I posted this in Curly teens, but I just want to make sure I get more opinions. I hope that isn't against the rules. My sincerest apologies if it is.

Hello!

My last relaxer was in January 2010 (nearly 10 months post ) , so I have pretty decent new growth due to my staple transitioning style: braids. I'm sick of them now. Just think, having beautiful, thick, luscious hair on your head yet not being able to show it. BUMMER.

When I wash my hair, the relaxed ends are so annoying, as you beautiful curlies already know. So I'm ready to big chop

My mom and dad weren't happy when I told them I was going natural (I'm 16, a junior in high school). They talk down about the styles I plan to wear when I'm natural

I really don't care what they think anymore. They are in love with straight hair. So I plan to do my big chop this Saturday.

My thing is this: I'm still going to wear braids until I get some more length (my natural hair seems to be 3-4 inches un-stretched in most ares), so I won't show short hair. (I know for a fact it will not look right on me)

Depending if I work on Friday, I'll do it when I get home from school. Hopefully my aunt (who braids my hair) will be finish braiding my hair by the time they get home.

I'm shady, but it doesn't mean I lack confidence. I just don't want to hear their complaints. In your honest opinion, should I still talk to them about it? It's my head for Pete's sakes. They don't do my hair, I do, so why should I hear flack from them?

Now that I've gotten that explained, here are my hair plans. Yay or nay?

1. Take down braids.
2. Section hair (4 big sections, 2 in the front and 2 in the back)
3. Part each section into 4 rows.
4. Thoroughly wet a certain section of hair I plan to cut.
5. Add a very small amount of conditioner to that section of hair.
6. Comb through that section of hair.
7. Put fingers right above the demarcation line and make small cuts across.
8. Repeat steps 4-7 until all relaxed ends are gone.
9. Wash hair with Qhemet Biologics EWCT.
10. Detangle with Aussie Moist Conditioner (thank God for CurlyNikki and her list of conditioners ). Then wash out.
11. Do a sour cream and lemon treatment: http://littlegoldenlamb.net/2009/02/03/sour-cream/ Leave on for 45 mins.
12. Wash out.
13. Deep condition/hot oil treatment with a mix of honey, Softee's thickening growth oil, Africa's best herbal oil, and maybe a tad bit of Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner for texture (I don't want to overdue it with the protein: http://www.aubrey-organics.com/ProductInfo/001.aspx ) Leave on for 15 mins.
14. Wash out.
15. Add heat protectant to my hair (I NEED SUGGESTIONS, CHEAP SUGGESTIONS)
16. Blow dry my hair. (My aunt refuses to braid my hair if it's thick )
17. Get my hair braided, and leave it up for 2 to 3 weeks, moisturizing daily with my oils (Softee's Thickening Growth Oil and Africa's Best Herbal Oil)

What do you think? Any tips? Sorry for the long-winded-ness. Mad kudos to you if you read it all and want to help me. I appreciate it sooooooooo much. I need support. I'm going to post this in the "looking for a big sister" (or something along those lines) section as well. I hope that's allowed.

Well I'm already a big sis so here goes CONGRATS!!!! I am so happy for you. You have more courage than me on the BC front. And your plans sound solid just do it slowly. If you cut in large sections your hair may come out uneven so repeat after me "small sections"
As for the heat protectant walk down the aisles of your grocery store and almost every cosmetic line will have a heat protectant. I use tresemme.

BTW for braid care visit this site:
http://growafrohairlong.com/braidreg.html
because only applying oils to the hair itself can cause dryness and buildup. Oils should be reserved for the scalp and plenty of water, moisturiser or braidspray for the hair itslef to maintain the moisture of the hair underneath.

And PS you can post wherever within reason of course.
Hope this helped and feel free to contact me if you need any more help.

"SMALL SECTIONS" lol

OMG thank you soooooo much.

May I ask how long your natural hair is compared to your relaxed hair?

Well after cutting it by myself ( which is why I say small sections) it is 50/50 in some places whilst other parts only have between 1-3 inches at the ends but at the very front the relaxed ends are pretty long. Very confusing I'm sorry but my hair is complicated . Btw my new growth is like on average 5 inches.

Gurl I love your avi

oooo you have a lot of new growth! what's holding ya back?

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woah bookmarking this page

I can't wait to henna!

Me either but I won't till I BC which I hope to do in June. I'm holding out till summer when the weather here is better. I don't want to lose precious growth to the weather so the relaxed ends will 'protect' my natural growth.
P.S if you do henna you must post pics

I will henna during winter break, so expect it in late December

The weather here in ohio is so bipolar. It was around 80 some day last week and it dropped to 40 another day. It decided to rain today, and it was humid and breezy. But it's officially fall, and I think we're in for a harsh winter

I just can't wait any longer...I see so many posts about women liberating themselves and I want that feeling of relief. lol

BUMP!!!!

I know what you mean about the liberation but its gonna get as cold as purgatory here so transition it is for me

LOL i know what you mean. but i can't do it anymore. I want a (hair) growth spurt! By the time January roles around (after Christmas when I get all of my natural products ) I will have lots of hair maybe even 5 inches around OH YEAH!!!!!!

You go gurl I am nearly 11 months post yahhh

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I'm nearly 11 months post, too. My last relaxer was January 2010. It'll be 11 months the 9th to be precise lol

well i take that back...you're a month ahead of me lol.

i'm taking down my braids now. i'll post pics of my bc in about an hour or two. i'l also post my music playlist for my bc

here is the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?p=39C01326E7335BC0

i have the sour cream and lemon treatment in my hair right now....gosh i'm tired lol. here are some pics of my BC. i'm so glad i did it ♥♥♥

Congrats on your BC!!! you sure do have a lot of hair missy

CONGRATS!!! Omg you did it. How does it feel to be fully natural? Did the DC work because not all DC's are created equal I learned this past week but enough about me and back to you. How do you feel Hun? Any issues with styling etc or are you rockin the natural? Gurl I just about hit the roof when I read this omggurl!

@ Kea: THANK YOU! I do have a lot of hair. it's hard to comb, so i'm going to use my fingers from now on lol!

@ naturallychelsea: THANK YOU! it feels so good to be fully natural. my hair looks no different actually. i didnt lose that much relaxed hair. i dont miss it at all

the the sour cream and lemon DC didnt work so well. it worked well when i was transitioning. it actually kinda dried my hair out i think i might be protein sensitive, so i have to invest in more hot oils and deep treatments. i'm getting my hair braided as we speak lol. i plan to really wear my real hair out when i get more length and the products i need to achieve certain styles. that should be around december (christmas )

i cut my own hair and it felt so good. i was so happy. i wasnt scared, which surprised me. i usually hate getting my hair cut. lol be like nike and just do it. BC BC BC BC BC BC!!!!!!!!

I want to BC but it's too cold. As soon as winter hits I'm gonna liberate myself, can't wait.

i can't wait either! lol. good luck, and bundle up

Will do and keep me posted Hun.

i will i will