Your name/username

My name is Laine Diane Lina my username Laine Didi Lina

Where are you from?

Paris, France

How long have you been transitioning?

I have been transitioning since July the 15th

Tell us your hair story. Why did you decide to transition?

I decided to transtion because i had lived all my life without knowing my natural hair texture. My mother who is a chinese/indian mixed woman relaxed my hair early. I was about 3 or 4. She didn't really know how to manage them plus she thought that straight hair was the best (and i think she's still thinking that). It hurts me sometimes when i think about this but i don't blame her. She has grown with this false ideas...So i grew up in relaxing my hair, hidding them under weave or sew-in to be like my cousins. Then this year i knew that I couldn't go through this anymore.

I tried to transition once in january 09 but I relaxed my hair in April. I don't why i did it. Maybe I wasn't ready. Then i tried in July and cut my relaxed hair in October. I woke up and knew that I wanted it so much.

What have you discovered so far in your transitioning journey?

I've learn to use the most natural products i can, drink lot of water: Now i can't even think of drinking soda and have a healthy diet. I've also learn to love me the way i am and not try to be like the girls i'd love to be.

What technique has helped you the most during your transition?

Moisturize a lot to avoid breakage, perpooing and Deep conditioning a lot. Braid outs helped me too.

Your advice to the readers

Euhh well...Be patient! Never forget why you're doing this cause this is the result the most important thing! Never let your goal down!!

Highly Textured & Co. (a merger of the minds between Erthtonez.com and Nappy and the City), will be hosting a St. Louis Natural Hair Forum!

Many women are choosing to wear their hair natural, but need support along their. Whether you have locs, a fro, newly natural, transitioning, have natural children, or are thinking about going natural, this is the place for you!! Here, you will learn about healthy hair tips, styles, and more! This is an event for you to meet women and men with like minds and become support for the people who need it! Are you scared to go natural because of what others will think or because you don't have the support behind your decision? Well come, and hopefully leave inspired to love the natural you!

BE SURE YOU BRING MONEY BECAUSE THERE WILL BE:

• Product Giveaways (from some of our sponsors like Darcy's Botanical's and Chris-Tia Donaldson, author of Thank God I'm Natural)
• Drink specials
• Vendors with great products
• An ALL YOU CAN EAT buffet of scrumptious, authentic West-African Cuisine.

Admission is FREE. Tickets for the buffet is $16 if you purchase online. Purchasing tickets in advance ensures your chair...they will sell out fast!!! If you purchase food tickets online, hold on to your reciept and bring it to redeem your meal. No refunds unless its our fault. Purchase your tickets by visiting Erthtonez (www.erthtonez.com/htc) or www.nappystl.com (and click on the "purchase tickets" banner on the right side).

See you there!

I almost forgot to upload these photos! I took the above pictures today and the one below is from last week.

The beautiful songbird Laura Izibor.

It's been two months since the last update! Sorry for the hiatus, lovelies. We'll be updating more frequently now. Anyway, I am one month away from my first year fully natural! Yes, it's been eleven months since I've chopped my hair!