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]

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 / 89 ml  

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 mL still 🐐

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. 

[danielledanielle]

@makeitup305, thank you.  I am going to go get another soon via stylist, but it's like...I have to give it a try once I see a YT video, because I know it's possible, but I also know that's likely 1000x attempts.  The Sienna Naturals Lock & Seal Hair Oil Split End Treatment 3 oz / 89 ml was the clench hitter for this.  

ALSO -- Yooooooooo....It is exhausting!  I am standing for the first 20-30 minutes and then I have to sit down because my arms and back are so worked.  I already go to the gym to keep up with nugget\be healthy\yada ydada, now it's like, do I need to have extra sessions for my hair? 🤣

[makeitup305]

@danielledanielle I can only imagine. I hate doing my hair, it's so boring and tiring, and my results end up mediocre lol. The main reason I bought the Dyson Airwrap was to streamline the process slightly. My hair is to my waist and it's wavy(about a 2a) , but I suck at getting it to keep the waves without turning into a frizzy mess. All to have the waves be gone by the second day 🙄 I've considered getting a curly cut to see if some layering can help and maybe they can recommend a full routine but idk if I would follow through 😬 My hair lives in a tornado bun 99% of the time. I really admire natural hair styles. It takes dedication and hard work to make it look good. I could spend hours doing my makeup but more that 15 minutes on my hair and I'm over it lol 

[danielledanielle]

So, I'm past a full year without my relaxer.  There's been some growing joys and pains.  Maybe I'll expound on that later, maybe not.

• Daily detangling is a MUST for me.  Fingers and wide tooth combs doesn't do it anymore, that's only when styling.  My wet brush has been handy for this .
• Big dentangles and patience.  I knew I was suffering here because I hate working in sections, but that's really the only way to do it.  Also daily detangling helps here because now that my hair is in its natural state, it's shedding whenever it needs to, so this keeps matting minimal.
• I can't figure out at home heat styling for the life of me, but I know that I have all the tools.  It's probably something that just needs a lot of practice.
• Wash day.  It's a time sink, there's gotta be a way to shorten it.  Last night was my most successful since last year, but it's hours*

Did find a game changer, or I think I have.  And somethings that have been lying around may have a purpose/place in my hair care.

Game changer: Ceremonia Hair Oil Mist con Aloe Vera 2 oz / 60 mL  

Pro: instant shine without the weight

My skin likes aloe, seems like hair does, too

Con: it's such a high price point for two ounces 😭

Potentially purposed:

Fable & Mane HoliRoots™ Hibiscus Hydrating Hair Oil Mist 

PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Juicy & Joyful Mist Spray Bottle  

OUAI Hair Oil 1.5 oz/ 45 mL **

@jaaayp, so this is my hair, I think you asked way back when I just started to grow the relaxer out, like I was weeks out.  This is 14 months out.

 Look at this stretch!

Also, was able to do Bantu Knots!  I can get them at my braider, but I wanted to try it myself.  I watched a couple of vids, and now I can say I'm an expert 😂. Obvs, not but they were helpful, will name the name creators later.  Will note that oiled rubber bands and technique was picked up from the vids.

They are loosely done, which I kind of wanted, my braider does my cornrows very tight, which can be detrimental and cause tract alopecia, so I try to find a middle ground when I go.  I figured if I do it myself, I can do it without the tension and just touch it up lightly.

**The hair oil I was just using to be able to slip the bands in without pulling, but it also helped seal the hair in without feeling extra heavy. If I needed to redo a section, it was easy to remove them and put the back on due to the oil.

*Also, if anyone has any wash day time savers pllllleeaaassee share.

[Samtian]

@danielledanielle Looks great!!! I need to remember to do daily detangling on my hair too. I can't imagine the pain and patience you have been through! I'm sorry about wash day 😓

[danielledanielle]

It's not so much as a pain, as it is my general annoyance of choosing now to do this.  Wish I started this earlier, maybe pandemic time... Who knows?

It's basically learning a new skill, but it's my hair, so it's a mix of (me) thinking people are looking at it and the time it takes to learn something new..ohhh, all that time. Ok, that part is painful 😖 😂 Versus, with relaxed hair, I know what to do, but def not great for my hair overall. 

[peculiarzmakeup]

This is such a great concept! I love how you able to take note of works well for you and as you said keep track of it. Your hair is absolutely gorgeous! Looks amazing 🤩 @danielledanielle 

[danielledanielle]

Thanks @peculiarzmakeup , you always bring the optimism

[peculiarzmakeup]

You do too and I appreciate that so much 🙂 @danielledanielle 

[jaaayp]

I LOVE THIS, I LOVE YOUR HAIR @danielledanielle you look amazing!!! Wow what a length at 14 weeks! I can't say I'm feeling the pain you're going through but tbh, I am very jealous of your natural hair, the body and volume!!!! I can't wait to see your further progress with it.

Tools. Ah, yes. Tools always take practice and patience during the learning curve... if you find something great, let me know @danielledanielle we obviously have very different hair types but I would love to know what works for you so I can try it too (like our same shade swatch on different tones idea).

Thanks for tagging me and sharing your beautiful journey ❤️

[danielledanielle]

Thank you, that's very kind @jaaayp 

I (hope) think I've amassed everything I need at this point, so I'm trying to figure out what really works, and if course, is something better comes along...

Things that are still in rotation

PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Hydrating Hair Mist 12 oz/ 354.9 mL  

PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Hydration Shampoo with Aloe & Honey (this looks like a reformulation 😔🥲, mine didn't mention honey)

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Scalp Scrub Shampoo 8 oz/ 236 mL (similar .. Didn't remember if this had coconut which I got it, my hair doesn't do well with too much of this)

Dyson Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer  

[jaaayp]

OoooOOOOHH @danielledanielle that's always a challenge. I feel like I've tried like 100s of hair products and I'm still looking for the perfect products. 

Please continue to share 🙏 😊 🥰

[danielledanielle]

I'm on my third wave of cornrows.  I definitely got lazy with maintenance on the second round and regretted it.

Spoiler

I think after this third wave it's trim time.

I did give my hair a longer rest before braiding, but I think it dried out.

The growth coming in is nice and thick, but it was a project to detangle.  I added the PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Breakage Barrier Hair Mask 11 oz / 325 mL  , but I'm not sure if it made a huge difference.  The next morning my hair wasn't as frizzy, but it was very soft.  I also had a different braider, I felt like she was hitting some knots, but I don't know for sure.

[missaa8]

I've been wanting to try her products ever since I found out about the brand, @danielledanielle 💗 excited for your journey and looking forward to seeing what you share❣️

[missaa8]

Do you know a good way to test for hard water 💧 @WinglessOne?

[WinglessOne]

@missaa8  Most people in the US have some degree of hard water, but some folks have very hard water. I used to annually visit people in Florida. I could tell they had hard water because their tap water was very cloudy, and my scalp and body always felt itchy after washing my hair or showering. Plus, that water beat my hair up: my usual gentle finger-detangling in the shower with conditioner produced much more “shed” hair than usual. (It was actually breakage, and lots of it.) Another way to tell is lots of white scale around your faucets and/or scaly buildup on your shower head. 

You can buy water test kits online. You can also do the ol’ soap test: get some liquid castile soap (such as Dr. Bronner’s), add a few drops to a bottle full of your tap/shower/tub water, screw on the cap, and shake it up. If the water’s sudsy, congrats: you have soft or not very hard water. If the water’s cloudy with no suds, or maybe just a very thin layer of suds on the top, then you have hard water. 

[missaa8]

@WinglessOne 💕 thanks!