Long-Term Transitioning versus Short-Term Transitioning

Transition: The period after your last relaxer, during which you cultivate new, natural hair growth while the relaxed ends are still attached. I've noted, not by any spoken rule but more general shared thought, that long-term starts at about six months, and short-term is any time less than that. The transitioning period ends with the "Big Chop".

During my submergence in the natural scene, I marveled at all the long term transitioners. They were so patient, so diligent in this phase, and when they finally chopped those nasty ends, had six inches of natural hair, maybe even more.

Me, I've always been a right now type of girl (which may backfire one of these days, heh). I transitioned from April to June and simply did not have the fortitude to fight through the breakage, awful hair days, and general woes that come with caring for two very different hair types on a transitioning head. I took the risk and ended up with the teeniest weeniest of afros. Aside from having only one style for a moment, I am happy with my decision.

Instead of wondering in my head why people choose the path they do, I did a little lurking.

Short-Term Transitioning
Pros:

• Faster start to caring for your natural hair
• Easy to love, super-cute teeny weenie afro
  
• No pressure to straighten to meld the relaxed and nappy textures

Cons:

• One style (the "short Natural") until your hair lengthens
• If you know you will be uncomfortable with such short hair, this option is not for you. No regrets!
• Many look down on the teeny weenie afro as not feminine enough.

Long-Term Transitioning
Pros:

• Natural hair at a longer length
• More style options
• Able to fully dispose of all relaxed hair (some short-terms retain relaxed ends until next trim)

Cons:

• You must be very patient.
  
• Excessive breakage at the demarcation line (where relaxed hair and natural hair meet. a very weak point in hair.)

Truly, there is no competition, as the ratio of long-term to short-term transitioners is around 1:1. Most make the decision to transition long-term to avoid the shock/horror/liberation that is the teensy afro. This is very understandable (yet, I did call myself a punk for feeling this way), and everyone should do what's most comfortable for them so there's no distress, no regret, and no trying to convince them to come out of their panicked state and put down the no-lye.

For more stuff, Nappturality has a Transition Support forum.
As always, feel free to share your ideas.
Nightie night,
Jdot