14 week post relaxer update!

Hey ya'll! So i took a bunch of photos of  freshly washed and dry hair. I was going to do a post showing all of the products I use. but i don't know if you guys want to see it. Tell me if you do. 

Later Chicas - Autumn

                                              I need a trim!
                                             

Autumn's Transition Routine

So..I think I have FINALLY established a transition regimen. 

Here are the steps:

1. Put hair into 4 sections
2. Co-wash or shampoo each section
3. Finger detangle to get rid of tangles and knots
4. Dry each section with a T-shirt
5. Put in a leave-in
6. Air dry 
7. Style(Lately i have been doing braid-outs)

I co-wash 1 or 2 times a week and wash with shampoo about once a month. I just finished a protein treatment( Aphogee 2-min Reconstructor) and my hair feels so good...it really needed it.

Tell me your regimens or recommended products and questions in the comments. Good luck Chicas!

Transition Styles

Here are some of the transition styles I have been trying so far:

Box Braids

Braid-Out

Old Braid-Out Bun 1

Bantu Knot Ponytail 1

Bantu Knot Ponytail 2

Old Braid-Out Updos

Washing and Detangling

I wasn't really sure what to expect when washing and detangling my transitioning hair, but it has become really difficult for me. I am sure the constant curly styles I have been wearing lately are part of the problem. Because I do nothing but twists, braids, and bantu knots, I have been subjected to an abundance of...well knots. It has never taken me so long to detangle before, nor have I had so much breakage. I keep trying to remind myself that this is just part of what happens when you grow out a perm, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating. 

Recently though, I took some advice from some ladies at bglh to do a hot oil treatment on my hair and start washing in section. I have to say...it definitely worked. Yes, it does take longer wash now that I have to do one section at a time, but that equals less time I have to spend taking out knots. I'm pretty sure the technique (or lack of one) I was using before was counterproductive because I was causing all of my hair to tangle into one huge mess. This is much easier and brought my frustration level way down. I was ready to start tearing my hair out y'all lol. The hot oil treatment worked wonders as well because it was so much softer. I used the Proclaim Argan Oil Hot Oil Treatment.

Here is what I did if anyone is wondering.

1. Wash hair in 4 sections with shampoo (Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo).

2. Apply hot oil treatment to each section and work into hair thoroughly.

3. Sit under hooded dryer for 20 minutes. (I did this because we ran out of shower caps and I wanted the oil to stay warm.)

4. Put hair back into 4 sections.

5. Apply conditioner (Herbal Essences Totally Twisted) to each section.

6. Detangle and rinse.

Amber's Story

So my sister has been bugging me because I have not done my intro yet, so here it is!

Braid out puff

I am 19 and have had my hair relaxed since before I can even remember. I have always had really thick hair and that was about the only thing I liked about it. There have been periods of breakage that have caused it to fluctuate a bit in length, but for the most part it never grows longer than a little past shoulder length. 

I must admit that I am guilty of never taking good care of my hair. After a while, I just didn't care about being nice to it because I figured that was the best it was ever going to get. Relaxed hair isn't very inspiring. Lol. I think the only time I got excited was when I cut it earlier this year, but even that didn't last long when it grew back out. I'm the type that loves how big and fun my hair is when it is blown out and then gets depressed when it's all limp again from the fresh relaxer.

Another thing I was resigned to was living with an unhealthy scalp. My scalp is pretty sensitive and I would always have burns, and therefore scabs, from the relaxer. I also get uncomfortable if I don't wash my hair for more than a couple days and anyone who has had a relaxer knows that these two things do not go well together.

Long story short, I have always toyed with the idea of going natural but didn't think it was possible for me anytime in the near future. Now that I have found all of these online resources, I am so happy that I can finally feel comfortable doing this. I just want to finally have hair that I can fall in love with...or at least know what I heck I have been relaxing all these years. Wish me luck!

(Here is a video of me transitioning with box braids. Watch the end to see pics of my hair story.)

What is your hair story?

The Buddy Transition

Is It Helping or Hindering You?

My younger sister and I have recently decided to go natural together. We are currently about 10 weeks post relaxer and already can't help looking at each other's scalp to see the new growth. I know, I know, a watched pot never boils, but...we can't help it! The whole process is so exciting! Our reasons for transitioning are different, as well as our methods, but we 

both agree on one thing: we want to be in love with our hair...our HEALTHY hair. 

Over the past couple months though, it has come to my attention that going natural with a partner has its potential ups and downs. Here is what I came up with:

Pros

Support - You get to have someone there that understands the struggles you may go through and won't encourage relaxing when things get tough.

Ideas - You and your buddy get to bounce ideas for hairstyles back and forth, as well as troubleshoot together.

Practice - Use your partner as your own personal barbie doll to practice hairstyles you would like to try on yourself.

Sharing - For pricey or experimental items, share the cost and the product until you figure out how well it works.

Cons

Hype - Too much hype about going natural between the two of you may cause you both to start thinking about hair a little too much. Hair is great, but it's not everything. 

Hair Envy - The excitement and support may start to dim if one person starts to feel jealous of the other's hair growth and/or curl pattern.

Different Folks, Different Strokes - What works on you, may not work so well on her and vice versa.

Buddy No More - Your transition partner decides that going natural is not worth the effort yet and relaxes her hair. What happens when your support is gone?

What do you ladies think? Share your thoughts. 

My Roots are GRowing!!:)

Hey it's me Autumn. These are just some random pics of my hair that my sister took for me. I'm almost 12 weeks post relaxer. If you guys have any questions, just leave a comment or send your questions to amberautumnwash@hotmail.com.

                                        Freshly washed:) Still a bit damp...

              An  up-close shot at the crown....i can't believe how curly they are!!! 

                This is at the back of my head and the coils get a little tighter:)

                                       Stretched to the max!