Okay, so I've been researching like CRAZY!!! I've looked at all the blogs and videos recommended from this thread and I'm HOOKED!! I've been reading, watching videos, researching products etc etc. In my post from that thread, I said I was 2.5 years natural before I caved and got my perm. I never chopped off my ends. So my "natural" hair was totally damaged. It's funny to go back and read it now that I've researched it so completely; I was SO clueless! There is so much that goes into it and I'm so ready to get started.

Here are my credentials.

Last perm was Dec 23, 2010.
Decided I'm going natural for sure Februaray 5th, 2011.
First wash and twist out style February 6th, 2011.

Here is my latest cut - permed. Taken October 2010. My hair's grown out a little since then but the back is still short. The sides look a HOT mess now.

Here is my hair today. I didn't quite get it right but....it's semi-decent. I did a Bantu-knot twist out.

(Sorry I look tired....end of day...)

I shampooed with Loreal Everpure?? No sulfates. I used the conditioner too. And I used Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Then I used Pantene Relaxed and Natural (I hate that stuff but it was all I had) to put the knots in. I don't have that much hair so it was REALLY hard!! LOL! When I go to Houston in a couple of weeks, I'm getting my hair cut MUCH shorter (still not big choppin' because I don't think my head is shaped correctly for a fade or a SUPER TWA. I only have about 1/4 - 1/2 inch of new growth). I am SUPER excited to start this natural hair journey!! :D

Who's natural and what products do you use??? (I see myself becoming a PJ (product junkie)). How much growth do you have now?? Do you have before and after (or 1 year anniversary comparison) pics?? Let's see them ladies!!

YAYAYA, Pamel!!  Your hair looks beautiful!  Stick with it, you will love the results!  Here's what I posted on the other thread...

I have "virgin" hair that's never been treated.  I used to go to the shop and get my hair flat ironned, but then I just got tired of it.  I've been wearing my hair natural for 10 + years now and I LOVE my curls.  (I flat iron about once or twice a year) I can't offer much advice regarding transitioning from treated/permed hair to natural, but I can provide some advice for wearing it natural.  RESEARCH, EXPERIMENT, CONDITION.  Those are the most important things.  Youtube is great and offers tutorial's.  Look up products to see what the ingredients are.  Try it out.  Not every ones hair type is the same.  What works for most, may not work for you and that is okay!  You may find that a combo of products/brands work better together, instead of sticking with one product/brand.  Condition, Condition, Condition!  For me, I LOVE lather free...aka sulfate free shampoos.  It takes some getting used to, but the results are Fabulous.  I deep condition at least once a week...sometimes twice a week, depending on the weather (CO is VERY dry).  I'm able to use a light aloe gel to keep my curls defined, but this may or may not work for everyone. 

Wearing your hair natural takes time, dedication and patients.  It's not going to be perfect right away and some days will be better than others.  Just understand that your curls are beautiful.  Let them do what they want to do.  Just make sure that they are feed (conditioned) and handled with care!  Here are my curls...

I. Love. Your. Curls. They are absolutely gorgeous! That is where I aspire to be one day. Right now, mine is bone straight so this twist out I wore gave me a taste of curly. I LOVE curly! I've always worn curly braids but for my own hair to have a curl, love it. What about trims/cuts? Do you do that regularly too? There's SO much info on you tube it's crazy. I don't know who to trust. LOL! 

You are gorgeous my friend. Just wanted to throw that in there too! LOL!

LOL, thanks =).  You can do it too girl!  All curls are beeautiful, just find the product that works for you! 

When I say it's a LONG process, I am NOT joking...at all.  I've cried so many times, that at one point I was set on shaving it off!  There is a lot of info, but that's because wearing curly hair isn't as easy as people think.  Until you figure out what your hair likes, it is a serious process.  If you have the money, I highly recommend working with a beautician who specializes in natural hair care management.  They can help you find products that will work and they will know how to work with your hair.  Plus, you can develop a relationship ie trust.  Take it from me, you want to trust your beautician!  I've learned what products work for me, but I can't cut my own hair.  I've had my hair butchered...and i mean BUTCHERED because they didn't know how to cut it properly!  I've yet to find a beautician here in CO that can cut my hair without making me look like a poodle...yea TRUST.  I've had it cut 3 times by 3 different beauticians and they've all screwed it up.  Cutting curly/natural hair that is worn curly/natural is completely different from cutting curly hair that is worn straight.  How often you need your hair cut depends on so much...moisture in the air (humid or dry), how much/often you condition it, if you have the right products, how you treat your curls etc.  I should have my hair cut every 3 months, but I just can't.  I usually give in at about 5-6 months.  Once you start wearing your hair curly, I'd recommend having your first cut right when you start.  Have them trim ALMOST all of the dead/split.  Never start off with a fresh cut (right where your healthy hair ends).  This will give you a little buffer for testing products without damaging your healthy ends.  I'd get it cut at about month 2.  If you haven't found the right products, then repeat (cutting almost all of the dead).  If you have the right combo then you will be able to tell what your hair pattern is.  Once you've found the right products and have a system going THEN you can start talking about a trim/cut routine.  I hope this helps and didn't confuse you more.  It really is a process, but once you get it down you will LOVE it and see the benefits!  Just stick with it.  If your curls aren't working, then move to another product!

Thanks for the advice! It sounds SUPER complicated! LOL! 

I've YouTubed and checked blogs and sites A LOT! I've finally come across a girl that has my hair. 

http://www.youtube.com/user/160Days2Lose2#p/u/31/gzM1KAqIawE

This is exactly how my hair grows (I grew it out all that time and this is exactly how it looked. My baby's hair looks almost just like this too). So I've subscribed to her channel and I'm checking out what worked for her and she transitioned too. So that helps a lot.

I'm super excited! I'll be asking you for advice along the way. I think I'm going to start a blog too to track my progress. This has become my new obsession. 

Yeeeaaa!!! way to go Pamela! You can so do this!

I also use the sulfate-free shape and conditioner. It so good on my hair, I will never go back to sulfate s+c. Some productsI use are aveda be curly, curl enhancer. HIGHLY recommend when your hair grows out a little longer and you really want to define your curls, use this stuff! I bought it on a whim after seeing a girl talk about it on her blog and it really defines my curls and leaves them shiny. Also cat walk curls rock. Also for when your hair grows out a little more and you want to define your curls.

I would just keep looking on YouTube for advice/tutorials. And I also agree with MrzLemus about having patience. I too have had days where I just wanted to shave my hair off. I'm also not going to straighten as much (I usually straighten every 4 weeks) because I have noticed my hair looks like it might be getting heat damage and my ends were pretty bad so I had to cut it a little but my hair IS growing....my goal is to get it waist length.I will post some pics when I get a chance.

Best of luck to you on this journey!! In the long run you will be so glad you did! :)

I so want to try this....maybe after the wedding I started it with my daughter she got her hair relaxed 2 years ago it was SUPER thick and so time consuming to handle we did the relaxer thing...she was free for about 9 months and I could not find the right products for her hair at all (her hair curl is very close to yours MrsLemus) I did not have the patience or the time for it but after I get married I will be a stay at home mom and WE WILL be going back natural for her she has such pretty hair the relaxer masks it plus with her compeition dance it works much better but it also damages it because of the constant bun she must wear for dance...once I get it down to a science and we work it out it won't be a problem with the bun and stuff...thanks ladies I love this thread!

I just wanted to show you lovely ladies by 2nd try at the BK twistout. Ummmm......didn't go so well. I did my protein treatment but forgot to deep condition afterwards (DUH!!). Then when I was doing my twists, I forgot my Eco Styler gel. DUH!!! Sooooooo my hair looks a little on the crazy, dry, greasy side (I mixed Pantene Relaxed and Natural daily moisturizing cream with water and coconut oil to spray in my hair before I did the knots as a leave in....didn't work very well..LOL!). Also, when I ws picking it out, I manipulated it WAY too much so I have the frizzies. Oh well, at least I tried. Here I am with my VDay hair!

It is a long process pam! ive been natural now for almost 2 yeasrs. I still wear weaves and extentios because i get bored and hair is an accesory to me but no perms.

You can do it! but there will be tough days! I was a product junkie for a while also.lol

Mrs. Lemus love this pic,,