BGLH investigations… If you had resilient/strong relaxed hair, are you more likely to have an easy natural hair journey?
Ok, so typically I leave the investigating up to Jc over at The Natural Haven, but I’m going to give this a shot.
In collecting photos for style icon profiles, RSRs, etc I’ve noticed that women who had long/strong/resilient relaxed hair tend to sprout natural hair with relative ease.
Meanwhile those whose hair was brittle/broken off/struggling when it was relaxed tend to have a fairly difficult time even after going natural.
Is this generalization correct? And if so, what does this mean?
And am I overlooking the exceptions — i.e. women who went from long relaxed hair to difficult-to-manage natural hair, or women who went from difficult-to-manage relaxed hair to big, healthy natural hair?
I want to hear your hair stories. What was the transition like for you? Do you see correlations between your relaxed hair and your natural hair?
Hmmm. I think I’ve seen a lot of women with really really damaged relaxed hair on Youtube who now have thick, luscious natural hair. I think it depends on what you put in your hair and in your body, and how you treat your hair. I’ve noticed that, in many cases, people who don’t do TOO much to their hair tend to have healthier looking coils.
I’m finally back from my holidays and I missed this blog. I need to do some serious catching up!
My own experience is the reverse. I had short and constantly breaking relaxed hair. My hair only became manageable when natural mainly because I learned to be patient and let it be.
I think the level of difficulty that people find may be related to how fussy they are about how their hair looks. For me a basic bun is sufficient for most days. Once every few months, I will do an ‘extra’ hairstyle like a knot out. I wouldn’t invest the 2-3 hours even on a weekly basis. Some people want to wear investment styles as I call them on a daily basis and this can be taxing to both the person and the hair.
I think I might fall in the resilient category though relaxers def contributed to a certain amt of damage.
I had long, relaxed hair. In middle school it was blown dry at home once a week, had split ends and would never reach past mid back. I loathe getting blow outs and started doing wash n gos and it grew much longer and looked healthier but the moment heat touched my hair, it would get tons of split ends again. I was eager to discover my natural hair’s radically different texture but after BC-ing, it didn’t look much different to me from before -just thicker and curlier. No one realizes I transitioned unless I tell them.
Maybe the natural texture will be more distinct over time as my hair lengthens.
I’m optimistic about the strength of my natural hair considering the length I achieved while it was relaxed but that is to be determined over time.
My hair is course, and when it was relaxed it did not thin it out. I’m not sure if that’s what you mean by “strong” or not. However, my hair would not grow past my shoulders, and when it did the ends were severely damaged. Once I went natural after the first BC my hair grew, in loced, halfway down my back. That’s how my hair grew as a little girl before the relaxers, too. So I’ve had greater growing success natural. My hair also looks better that way. Hope that answers your question.
Works with me and my mom. Our hair’s strong whether relaxed or natural. My transition was awesome b/c it was preceded by a summer abroad swimming in the Mediterranean Sea every day. I suspect it’s something in the salt that seemed to reverse the effects of the relaxer on my entire head so I didn’t have as much of a difference between my roots and the rest of my head when I let my hair air dry during the “grow out” period.
Your theory makes sense intuitively. After seeing what a relaxer puts hair through, I figure strands that can withstand such harsh treatment and/or daily flat ironing must have more of the qualities associated with strong hair.
My hair shed so badly as a permie that my boyfriend (now husband) said to me immediately after my big chop “You look so nice! And now you won’t shed hair all over my [dorm] room!” Those were his first two thoughts.
My hair never made it onto my shoulders as a youngster (perms since at least 7y.o. if not before) and now it’s past my shoulders when stretched. I anticipate shoulder-length unstretched by the fall *crosses fingers*. IMO my hair is bodacious now…and a hot mess before. I think I transitioned for maybe a month and a half b/c of the texture difference and the health/look of the permed ends.
I took pretty good care of my hair before, but now I don’t *need* heat or bond-altering chemicals so my hair thrives.
I dont think that it is true. Usualy when someone stps relaxing stronger hair emerges…it does not matter what condition the relaxed hair is in.
I think the easier transition has more to deal with the type of hair that a person has. Those with looser hair types are much more likely to have an easier/longer transition than women with type 4abc type hair.
I went from difficult to manage natural hahir to difficult to manage relaxed hair. his has been the story of my life: 3 years natural, can’t take it no more, go relax. one year relaxed, can’t take it no more, go back to natural downcut. repeat. Difficult every way. But it is healthier now, since i am growing it out and learning to care for it.
When I had a relaxer was hair was HORRIBLE! It wouldn’t grow past my ear except when I had braids. Combing my hair would result in shed hair ALL OVER my bathroom sink. After not being able to get my hair braided for a few months, it broke off again. Now that I’m natural, I still have some problems with my hair. It breaks off so much and after a detangling session, there’s hair all over my bathroom floor. Plus, I have an issue with split ends, but I retain length. Not as much as I think I should, but I do retain some. I feel that my hair is sooo much better now that it’s natural even though there’s some issues that I deal with. Currently, my hair is about shoulder-length stretched.
I have think long coarse 4a hair. Just big hair in general. I used to relax and trim my hair every 2 months and was able to grow hair past my shoulders but if I missed a trim I had breakage. I also had breakage on the sides from wearing pony tails all the time. Stylist used to complain about my hair cause I have so much of it.
Now I’m 2 years without a relaxer I’ve had 2 cuts during that time. I don’t seem to get split ends anymore. I never see them. The cuts were just to give my fro a nice shape. My natural stylist fusses over how thick and pretty my hair is. I have about 10 inches of hair on top (it is cut shorter in back). Thick coily 4a hair. No problems with breakage just have to be careful when I detangle. Less work than when I was relaxed. I can twist it in an hour, before it took an hour to blow dry and another hour to flat iron.
Can many people answer this question honestly? What about those who didn’t have hair boards the last time they were relaxed? With all the advances in natural hair care I definitely think the 00s is an easier time to be natural and it will only get easier as time goes on. I think younger generations will have more choice with how they wear their hair, that’s not to say that straight hair will fall from being a major ideal.
My own relaxed hair was in the hands of the salon I went to and later on in its life they taught me anout co-washing. It did not save me from the breakage I always got in the same areas of my head, everytime I relaxed or texlaxed. Only by going natural did I realise, not all my hair was the same and yet hairdressers treated it the same, processed it for the same amount of time with the same strength relaxer. Needless to say I always got a broken nape and edges. Now I’m natural, I notice these are the finest and softest areas of my head which also break a little now and are prone to knots.
The drier bits of my hair (patches above the ears) always broke when relaxed and remain very dry and needy now. Relaxers don’t work well with my hair – they break it down too much and i’ve had regular and mild in the past, even kiddie perm, same results. Trying to treat all textures the same on one head is a big problem when you are wearing processed hair and doesn’t matter now I’m natural.
My transition was not especially hard but i’d found hair boards this time. I used to just use braids. My natural hair is solely in my hands so takes more time. It is healthy enough and retaining ok with little incidents of breakage but I am more informed about tackling hair issues thanks to the net.
In regards to my hair story, I had a very hard time with my relaxed hair. It was thin, damaged and breaking all the time. My natural hair has proven to be a better choice for my hair but I am still fighting against breakage and finally have the split ends under control. I think my hair is just very fine and fragile but with proper care, it yields positive results. I do know I am not going to relax again!
In my experience, I only had a relaxer for a brief period of time. I only remember putting it in my hair once or twice after I had cut off locks that I had grown for almost 10 years. In that brief time the relaxer didn’t really take no matter how it was applied or how long it was left in, so my hair just came out kind of wavy rather than straight. I sort of took it as a sign and went natural again and now my hair is thriving. When it was relaxed I had to constantly worry about making sure I was fixing the damage that the relaxer and regular flatironing did to it. Now that I’m natural I notice that the more I leave it alone the better it is. I only have to worry about keeping it moisturized and free of tangles. Also, I can actually style it now whereas when it was relaxed it kind of just sat there and had no life to it so I always wore it in a bun.
@Viva… I do think that the internet is helping close the gap between women who have hair that is naturally resilient and women with more sensitive hair (and I include myself in that category).
Unless I really neglected it or abused it my hair was strong when i was relaxing. It grew long and thick then and it’s the same way now. But my hair, whether it’s relaxed or natural tangles so easily that I wouldn’t say my journey was or is easy. But I guess I don’t have to do much for it grow and stay healthy.
I think so, but I’m basing it on my own experience. I’ve been transitioning since February, but the new growth is growing in nice and thick (I stay playing with it at work everyday) and I haven’t had any problems with shedding or breaking, thank God. My hair was thick and past shoulder length when I was relaxing. I used to joke “it’s that Nigerian hair” every time someone asked how my hair got to that length and stayed thick. Genes and my handling is why; I used to air dry my hair and run a flat iron once per week in my hair. If it came out looking jacked, then so be it, that’s what the wrap was for. When I was due for a retouch, I always put box braids in for about 2-3 months. Then I would do a retouch and trim. I did this for years, and never had breakage issues, etc. I’m only going natural by choice, not because of bad experience with the relaxer, burns excluded of course
But I seriously hope to never relax again.
I think it all comes down to knowledge and taking care of your hair. I had healthy, strong hair relaxed and I have healthy, strong hair natural. There has never been a time when I wasn’t always conscious about my hair and making sure it was healthy. The one time it broke off, I learned the mistake and corrected it. I would feel that some pple have a hard time with permed and later natural hair b/c they have never taken care of their hair. Now that they have to take care of it during a transition and once completely natural, they have a hard time.
I will be very honest.. My hair grew long and thick when I straightened it once a month.. There were a few split ends.. but it was always past my shoulders.. For some reason I get MORE split ends as a natural.. (I’ve been natural for almost two decades)… I’ve been part of numerous hair boards.. tried co-washing (no poo), no products, home made products, water only (no poo AND no conditioner)…
I have just now, after two decades returned to blow dry and flat iron.. I think it is easier for me to manage the different layers… and textures in my hair.. So, I’ve just now accepted that for whatever reason (perhaps my lifestyle who knows) that I have to do what makes sense for me… I simply wash, allow it to naturally twist dry overnight.. do a brief straightening blow out and flat iron..thereafter (of course using moisturizers.. before and after).. then manipulate into protective twist styles .. and this is working.. no chemicals..
Sorry the first paragraph should say “My hair grew long and thick when I straightened it once a month before getting a perm.. Perms made my hair too thin… It seems my hair responds better to thermal straightening than chemical straightening.. When I was straightening my hair.. there were a few split ends..”
well, i had long, healthy relaxed hair (when i was able to go to the hair salon regularly b/c i was incapable of managing it on my own). and my natural hair has also grown “long” (by my friend’s standards. whenever they see me they remark @ its growth. idk) and is healthy. the only difference is i am able to maintain my natural hair myself.
i can agree with you to a certain extent. i do think that most women who had long somewhat strong relaxed hair can achieve longer lengths easier with natural hair. however, i think that the majority of people (now) are having better experiences with their natural and relaxed hair due to the information available on the internet.
Viva, I went natural in 1995 after 18 years of relaxing. I know for a FACT that relaxing was one of the worst things I could have done to my thick, fine-stranded, 4b/CNapp hair. My relaxed hair broke off on the regular (barely grazed SL in the back); currently my natural hair is on its way to APL in the back and I don’t have to worry about constantly brushing off my back every time I comb.
Even though I’ve been participating in online hair discussions for 10 years, the explosion of hair care information that’s taken place in the last couple of years has really helped me fine-tune my regimen. I’m very grateful for that. Hopefully someday the industry will catch up!
My natural hair was strong with length at my shoulders. I retained length well but it was typically stylists that insisted on cutting it.
As a solid natural, I started by locking my hair for 9 months and saw PHENOMENAL growth. I combed out the locks and now that I’m a free-strand 4b natural I don’t see as much ‘phenomenal’ growth, but that’s another story
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I really think that it’s about knowing your hair and what it can take and not take. I’ve been natural off and on since high school. I would alternate between braid extensions and natural styles. My hair was always thick and healthy. Every now and then I would relax or texlax my hair, I have wonderful stylist who really helped me learn how to take care of my hair and what it needs. I quit relaxing because straight hair really isn’t me, I love the wildness and lushness of curls and my natural texture. My challenge will be length, I am a chronic haircutter!!
I think it depends on the person’s hair. My hair was always short and thin as a child but I think a lot of that was because my mother didn’t really know how to take care of my hair, constant combing, brushing, water and grease didn’t help matters either. Even once I was 12 and got my first relaxer, my hair was on the fast track to thin, damage and broken hair. I was 29 and didn’t even know how to manage my hair. All I have to say is thank God for hair boards and the internet. My hair is in better condition then it’s ever been.
There was a point when I did get lazy and I didn’t moisturize like I should have and experienced breakage and split ends as a result that taught me a lesson. But to answer your question, I think it all boils down to plain old hair care in general, nothing more.
I’m a bit on the fence. I had perms in my hair since the age of 5. My mother has almost straight hair growing out of her head.
She took care of my hair until roughly the age of 12, and I really remember her ALWAYS double processing all of my strands close to once every 3-4 weeks. She would always start at the back, go around and continue to smooth the creamy crack ALL OVER MY HAIR.
She always took herself to the salon, myself rarely. She always did her hair, but claimed her arthritis would flare up when she’d have to *tackle mine*
Around the age of 12 she gave up, and let me start trying to perm my hair. One bad motions perm, then a big chop, then a botched texturizer, another big chop.
By this time..my hair was always perpetually one length, it rarely got trimmed, by the time iw ent to college I had had enough, and chopped it all off.
listened to other people…but YES, only recently, have I come across this site and NOW everythign is finally coalescing.
A few months ago my strands FINALLY reached shoulder length, but due to flat ironing twists for like a year , I had to cut off about 3-4 inches.
So what somebody said, i think at the end of the day it all comes down to knowledge.
For so long ,I only had half knowledge of how to take care of straightened hair.
Now that I have found castor oil, the denman, and henna, I’m having a MUCH easier time. ( Thanks BelleMuse
Chances, are if a lady had long healthy relaxed hair it was not all just luck and good genetics, but knowledge, and a solid base of people, be they family or stylists, who regularly upkept their tresses.
It worked that way for me. I have always had strong and healthy hair. I didn’t go natural for any reason other than I was tired of paying to have relaxer applied. Plus, I remembered back when I was a child and had no relaxer. I would get my hair straightened and it would stay very manageable until my next hair appt. So, I figured that I really didn’t “need” a relaxer. So, I just stopped getting them. I never did a BC because my hair was healthy and strong enough that I had no breakage at all during my transition. I just continued to get routine trims until my relaxed hair was gone. So my transition was virtually seamless. I’m not sure, but I do believe that it had alot to do with the state of my hair while relaxed.
Viva makes a good point. I was natural until 18, and permed throughout college. I had super thick, 4a hair about an inch or so past “armpit length” as a natural. As a permed girl, I was that same length with the same thickness (as when my natural hair was warm pressed). BUT, I relaxed my hair mildly aka “texlaxed” and never used heat. However, having discovered the hair boards, my hair has maintained thickness and has reached midback when stretched (yes, the way I “texlax”, my hair still shrinks). This is the longest my hair has ever been. Not because relaxers (even mild ones are healthy…ha!), but because with better haircare, everyone’s hair can really turn around. The point is, without proper hair care techniques, NO ONE really knows what their hair can do. So, if all the formerly permed girls commenting, processed their hair before BGLH et. al., they don’t really know how their hair could have looked in its altered state when cared for optimally. I just wish I had known all this stuff back when I was natural. I would have never crossed over to the dark side lol.
I definately had weak, hard to manage relaxed hair and even now that I’ve been natural since the end of June I find it difficult, but I haven’t quite found the right products either.