Comments on: Ask Afrobella, Part Deux

By: Tracie

Tracie — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 09:20:15 +0000

Hey thanks Bella! I am so thrilled that you featured my “transition issue” in one of your topics. I absolutely love your site and visit about 2 to 3 times a week. You are truly an inspiration to me and thanks so much for helping us out. I have checked out Motown Girl’s website, which gave me some great advice for transitioning and Nappturality.com gave me the awesome link to other natural beauties and their beautiful and insipiring photos before during and after transition (via fotki.com). I am so excited to have found you guys! Thanks again.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:14:05 +0000

When I did my big chop it was only after I had allowed about 3in which was long enough for twisting and braiding. Don’t get me wrong… I was terrified for about two months that I looked like a guy. But in the end it was worth it. I learned how to twist my own hair…. just like Shasta said.. Twists for 3 days, out for 3 days…have someone show you how to comb twist your hair… There are options and it doesn’t have to be so horrible.

By: Julia_Claudine_Deveraux

Julia_Claudine_Deveraux — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 13:33:48 +0000

I’m still struggling with how I will transition. I’m not sure about the BC because I’m not comfortable with it. Then extensions are not an option because I don’t want to be caught in the “hair weave trap” again. I wish there were other extension-free options. *sigh* I have a CHI flatiron so maybe I’ll give that a try.

By: summer

summer — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:31:58 +0000

My friend Quel, SWEARS by the CHI flat iron as she grows out her hair.
http://homegirl.typepad.com/home_girl/2006/07/i_pledge_allegi.html

By: jerseybred

jerseybred — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 04:53:35 +0000

I’m transitioning now and I rock twist outs, who knew my hair could be so FLY. I think I am a combination of 4a/b maybe even c. I have s and z patterns all over my scalp.

By: Shasta MacNasty

Shasta MacNasty — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 06:20:19 +0000

Another alternative to the BC early on, is to wear your hair in twists for a few days, then rock a twist out for a few days. I’ve also heard some women getting straw/spiral sets while transitioning.

By: dee

dee — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 03:12:08 +0000

I’m not natual anymore, but when I transitioned the first time, I never chopped off my hair. I went from the perm straight to braids. Every time I redid my braids, they trimmed a little more of my permed head. Eventually, I went to twists(hair looked like the kinky twists that were so popular a few years ago). After that, I had a press and curl for about…4 or 5 years. If my hair had been on the curlier side of things, I think I would have kept my hair Natural, but it natually wasn’t, and then the pressing changed the texture of my hair, so I didn’t really know what to do with it. I’m ok with my relaxer, but even now I prefer curls.

By: samida

samida — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 18:05:04 +0000

I did the big chop early in my going natural stage and boy did I regret it. It was rreally short in the front, so I had a hard time coming up with various hair options. That was a rough period, so I highly cosign with Ursula about getting braids.

By: Ursula

Ursula — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 09:39:54 +0000

Doing the big chop at the early stages of going natural is not easy. As such, another alternative would be to put your hair in braids while it grows out. That way, you have time to educate yourself on all that you can do now that you’ve taken the big plunge.

By: brittaney

brittaney — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 05:13:37 +0000

Oh yeah, get well soon! Once again, thanks Afrobella and Motown Girl.