Hair after braids

by Stella
(Illinios)

Hi my name is Stella!

I've read all about your hair transition and it inspired me to try to do it myself.

So right now I've taken down my braids and my hair is a total mess. It's a mess of split ends and tangles! I got my hair relaxed before I got my braids. So now I don't know if I'm supposed to cut the relaxed ends off or get a perm!

My mom wants me to get my hair relaxed but I'm afraid if I do, when it's time to cut the relaxed ends off, I'll actually have to cut off all my hair! I have no idea what to do! I really need help!

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Nina's Response

Hi Stella,

Thank you for your question!

To answer your question, if you are trying to transition and you relax your hair, then you are defeating the purpose of transitioning. Transitioning would require that you no longer relax your hair. Then you would grow it out long enough so that you can cut off all relaxed hair. If you go back and forth between relaxing and transitioning, you really aren't transitioning...you're just waiting for your next relaxer.

It seems you have a decision to make. Are you or aren't going to transition? Only you can answer that question.

If you decided to transition, why do you think you want to transition? What would be the goal for you? Do you want to wear your hair in its natural state most of the time or will you want to wear it straight? Will you be willing to put in the extra time it will take to maintain your hair in its natural state? Are you willing to take the time to learn the correct products and techniques to get healthy hair?

These are all some things you need to think about before transitioning.

Here are some pages to assist you:

Transition from Relaxed Hair to Natural Hair

Transition to Black Natural Hair

Good luck to you! You can do it if you set your mind to it!

Nina Dyoran, Editor, Long-Healthy-Hair-Advisor.com