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2:49 pm
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February 4, 2013
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I was just thinking about why i went natural and wanted to know why everyone else did? For me it was a relaxer gone wrong. After i gave birth and after not having relaxers for 5 months my hair just start to fall out so i said enough is enough i want my hair to be HEALTH and long and this is not working for me any more. So i stopped in april and stop using heat in Aug. What about everyone else. my one friend told me she stop because she couldn't afford relaxers any more.
3:54 pm
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January 31, 2013
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I decided to go natural for a few reasons. Breakage. Chemical Burns. Wanting to know how to handle my hair.
Since my sophomore year of high school, I had been wearing braid extensions back to back with maybe a small break in between once every few years or so. Each time I had a "break" I would perm my hair, it would eventually break off, and I would go back to braids (I had no idea how to perm hair anyway my mom always overlapped them, so I did too 
). This cycle went on til my mid 20s.
Then I thought that constantly wearing braids had caused traction alopecia on my temples, but when I looked at an old pic after perming, I realized that it was the chemicals that caused it because that is where I always had scabs after perming, not matter what precautions I took.
Finally, by the time I hit my late 20s I just wanted a change from braiding my hair, and figured if I wanted long, healthy, hair I had better learn how to deal with my own texture.
8:30 pm
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January 31, 2013
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I love this thread idea! I will never forget what I went natural. I had a hair dresser who, while a great hair dresser…she never wanted to help me with the health of my hair. She would always say I was too nosy or curious..about the what she is doing with MY HAIR!…she would take advantage of my time sometimes and always say she was going to move out of NY. Every time I left I felt I was nervous that I would need a new hair dresser. So in 2011 I was like…I don't need this woman..I don't need to be so dependent on someone else for my own hair..I was afraid to wash my hair, style my hair or do anything and I felt like I was too old to have no knowledge of my own hair.
So I started doing research and bought The Science of Black Hair (all still with the intention of maintaining a relaxer on my own). I started watching videos of relaxed girls and then by accident a saw a video of a natural and the whole hair journey process..and then I watched another..and another and eventually I went to my boyfriend and said..I'm going natural. I was so excited to do it that (I was teaching a college class at the time), I couldn't even wait until the semester was over and I just did it (at that time I actually had just started the protect your ends challenge for the first time). It was the best decision I could have ever made for my hair, my health and my well being.
11:24 am
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February 4, 2013
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i love your stories. @Samantha i felt like that i had to live out of state for 5 months and i didn't let anyone touch my hair the whole time. i just washed it blowed dryer it and flat iron it the worst because i was so bad at it. it feels good to be free.
@nkfd i had actual asked my mom in high school if i could get braids she always said no to me, guess she knew best because i didn't really take care of my hair then either my styles did. so getting them would have made me bald i know it lol.
1:12 am
January 31, 2013
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I had never had any issues with relaxers, no breakage, no burns, my hair was long and yes healthy (as healthy as a relaxer can be). When my new growth started growing in I was not happy. I hated sitting in the salon for hours and hours, but I endured it because I hated the idea of someone seeing my "naps" more than I hated what it took to get rid of them. Moment of honesty here, I, like so many black women, was embarrassed by my hair and tried to hide my "kitchen" and edges when my new growth would start to become visible 
. At some point after almost 10 years of relaxers I started playing with the hair at the nape of my neck and came to the realization that I actually liked what it felt like. At the time I was really considering locing just because I liked how my natural hair felt. Not sure what inspired the change of heart but I wasn't ashamed anymore. As time went on I started watching YouTube videos of other naturals (not sure how I started that) and finally made the decision to do it. I told very few people and some didn't believe I would really go through with it and cut off over a foot of hair but I was serious. I intended to be a long term transitioner (a year to be exact) but the two textures were a nightmare to deal with and I could never get them to blend. I was in my last year of college and I so wanted to BC after only 2 months of transitioning. The only thing that stopped me was that I had to focus on finals which came around the 2 month mark. I lasted a total of 4 months and two weeks after the start of my last semester I did my BC and haven't looked back since 
3:31 pm
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February 4, 2013
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great story @jodi-ann p
11:45 pm
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January 31, 2013
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@samantha that is craziness about your former stylist. I don't understand why some stylist can be so shady.
@mommynaptural_hawkes when I was in middle school, everyone was wearing dookie braids (I know that's a controversial term for some but that's what we called 'em when I was a kid), and braids were out of the question with my mom too. After moving to an all white town and spending a year with busted hair braid extensions were such a blessing.
@Jodi-Ann P that's interesting. I know that people can have healthy permed hair, and sometime I want to go for it, but always decide against. I'm too scared I guess
11:57 pm
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February 4, 2013
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I never really meant to go natural. Two summers ago I had neck length relaxed hair that covered my shoulder and shirts in little breakage hairs and split ends. I had recently relaxed my hair November 2011 and afterwards the entire right side of hair had broken off to almost chin length 
I knew that when I left my hair alone and didn't straighten it it grew like weeds so starting March 2012 I stopped straightening my hair for good and just did ponytails and updos etc. I straightened two times, both during the summer and both times my hair was longer and the right side was now growing back really nice. I got excited so I threw my hair in some yarn braids August 2012. While researching how to do yarn braids myself I was introduced to the main ideas of the natural hair community and how others just cut their hair off and began to grow their natural hair out, but I never researched I just wanted yarn braids! So it was September and it came time to take the yarn braids down and I started researching about that and everywhere it said it would take 3+ hours 
ain't no 'body got time for that. So while one curly nikki forums I found the thread "What to do after I BC…" I read it, grabbed some scissors, and starting cutting the braids off from the root. (SO MUCH QUICKER BTW). I had my Dad (who was just like
when I walked into his room) buzz off the rest because I knew my kidde grade scissors weren't the best to be cutting hair with. I DC'd my 1/4 inch hair and the rest is history.
But the best part was that I literally told no one and the next day work everyone stared at me and I was like idc about your white opinions right now I have work to do. My boyfriend came in to give me my lunch, took one look at me and said "Damn baby, just staying sexy!" Basically everyone I cared about loved it, and thats all that matter. I like to think I also influenced my BFF to start transitioning as well, I can't wait to see her hair either!
1:27 pm
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February 4, 2013
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my husband wanted me to go natural but had no clue how i would look with short hair since i cut it he loves it if not more then long lol. i love your story @briar
8:26 pm
January 31, 2013
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@briar …wow…you're amazing. I don't know it I would have been that brave to just cut from the root! You're a rockstar
6:57 am
February 1, 2013
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Well, whenever my hair is processed (be it relaxed, chemically-curled, or texturised), by hair never grows past my neck. I always thought that was my terminal length until I went natural and both times (the time before I texturised and since May 2012 when I re-started my natural hair journey) my hair grew past my neck. This 2nd time around it's still growing out like weeds so I'm happy that I stopped processing my hair.
11:10 am
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February 4, 2013
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@Jodi-Ann P Haha thank you. But really I was just at an excellent time in my life where I was very confident and self assured in whatever I did, and it just seemed like the right choice.
@mommynaptural_hawkes Thank you! I love your story as well, I love all of them!
@MichelleF First of all welcome to BGLH forums! And I am glad to see you are making so much progress with your hair! It sounds like you are having a lot of fun
3:25 pm
January 31, 2013
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My reason for going natural was my daughter. I started putting relaxers in her hair about every 6-8 months or so after she turned 10. Her hair has always been really thick-I think she is a 3c (not good at classifying this stuff). Her hair has less curl more wave. The relaxers never really made her hair any straighter or less thick. Anyway February last year I went to put in a relaxer and as usual it held for 2 weeks. At this point I said forget it because these things never take I'm over it. I told myself if I can not put them in her hair I should be able to do the same for mine. Our last relaxer was Feb 2012 and I bc'ed on 6/17/12. She has not big chopped but she did cut some of her hair off. She is almost relaxer free.
7:23 pm
January 31, 2013
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@ttillar ….you are setting such a good example of self love and good health for your daughter. Now natural hair can be something that you guys bond over.
8:44 pm
February 9, 2013
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My reason for going natural was because I was tired of my hair breaking off repeatedly. Every time i would comb out my texturised hair, millions of strands kept falling out and I couldn't deal with it any more. I told my mom how upset i was about my hair breaking and now NL (but was still thick) as to when i was past APL when I was younger. My mom supports me 100% on long term transitioning which i appreciate a lot. And Since im a sophmore in high school and only 16, i have my best friend who supports me along the way also. I cant wait until I can fully say im ALL NATURAL!!!! :)
My last texturizer was on August 22,2012
8:54 pm
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February 4, 2013
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Everyone stories are inspiring I love it
1:33 am
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January 31, 2013
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@Jazmyne I wish I had the insight you have when I was 16, and that's awesome that you have the support from your best friend and mom. I hope all goes well for you on your natural hair journey, it's so worth it.
@ttillar I like how your daughter inspired you and how yall are doing it together.
@MichelleF I was the same way with my hair, it never went past neck length and I didn't think it was possible for my hair to grow until I went natural.
9:02 am
February 1, 2013
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@ briar you were really brave, I still cried when I did my BC in August last year (probably because I used the sewing shears and I can't cut straight) so at first I fretted over the fact that the front is a whole inch shorter than the back, now the front seems to be catching up lol.
9:24 am
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January 31, 2013
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@jazmyne thats good to know! My mom hates my natural hair…her my grandparents, my daddy deals with it really nobody likes my natural hair but I honestly dont care what they say because its my hair not theirs so it doesnt bother me. But everyone tries to figure out how my hair grows so fast and blah blah blah! I love it though…Im in love with all these stories! I ended up going natural on accident lol. I actually was wearing quick weaves and sew ins for the longest and ended up liking the curl pattern, but I didnt know what to do with it. I was actually born with curly hair and being raised by my grandparents my grandmother didnt know what to do with it because it was soo much hair to deal with so she put a relaxer on it. So once I got old enough I started taking care of my hair and all of that good stuff…So by summer time 2009 I started wearing extensions and was enjoying them because I didnt have to do much with my hair…when I would take the sew ins out I realized how much my hair had grown and I started enjoying the curl pattern so I made the decision to go natural! I didnt do the big chop because I was scared it would look funny on me because I feel like my head is huge so I let my perm grow off and once the perm got to the ends I just cut the rest of and I have been a natural head every since!
3:39 pm
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February 4, 2013
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@MichelleF Oh like I said I was just ready! I was so excited when I cut it I felt like I had been freed from this societal pressure I had been under since I relaxed! The most trouble I had was learning what to do with a TWA, you know? Omg how funny you mention your hair being shorter in the front because mine is the exact way! It was the way I cut it! Like the middle and back of my hair is 1 inch longer than the rest! I'm afraid as it grows out I'll have a mullet for a while haha! Hopefully mullets look good on me ;)
8:42 pm
February 23, 2013
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Hi, my reason for going natural:
I relaxed my hair when I was 12 years old, I didn't have much time to really experience my natural hair. I was not taking good care of my hair, it was breaking and I was getting fed up of the daily combing/styling and (especially) relaxing.
What made em ant to go natural was the girls that I kept seeing who were rocking their natural hair and I liked…no, loved how it looked and made me realize that I missed mine; I didn't really get a chance to know how my natural hair felt and experience its bodaciousness, lol. I wore my hair in braids for a year before I BC'd on Dec 31 2007-January 1 2008…my motto then was: "new year, new hair"
and I never looked back since. The first few years weren't the best (care wise) but I learned and now take better care and love my hair
.
I tried a couple times flat ironing my hair and know I can't go back to being relaxed. Love being natural.
"Beauty attracts the eye but personality captures the heart."
8:58 am
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January 31, 2013
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Lol @briar this societal pressure! Ive always wanted to do a big chop but I felt like my head was too big!
12:32 pm
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February 4, 2013
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@CANDACEBRIONNE To be honest I know for a fact some people need to transition. Just chopping off all their hair would be wayyy to much of a change for them and they would freak out and either stop taking care of their hair or just start relaxing again. So there are benefits to the BC and to transitioning! I think in the end we are all trying to reach the same goal
12:35 pm
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January 31, 2013
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Lol you are right @briar Im just glad there are options with going natural…whether it be a big chop or just transitioning! You did the big chop correct?
4:03 pm
February 1, 2013
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I didn't even know I was going natural. My mother, sister, and brothers (at the time they had braids) all have 3abc type hair. I on the other hand had hair like my daddy it's a mixture of 3c, 4a, and 4b. So when i was younger like everyone else i begged my mom for a perm, she finally gave in when i was in the 4th grade (my mom is an easy pushover lol). My mom never had a perm and neither did her sisters so she had no idea how to take care of permed hair. So by the time i was in 6th grade my hair went from mid back length to just touching my shoulder. My mom stopped giving me a perm at the point. I grew it out for a year then the summer before the 7th grade I spent the summer with my cousins and aunt in Florida. My aunt decided to put another perm in my hair, because she thought it would be easier with me going into the pool everyday SMH. My aunt taught me how to wrap my hair and so when i got back to NY i told my mom i wanted to keep the perm and I knew how to take care of it. Why would she listen to a 12 year old lol. By the time i was in 8th grade my hair was chin length, so I decided to let the perm grow out again. In highschool I had my first set of african american female friends (elementary was mostly spanish). They "taught" me how to care for permed hair, soo in 9th grade i tried again. I got perms up until the end of 11th grade. In 2004 I was over it! My hair was thin and short and never stayed straight, it was always poofy and I cried many nights because it wasn't like the rest of my family and it was damaged. So i started to transition for the 3rd time and that was the last time I had a perm.
I was fully natural by the 2nd semester of my freshman year in college in 2006. I kept my hair straight using a flat iron for the most part and when it was curly i kept it in a ponytail or bun. My hair looked really healthy when straight buy my curls had heat damage. In 2010 I decided i was going to chop it all off and start from scratch this time taking care of my curls. I found youtube in 2012, why it took me so long i have no idea, but in July i realized i could still take better care of my hair and chopped it off again. So this time i'm growing it out and i'm really taking the time to care for my fragile curls. :-)
12:30 am
January 31, 2013
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@jazmyne…..I wish I was as brave as you are to transition during high school. I know that there is no way on God's green Earth would I do that at that time in my life. What's even more amazing is that your friend's support you. I know you appreciate your mom's support, but I also know that at 16, the opinions of friends matter a lot as well and to have friends that are supportive is awesome.
2:23 pm
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February 4, 2013
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@YoAnaB718 my mom never let me have control over my hair. I'm glad you started fresh great story!!
1:03 pm
February 9, 2013
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@Jodi-Ann P lol thank you. your so right about the high school part. i know i get little whispers and hear little comments here and there when i walk through the halls with a protective style, but i just dont let it bother me because in the end im benefiting from my decision.
@CANDACEBRIONNE my mom was skeptical at first though when i decided to go natural for the second time because the first time was a disaster from all the breakage. But as she seen i can take much better of my hair (as oppose to being 12 the 1st time) she liked what she saw and that it grew alot also like yours! I understand what you had to go through.
@nkfd Thank you, i appreciate it
3:14 pm
January 31, 2013
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@jazmyn…you are absolutely right. People will talk and whisper but let them. You seem to be very self assured which is a great quality to have, especially at such a young age. And if the looks and whispers start to bother you, look at it this way. You're going to have this head of juicy, luscious hair while they struggle to maintain their relaxers and curb any breakage they're experiencing.
9:49 pm
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February 4, 2013
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@CANDACEBRIONNE yes ma'm I BC'ed from shoulder length hair, to about an inch, maybe less
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