Roll Call-"Attention All New Transitioners"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CarrieAlana24]

Thanks so blessed. Since going to ATL I have purchased and started using my own products. Today was the first day. I have been greasing my scalp with the coconut oil and have found it to be very greasy, but I read that you said a "few days a week" maybe that is where I am going wrong because I have been using it everyday because that is what I was doing since I was a young girl. Would the curls milkshake be too light for my hair? I've been using it everyday and was wondering am I overconditioning my hair by doing so? Was I using the product correctly and could the whipped cream be used in he same way? What about the coconut sublime conditioner? Would that also be better than using the coconut dream, until I order the Asian Tea conditioner? I use a boar bristle brush and a silk scarf and satin pillowcase. Thank you very much for your response. Your company has awesome customer service. What other company do you know is going to give advice on how to use another company's products? Keep up the good work!!!

[soblessed]

Originally Posted by CarrieAlana24

Thanks so blessed. Since going to ATL I have purchased and started using my own products. Today was the first day. I have been greasing my scalp with the coconut oil and have found it to be very greasy, but I read that you said a "few days a week" maybe that is where I am going wrong because I have been using it everyday because that is what I was doing since I was a young girl. Would the curls milkshake be too light for my hair? I've been using it everyday and was wondering am I overconditioning my hair by doing so? Was I using the product correctly and could the whipped cream be used in he same way? What about the coconut sublime conditioner? Would that also be better than using the coconut dream, until I order the Asian Tea conditioner? I use a boar bristle brush and a silk scarf and satin pillowcase. Thank you very much for your response. Your company has awesome customer service. What other company do you know is going to give advice on how to use another company's products? Keep up the good work!!!

Hey!

I am glad to hear that you decided to take my advice and purchase the products that I recommended. Let me tell you something very important about using oil on the scalp or even in the hair. Only use it in the slightest of amounts. Coconut oil and olive oil work exceptionally well for alleviating dry scalp problems and they have the ability to penetrate the scalp as well. But, they are still oils and when used in larger amounts than the scalp can handle at one time, you will see greasiness occur on the scalp. So, be sure to always apply the coconut oil very sparingly to your scalp only. And, do not grease it everyday as you can end up clogging the pores on your scalp this way.

Next, give me a complete list of all of the Curls products that you bought? And, then that way I can take things from there.

[afenrick]

I've been transitioning for 4 1/2 months. At first it was easy but I am finding it very challenging right now. I've had my hair relaxed since I was about 10 years old and now I'm almost 40. I'm really tired of being beholden to relaxers and hair salons. I'm tired of the expense of relaxers and I'm tired of feeling limited in terms of my life out of fear of not being able to get my hair relaxed. I think about living outside of this country but wonder how I will get my hair done! (sad) I worry about what message I'm communicating to my 6 year old daughter by relaxing my hair. I always tell her to be happy with the way God made her (skin, hair, eyes, body type, smile etc.) It feels hypocritical then to relax my hair. If I relaxed it only for the ease of it that would be one thing. But the truth of the matter is I relax it because I want it to be different than I think it is. So all of this to say that I'm on a journey of acceptance of myself and freedom from the trappings of having relaxed hair. I'm not sure where I'll end up but here I go. . .

[soblessed]

Originally Posted by afenrick

I've been transitioning for 4 1/2 months. At first it was easy but I am finding it very challenging right now. I've had my hair relaxed since I was about 10 years old and now I'm almost 40. I'm really tired of being beholden to relaxers and hair salons. I'm tired of the expense of relaxers and I'm tired of feeling limited in terms of my life out of fear of not being able to get my hair relaxed. I think about living outside of this country but wonder how I will get my hair done! (sad) I worry about what message I'm communicating to my 6 year old daughter by relaxing my hair. I always tell her to be happy with the way God made her (skin, hair, eyes, body type, smile etc.) It feels hypocritical then to relax my hair. If I relaxed it only for the ease of it that would be one thing. But the truth of the matter is I relax it because I want it to be different than I think it is. So all of this to say that I'm on a journey of acceptance of myself and freedom from the trappings of having relaxed hair. I'm not sure where I'll end up but here I go. . .

Welcome!

Well, transitioning is a very big step. As, a lot of us females have been relaxing our hair for a long time. But, I definitely feel that you are doing a good thing by "stepping outside of the box" and wanting to wear your hair natural. I know that as a parent you really want to set a right path for your daughter to follow. And, that is definitely a good thing.

Also, in relations to your relaxing your daughter's hair, I feel that you are relaxing your daughter's hair out of a need for it to look and feel smoother and more manageable. However, at the age of 6, her hair and scalp is in a very fragile state and the constant use of chemicals applied to her head (at such young age) can ultimately start to cause breakage problems for her hair very early on. So, I just want you to be aware that there is a lot of caution that should be taken whenver you relax a young child's hair. Because, even though there are relaxers out there geared towards young children, these relaxers still do contain harsh chemicals in them, nonetheless. And, whether you continue to relax your daughter's hair or not, I do hope that you do have your daughter on a good haircare regimen.

I hope that all goes well with your journey to become natural and if you ever have any hair questions or concerns, then please don't ever hesitate to voice them here, okay!

[afenrick]

Thanks for your quick reply. I just wanted to clarify that I am not relaxing my daughter's hair - in fact, she doesn't "need" a relaxer. She has beautiful, soft, ringlet curls. I'm not really up on the hair types but I would guess she's a 3b. What I meant to convey is that I am always encouraging her to love herself the way she is. I want her to appreciate her beautiful, chocolate brown skin, thick thighs and round bottom. I don't want her growing up thinking that only girls with fair complexion, blonde hair and blue eyes are beautiful. So with that in mind, I need to embrace the same concepts for me, i.e. that my hair is beautiful the way it is - however thick, unruly, kinky whatever it turns out to be.

[talymo]

Hello,

I received my first relaxer when I was 13 or 14 because I had very thick and long hair that my mother grew tired of pressing. I am almost 40 now and started transitioning in Jan. 2008 (last touch up was in Dec. 2007).

I started transitioning because I noticed my hair is not as thick (still thick in the crown of my head) on the sides. Also, I really do not like my hair to be that straight (the last several years my touchups were only with a mild relaxer and I got touchups every 8-9 weeks).

I was blessed to find a great salon who promotes natural hair (but does relaxers and everything else) and based on my consultation suggested I could go without a relaxer! I never thought I could not get a relaxer. Although my hair was thick and long growing up, my mother says it was also curly (which I don't recall).

When I started the transition, my hair was not very long at all (angled bob with the nape of my neck short) so I have been getting a couple of inches cut off every few months.

Now that I am 7 months out, I am not cutting (just trimming) my hair so it will grow at least to my shoulders. The transition has not been too bad! I primarily use Aveda hair products (my salon) but now that I am half natural and half relaxed (sides and front longer than the back), I started using the Transitioning Diva kit with the Aveda products (Brilliance shampoo/conditioner, Damage control and moisturizer along with the Curls mosturizer and milkshake). Then I take my hair in small portions and twist in small pieces and roll the ends and sit under the dryer 2 hours. I untwist and add the Aveda anti humectant and Biosilk for shine/anti-frizz.

I noticed since I added the Curls products my curls are softer and not frizzy and dry on the ends. I really like the curly look using these products and can't wait for the rest of my natural hair to come in.

I am hoping by my birthday (Jan. 2009) I will be all natural and can wear my natural curly hair.

I am going to keep using the Curls Transitioning Diva kit along with Aveda because I really like the way they make my hair feel and look.

I am not sure of my hair type....my hairstylist says it is a 3b/3c (the nape is softer and curls right up vs. crown which is a little more coarse...probably a blend of 3b/3c and 4a??)

My mom saw my hair and now she is going to try the Diva kit (she is also transitioning...only 3 months).

Oh I do have a satin pillowcase that I sleep on which works much better for me than the bonnet/cap.

You have really great products!!! Once I am fully natural, would you recommend I continue using the same Curl products in the Diva kit or should I try something else?

Thanks,
Talymo

[soblessed]

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Talymo! Thanks so much for sharing your story!

Well, welcome to the world of transitioning! I am glad to hear that you have found a salon that does promote natural hair. I wished that I lived by near you. As, there aren't any salons in my area that do the same! And, I am glad that you Mother is looking into wanting to try the Curls products after she has seen the good that it has been doing for your hair.

Is the salon where you go to an Aveda Concept Salon? As, I actually used to work at an Aveda Concept Salon. So, I actually do know about the products that they offer.

Also, I think that it was a great idea for you to include all of the other products that you use besides Curls products. As, it is certainly okay if you have other favorite products that you choose to use along with the Curls products.

While you are transitioning and even after you become natural, you can experiment with using any of the Curls products in your hair actually. As, you don't have to use only the Curls Milkshake in your hair as a everyday styler from Curls. While transitioning, I used a number of products from the Curls line and even after I became natural I still continue to opt to use from a number of styling product from the line. With every order you get the option of getting 3 free samples included with your purchase. So, if you opted to get say 3 samples of one product that would come up to 6 ounces of product. And, most of the Curls products are 8 ounces (except for the conditioners and Goddess Glaze) . Therefore, you would be almost getting a full size product for free. That's a great bargain!

And, I would love to see a picture of your hair! So, if you have a picture that you would ever want to share, then I and others would surely love to see it!

[talymo]

Thank you so much for your reply! Yes the salon I go to is an Aveda concept salon. I have been so happy with the texture of my hair that I tell everyone I meet about transitioning hoping they will consider it to.

I will look at trying some other Curls products as I go along the rest of my transitioning journey.

I have some pictures that I can post that shows my hair recently (curly look). I will try to post later this week.

Maybe from the pics you can help me determine my hair type. I know I have at least 2 different textures (softer,ringlet curls on the nape of my neck and thicker, more wavy at the roots.

Thanks again!!

[talymo]

Hello SoBlessed!

I am trying to post some pics with my hair twisted out using the Cleansing Cream shampoo, Asian Tea conditioner, Quenched moisturizer and Curls Milkshake; however, my pics are too big to add as an attachment.

Do you know how can I make a pic smaller so I can add it to a post?

I really love the way these products make my hair feel! Soft and moisturized!

Thanks again for a great line of products!

Talymo

[soblessed]

Hey Talymo!

To resize the picture you would have to do that on your computer first before uploading it. Now, I don't know how your computer is set up, therefore I can only give you info from y coputer and only hope that your computer is set up in a similar way. Click on the computer's "Start" tab located in the bottom left corner of your computer screen. A panel will come up and within that panel you should see the words "My Pictures". You will single-click on the words "My Pictures". Next a window will come up featuring all of the pictures that you have saved on your computer. You will right-click on the picture you want to resize. A list of choices will come up. You are to click on the 2nd word "Edit". After that an editing box will come up with the picture stationed inside of it. On the top of the box will be the words File, Edit, View, Image, Colors, Help. You are to click on the word "Image". Next, there will be a list of choices for you to click on. You are to next click on the word "Attributes". This will bring up a smaller box that has in words "Width" and "Height". From there you can ake the width and height of the picture you want to upload smaller. After you have changed the weigth and height, you will then press "OK" and then just press "X" to close all of the remaining boxes out.

I hope this helps!