Tress Trek - A Transition Journal from Relaxer to Natural

[danielledanielle]

As someone who has had chemically treated hair for many, many, many years, I'm making the transition.  I thought it might be interesting to detail some findings, products and insights.  I also felt posting it here kind serve as a reference (what to do AND what not to do).  There are several posts of this kind, but just like makeup and skincare, everyone's path or choices will vary.  This may be a thread where I'm just replying to myself and while I do feel there is a certain self-aggrandizing thing happening, maybe someone reading it may be vaguely interested.  Then I have served a purpose 😂

So far, I am in month 3, well 3 months without a relaxer.  I have decided not to do a big chop, but just wear protective styles and manage my scalp and moisture as best as I can.  It's less jarring for me than a teeny weeny afro (TWA), and honestly, I find the protective styles easier to manage as I am just doing simple cornrows.

I am also glad for Pattern.  It was definitely working for me prior to this and PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Detangling Nectar for Curls & Coils 12 oz / 354.9 mL and PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Hydrating Hair Mist 12 oz/ 354.9 mL helped with my first round of de-tangling.  So far, that's my biggest concern, managing the two textures once I have enough growth.

Also, feel free to share your own tress trek.

[danielledanielle]

This is my best diy blow out to date.  What I lack in patience, experience and technique was balanced out in products and tools.  I should hop into The Dyson Beauty Thread because, that air wrap round brush 🤌🏽🤌🏽

I also used 3/4 products from the Design Essentials Lavender line (shampoo, conditioner and heat protectant)

This piece refused to be blown 🙄🤣 , I attempted to use my spray bottle and repeat steps and it kindly said, "thanks, but no thanks"

I dare not call this a silk press.  I do have a flat iron, but I just could not.  THIS took hours and I usually get overwhelmed with this after two hours. (This was three hours). The detangling process is usually what gets to me, so once I've gotten to a point where I can get it semi manageable, I'm done.

[miss8]

@danielledanielle 👑 Do You Apply Anything For Baby Hairs And Fly-A-Ways?

[danielledanielle]

@miss8 , not really.  Focus is generally trying to get my hair into a styling form.  If I go fro, it's doing what it wants and straightening it takes so much time I don't have the energy for that

[miss8]

@danielledanielle , I Have Yet To Find Clips / Pins / Stylers And Fasteners That Don't Snag At My Hair 🎀 The Internet Makes Styling Look So Easy! #Flawless #WokeUpThisWay

[danielledanielle]

@miss8 , it definitely is a challenge.  I get bobby pins trapped all the time.  Sometimes, I oil my fingers a bit and work it out, the slip helps with snagging.

[Titian06]

Wow!  Amazing, @danielledanielle ! 🤩  I admire your patience and talent.

[danielledanielle]

TY 🙏🏽 @Titian06  , means a lot 

I've been meaning to ask you (any other fellow curly girlies, chime in) what is your 🐐/HG item for moisture because this is the thing I'm still trying to figure out

[Titian06]

@danielledanielle - Here are my faves for moisture.

S&C:

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna The Rich One Moisture Repair Shampoo 10 oz 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna The Rich One Moisture Repair Conditioner for Fine to Medium Hair 10 oz 

Leave-in:  adwoa beauty Melonberry Hair Milk Leave-In Conditioner 6.8 oz / 200 mL 

Deep conditioning: 

Briogeo Superfoods™ Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture Hair Mask 8.0 oz/ 240 mL 

Briogeo Superfoods™ Acai + Passionfruit Lightweight, Hydrating Hair Mask for Fine Hair 8 oz/240ml 

[Ispend2much6]

@danielledanielle  You are beautiful with curls and your hair straight. I’m really glad this journey is working out for you. 

Drunk Elephant’s Silkamino shampoo paired with Kiehl’s Olive Reparative mask is my go to. I use the mask instead of a conditioner.

I use J Beverly Hills Everyday Spray with every shampoo.

For a leave-in I like COLOR WOW Dream Cocktail Coconut-Infused Hydrating Leave In Treatment 6.7 oz/ 200 mL .

Sometimes I use #Color Wow Hooked shampoo with Coco Motion Lubricating Hair Conditioner (I do think this helps prevent those curly end knots from breaking off by giving them slip even when dry.)

I’ve liked the Color Wow Hair Floetry leave-in but I haven’t used it in awhile.

I LOVE their Money Mist for rehydrating curls on days 2 and 3.

[danielledanielle]

TY both, y'all are kind @Ispend2much6 & @Titian06 

[danielledanielle]

 

Two updates in a week! WHAT 

Right is my hair in day 3 of wash and no.  Itb softened somewhat, but those ends 🙄

Today we're using Ceremonia Pequi Medium-Hold Styling Hair Gel 6.7 oz / 200 mL with the silk press to test the anti frizz and hold power.  I've used this prior, but I had frizz and the frizz wasn't having it

[danielledanielle]

At 26 months (2 years) sans relaxer 🙌🏽

 

Oh snap, I have ringlets!  If only I can figure out how to get them to stay

This is my attempt at a wash and go.  It's a wash and no, TBH.  See the randomly straight pieces, there's two top left.  That's relaxed hair I can't shed at this point.  I did finally concede to getting them trimmed and my stylist did it so I could have some length.  Also, mistakes were made in regards to moisture.  Not the right product mix this time, nor enough of product I suspect.  I can feel when my hair has "no slip" and then it's usually near impossible to get enough moisture into it.

However, I just sprayed hair down with Ceremonia Hair Oil Mist con Aloe Vera 2 oz / 60 mL and just let it be.  So much less time was spent..I am considering a full on cut just so I can be free of extensive heat styling 

[Titian06]

Your hair is looking lovely, @danielledanielle !  Finding products that work, understanding what your hair likes, etc., etc.,... You're doing great on your journey! 💖💖💖

[danielledanielle]

TY!  @Titian06 , I appreciate that!

[curlychiquita]

Looks beautiful, @danielledanielle!  Finding the right products is a journey for all curly hair. I hope you find ones you love! 

[danielledanielle]

Thank you @curlychiquita .  It's definitely a journey, and that's why I like to try to log some of it, in case someone is like... Yeah, I'm lost.  It's not all bad, I like how my hair looks there (again, TY), but I don't like how it feels and now I am more willingly to get it cut vs at the very start.  I think the "big chop" can be really overwhelming, so I'm not going to say not doing it made it easier.. It gave me A LOT of time to adjust.

[danielledanielle]

Long overdue update.  I'm 22 months since my last relaxer.  I still have my relaxed ends, because I like the length I get when I get a silk press.

 

I've tried stretching my hair on my own to achieve a silk like press, but ooof, that's a no.   This is the best I can do, but the roots are super challenging.  It also took a long time and a fair amount of product for just this.

Added in

Dyson Dyson Airwrap™ Multi-Styler Complete Long Diffuse for Curly and Coily Hair🙌🏽

Sienna Naturals Lock & Seal Hair Oil Split End Treatment 3 oz 

BUT, I'm getting decent with my loose bantus

 Fenty Beauty by Rihanna The Water Boi Reparative Leave-In Conditioner 6.7 oz / 200 mL is a big help , but I can only use it a few times before the hair starts to feel dry

Ceremonia Hair Oil Mist con Aloe Vera 2 oz / 60 mLstill 🐐

Also, used a sample of Ceremonia Guava Conditioner for Damaged and Color Treated Hair 8.45 oz / 250 mL on my ends (co-wash) .  It was really helpful, my relaxed ends weren't super dry during drying prices.  I also tried this with amika Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask 8 oz / 250 mL I've been trying to finish, and that worked well too.  Since they both were effective, I remembered the PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Breakage Barrier Hair Mask 11oz / 325ml (friendly the transition one) has a similar consistency to the Ceremonia, so I repurchasd it to keep doing this and also feel like when I get braids next month, it'll be helpful post braids

[Titian06]

OMGosh, @danielledanielle !  I had no idea you had a thread for your transition! 🫣  I love your hair styling talent--the loose bantu and even trying a silk press are amazing to me. 😍 

[danielledanielle]

Ha! @Titian06 , it's the thread I sheep-ishly refer to and usually don't tag because it's full of my face and not full of updates 🤣

Thank you, that's very kind.

[makeitup305]

@danielledanielle I love the look of the loose bantus. It looks super trendy. A DIY silk press sounds really challenging. I can barey blow dry my hair straight without my Dyson lol Coordinating two arms with tension would be the end of me. I think you did a great job.