to go natural?

Mook: Its a long story but here’s the whole thing. I started off with surprisingly healthy and thriving relaxed hair. But as my hair was getting longer, it was becoming more difficult to self relax and do my touchup fast enough.

This is one of the main reasons why I am transitioning to natural other than just wanting to
know what my natural texture will be.

In March 06 I did my touchup and wound up with a chemical burn in my scalp. A few days later – sitting at my desk at work, I accidentally scratched the scab off and the bleeding was out of control (very odd,
like nothing I’ve experienced before). Really, I thought I was gonna have to go home the blood was rolling down my scalp & down my neck from the one smaller than a dime sized burn/scab.

The following week I broke my leg in a severe car accident and was hospitalized and on blood thinners which did not allow the burn in my scalp to heal properly causing an explosion of blood vessels in my scalp about the size of a kidney bean, which a dermatologist later removed without a problem. She called it a pyogenic melanoma.

So as a result, I decided that from then on I would have professionals do my touch-ups and do long stretches in between. September 2006 I went for a touch up and it came out great. Feb 2007 I went to the same salon for my touchup and they did a horrible job. I even had 2 small chemical burns.

I get home and find that My roots are only partially relaxed and there are spots where he did not bring the relaxer down far enough from my scalp so there are mid-strand areas that are unrelaxed. yikes! I waited 8 1/2 weeks and went back for a corrective on April 17 and because of the nature of the problem, they had to pull the relaxer down over previously relaxed areas (but not the whole strand). The result was good, & I was
pleased, until the receptionist tried to charge me for the re-do. Up to this point I had been very happy with the level of customer service at the salon. NO I DIDN’T PAY but I wasn’t happy anymore.

I was reading more and more about the dangers of relaxers and finally decided to stop getting relaxers about 2 months later.

Kcurly: Why did you decide to transition long term as opposed to doing the BC?

Mook: When I started my transition, I was already armpit length. My husband & I both prefer long hair (on me) and I was not interested in cutting off my hair. So I decided to maintain my length by just trimming as it grows. I
found great inspiration by looking through the albums of other long term transitioners.

Kcurly: How long have you been transitioning and how much relaxed hair do you have left? How often do you cut the relaxed ends?

Mook:I have been transitioning for 23 months. I can hardly believe it myself. In the back all of the relaxed hair is gone but on the top and front I still have about 1.5 inches of
relaxed hair left.

Kcurly: What are the styles that you usually wear?

Mook: Cornrows Braidouts Twistouts

Kcurly: What is your favorite style?

Mook: Cornrows.

Kcurly: If you’ve read my blog you know I have to ask this question. What are your staple products and do you consider yourself to be a product junkie and/or have pj tendencies?

Mook: I am still trying to build a solid regimen. My staples change from time to time and unfortunately some of my beloved products were discontinued leaving me heart broken. Yes I’m a PJ but I do restrict myself sometimes so that I don’t get out of control.

Here are my current staples

Aussie Moist poo & conditioner
Matrix So Sleek poo & condish
ORS Replenishing Conditioner
Silicon Mix
Mane & Tail Moisturizing Conditioner
Bee Mine Curly Butter and Growth Serum
CHI Silk Infusion
Elasta QP Mango Butter
Kid Organix Detangling lotion
Silk Amino Acids.
Coconut Oil

Kcurly: In your opinion, is transitioning as hard as people usually complain that it is?

Mook: Hmmm, transitioning short term I’d have to say no, not at all. Longterm transitioning can be very difficult if you don’t have patience. Even if you are patient, it’s definetely not the easiest thing in the world
there are many ups and downs and strange changes to navigate but I think it is excellent preparation for having a full head of natural hair. And I must say that there is no need to fear that your hair is going to fall off at the demarcation line. There will be some level of breakage but if you’re careful you can maintain.

Kcurly: Have you received any opposition from friends and/or family about going natural and, if so, how do you handle this?

Mook: In the beginning a cousin on my husband’s side of the family laughed and told me I couldn’t do it. She said my hair was too thick and that I’d give up. It only motivated me more. Then one day my Mom (not fully understanding my choice) told me it was time for me to get a touch up and asked me when I was going to relax it. I explained that I wasn’t going to be doing that anymore. She thought I was just going to be stretching for long periods, not eliminating relaxers all together. But after I explained it, she was on board because she knows that I’m good with hair. My husband and friends have been a great support system through this journey. They provide wonderful encouragement.

Kcurly: What is the number one hair practice you have that promotes the overall health of your hair?

Mook: When I am at home I keep my hair oiled and covered with a silk scarf. When you’re lounging around hair will rub on your clothes, chairs, & couches causing damage. Keeping it covered prevents this kind of damage.

Kcurly: What is your biggest piece of advice to those who are transitioning?

Mook: Be patient and seek help. I don’t know if I would have made it without a support system. I got lots of advice and examples from other transitioners on hair boards, blogs and forums. There will be ups and downs but hair is very resilient and you can get through it. And here’s my best trick…If you get discouraged and feel the urge to relax, but you know you really don’t want to…Go to the sink and wet your head. By doing this you’ll render yourself unable to relax without burning and then the urge will pass.

"April 07--Air dried relaxed hair-Start of transitioning"

"October 07- 6 months into transition freshly self-trimmed & flat ironed"

"May 08 - 13 months spiraled with a flat iron see the fluffiness of the type 4 natural roots?"

"December 2008 tried to flat iron again."

"Jan 2009 Blown out, moisturized and sectioned to prepare for kinky twist installation"

"March 2009 moist twists"

More pictures of Mook’s lovely tresses can be found at her fotki (no pw needed).  She also has more exceptional video tutorials on youtube.